Millwall can attribute their latest success to a blistering start, as they secured a 2-0 victory over QPR at The Den in the Sky Bet Championship, propelling them back to second place in the league table. After a disappointing run that saw only one win in their previous five matches, the Lions needed a spark to revive their promotion ambitions. Early strikes from Derek Mazou‑Sacko and Camiel Neghli gave them control of this London derby from the opening whistle, allowing them to dominate proceedings and re‑establish themselves as serious contenders. The win lifted Millwall one point clear of Ipswich Town, who host fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough on Sunday.
The battle for the coveted promotion spots, alongside Coventry City, is tightening as the season reaches its climax. Millwall’s early lead came just three minutes in, when a low cross from Femi Azeez was cleared only to land at the feet of Mazou‑Sacko. The French midfielder seized the loose ball and, from just outside the penalty area, unleashed a powerful shot that beat QPR keeper Joe Walsh. It was Mazou‑Sacko’s first goal for the club, a moment that eased the nerves of a fanbase that had endured two consecutive home defeats.
The Lions continued to press, and within seven minutes they threatened to double their advantage. Tristan Crama rose to meet a Casper De Norre cross, heading it over the bar. The opening quarter was relentless for Millwall, and their second goal arrived in the 17th minute.
After winning the ball, Mazou‑Sacko quickly fed it to Neghli, who cut inside and curled a beautiful strike into the far corner of the net. The goal highlighted Neghli’s composure and technical ability, further cementing Millwall’s dominance. Neghli almost added a third before the half‑hour mark. He broke free of Jake Clarke‑Salter’s defence, entered the box and attempted a chip that sailed over Walsh but unfortunately struck the crossbar.
The Lions kept the pressure on, with Josh Coburn heading in from an Azeez cross, only to see Walsh tip the ball onto the crossbar. Zak Sturge then struck the side netting, demonstrating Millwall’s relentless attacking flow.
At halftime, QPR manager Julien Stephan made four changes, hoping to inject fresh energy into a side that had been out‑classed. The first chance of the second half came from one of those substitutes, Rumarn Burrell, who headed wide from a Clarke‑Salter delivery. Morocco international Ilias Chair, returning from a long injury layoff, also featured for the Hoops, firing a low effort from outside the box that drifted wide of the near post.
While Millwall’s intensity dipped slightly after the break, they remained dangerous. In the 76th minute, Coburn linked up with Azeez inside the box, creating a scramble that saw Walsh make a desperate leg save. The Hoops finally managed a shot on target in the 89th minute when Nikolas Madsen unleashed a 25‑yard strike, only to be denied by Millwall keeper Anthony Patterson, who enjoyed a quiet but effective afternoon. After the match, Millwall boss Alex Neil praised his side’s early aggression: "We knew we had to start fast, get the fans onside, be aggressive and pin them back.
We’ve done that so often at home this season, and it’s not easy to win at this stage of the campaign. I felt we finally got that monkey off our back. The disappointing thing at half‑time was we weren’t more than two goals ahead – we deserved it.
We had the best chance in the second half with Josh Coburn’s effort, where their keeper made a brilliant save, but overall we managed the game well and they never really threatened us." QPR’s Stephan reflected on his team’s performance, noting the lack of intensity in the first half: "We struggled a lot and it wasn’t a surprise to see how they started the game. Winning duels and picking up second balls was key for us, but we failed to compete in the first half.
The four changes at half‑time improved things, but not enough to create strong momentum or a goal. We have players returning from long injuries and must manage their minutes, staying competitive until the season’s end." The result not only restores Millwall’s confidence but also tightens the race for promotion, with the top two spots now within reach as the season draws to a close.
The club’s supporters can relish a dominant performance and look ahead to the next fixtures with renewed optimism, while QPR must regroup and find ways to restore their form if they hope to stay in the mix for a playoff place. The £250,000 Super 6 prize remains up for grabs, free to enter until 3 pm Saturday.