Millwall 1 Brentford 0 – George Saville strikes early again as Lions triumph at The Den

By Jake Sanders at The Den

George Saville scored the only goal of the game as Millwall extended their unbeaten Championship run to 11 games with a narrow victory over Brentford at The Den.

Saville fired home inside the first minute and despite plenty of Brentford chances, two of which hit the bar in the second-period, it was enough for all three points.

It’s now 13 games without defeat at The Den, 11 of which were in the league and the Lions move above their opponents in the league as a result.

Neil Harris made one change from his side’s victory at Hull City in midweek as captain Steve Morison returned to the starting 11, with Tom Elliott dropping to the bench.

Millwall started on the front foot and took the lead within 51 seconds, just like they did in midweek. Lee Gregory won the ball back high up the pitch before Jed Wallace headed the loose ball into the path of George Saville, who coolly fired home under Daniel Bentley.

The visitors thought they had levelled minutes later, but Yoann Barbet was deemed to be in an offside position when he tapped home at the far post from a Bees corner. There was confusion amongst both sets of players and fans at The Den as the linesman’s flag was a late one and despite referee Stuart Attwell consulting with his linesman, the decision stood, and the Lions lead remained intact.

That moment didn’t seem to unsettle Millwall as on 20 minutes, Saville came within inches of scoring his second of the afternoon, but his deflected low strike struck the post after good work from Steve Morison and Lee Gregory in the build-up.

Brentford grew into the game as the half went on, but a long-range effort from Barbet and a low strike from Sergi Canos was the closest they came to troubling Jordan Archer in the Lions goal.

Millwall had a golden opportunity to double their lead just minutes into the second period, but Jake Cooper could only head wide from eight-yards out from Ben Marshall’s corner.

At the other end Brentford came within inches of equalising but Canos’ curling effort crashed against the post before Mahlon Romeo cleared the danger and the Bees forward had an even better chance soon after but could only blast over from 15-yards after good work from Ollie Watkins.

The visitors continued to control the game and thought they had made it 1-1, but captain John Egan could only head against the underside of the bar and Millwall once again survived.

Just when you thought the Lions had used up all their lucky cards, Archer flapped at Henrik Dalsgaard’s corner and was thankful to James Meredith, who was there to slice the ball off the line in the nick of time.

Brentford pilled on the pressure late in the game, but the Lions held firm to move above the Bees and into a season high tenth in the Championship table.