Talking points from Millwall’s 1-0 win over Leeds – clean sheet kings as Neil Harris makes phenomenal impact since replacing Joe Edwards

Millwall moved into the Championship play-off places on Wednesday evening after a superb 1-0 win over rivals Leeds at The Den.

The Lions made it four wins in a row – and a fourth consecutive clean sheet – with Japhet Tanganga’s 40th-minute strike settling the SE16 contest.

Here are Edmund Brack’s talking points from The Den:

CHANGES NEEDED FOR FIRST HALF BUT STILL COMPETITIVE

With three matches within the space of a week – including back-to-back home fixtures against automatic promotion-chasing duo Burnley and Leeds – Millwall head coach Neil Harris was forced to rotate his side for Wednesday night’s clash.

Out came Femi Azeez and Casper De Norre, two of the star performers in Sunday’s 1-0 win over the Clarets, for Duncan Watmore and Ryan Wintle.

Danny McNamara also came in at left-back for the suspended Joe Bryan.

The one moment of quality for the Lions in the first half came from Romain Esse’s dance towards the box in the 20th minute from the right-hand side, gliding past Leeds shirts to fire a shot at Illan Meslier’s goal.

The Lions soaked up pressure for the entire first half, Leeds had more than 70 per cent possession and put a number of dangerous crosses into the box. Their diligent defending paid off in the 40th minute when Tanganga poked Jake Cooper’s header back across goal from a free-kick past Meslier.

De Norre and Josh Coburn were subbed on in the second half to bring fresh impetus and energy – the latter winning some late fouls to eat up valuable seconds.

Millwall nearly went 2-0 ahead on 86 minutes, Cooper’s header from a free-kick at the back post was met by Leeds substitute Mateo Joseph, whose attempt to shut down Azeez saw him deflect the ball on to the right-hand  post.

The Lions saw out the match with a very classy defensive display.

CHOP STUFF

Harris’ points return since replacing Joe Edwards as Millwall boss on February 21 has been nothing short of phenomenal.

The Lions have averaged 1.65 points per game and if that was maintained over a 46-game season then the South Londoners would finish on 76 points – enough to finish in the play-offs in the last three campaigns.

So it’s no coincidence that they moved up to fifth in this year’s table after the win over Leeds at The Den.

There has been an incredible consistency of picking up important wins and grinding out three points under the 47-year-old, with Wednesday night epitomising what his side is all about.

Leeds chief Daniel Farke said post-match in midweek that Millwall can be promotion candidates. The results back that assertion up.

CLEAN SHEETS KEEP COMING

That is now five clean sheets in the last six games for Millwall.

The centre-back duo of Tanganga and Cooper were always going to have a busy evening ahead, with Joel Piroe a nuisance inside the area and waiting for a cross from Wilfried Gnonto or Dan James.

Tanganga and Cooper may have combined for the only goal of the game, but between them, they were also responsible for 18 clearances to keep their clean sheet intact – making it more than six hours since Lukas Jensen’s goal has been breached.

Ryan Leonard, 32, was also a match for tricky winger Gnonto, producing six tackles to stop the Italian winger from getting into the box or a cross towards goal.

FRONTLINE EXERTIONS

It can be a thankless task being a Millwall striker in a game such as this where the main priority is to keep the opposition out and look to hit them on the transition or from a set-piece.

Macaulay Langstaff did not even have the slightest sniff of goal but he brought a lot more to the side than his threat around the box.

The summer signing from Notts County had the fewest touches of any Lions player all game with eight, but chased down Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk throughout the first half.

Langstaff was replaced by Middlesbrough loanee Coburn after 62 minutes but was recognised for his pressing contributions with a standing ovation.

The 21-year-old brought a real physical presence at the top end of the pitch and carried the ball away from his own half on a handful of occasions.

Coburn, Langstaff, Mihailo Ivanovic and Tom Bradshaw have all led the line this season under Harris, Millwall’s all-time record goalscorer.

The demands of the job suggest it will continue to be rotated.