Huddersfield Town 0-1 Millwall: Lions hold on to register valuable win
- Published
Scott Malone, who had a one-season spell with Huddersfield in 2017-18, has scored three goals for Millwall so far this season
Millwall held onto an early lead to register just their second win in 16 league matches as they defeated Huddersfield Town in the Championship.
Scott Malone put the visitors ahead inside the opening five minutes when he fired home from close range following Dan McNamara's delivery.
The hosts won a penalty soon after when Lewis O'Brien was fouled in the area, but Frazier Campbell hit the bar from the spot.
Naby Sarr came close to rescuing a point for Huddersfield as the game wore on but he fired off target from Juninho Bacuna's cross.
The result, which was Millwall's second win in four games after their FA Cup victory against Boreham Wood earlier in January, keeps them in 16th in the table, while Huddersfield remain in 14th.
The Terriers' defeat was their fifth at home this season and means they have now lost four games in succession in all competitions.
Millwall went into the match with a woeful record in the Championship, but doggedly held on as Huddersfield pursued an equaliser.
The Lions started brightly as Malone's early strike against his former club from inside the box put them ahead and, despite conceding the penalty, they did enough to hold Carlos Corberan's side at bay.
Huddersfield Town boss Carlos Corberan:
"We had a target to get three points but, unfortunately, we did not do everything we needed to do to make that happen. They started the game quickly and we conceded an early goal to make things complicated.
"We did not defend well at the start, but we have had two penalties in the league now and not finished them well.
"We also lost a bit of control in our passing and did not create enough chances, which is something we need to improve, because the only two chances we created in the second half were from set-piece situations.
"Millwall worked a lot in their defensive half and, when things are compact, you need to open more space on the pitch, but we did not break the last line with our passes."
Millwall manager Gary Rowett:
"We were on a poor run of form and it's been disappointing after doing well last season and starting well this one and maybe we had gone away a bit from what we are good at to try to be a better team.
"Huddersfield's home form has been fantastic and they have really unpredictable patterns of play.
"I think the penalty was a bit soft, but I can see why the ref gave it and you're then thinking this could spoil all the hard work, but we got fortunate and they only had one shot on target all game, because our discipline was superb and the determination phenomenal."