Millwall 2-0 Stoke City - Charlie Cresswell's two debut goals win it for Gary Rowett's Lions
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On-loan Leeds defender Charlie Cresswell's debut strike for Millwall was his first senior goal
Charlie Cresswell netted a dream debut double as Gary Rowett's Millwall beat Stoke City at a sold-out Den.
The teenage Millwall defender, on loan from Premier League side Leeds United, had not previously scored in senior football.
But the 19-year-old struck with a goal in each half as former Stoke boss Rowett's Lions enjoyed a winning start to the new Championship campaign.
The son of former Stoke striker Richard Cresswell, who scored over 100 league goals with York, Preston, Leeds and Sheffield United, powerfully headed his first from George Honeyman's 12th-minute corner.
After going close with another header, Cresswell then volleyed in on 65 minutes from Scott Malone's corner as Millwall stretched their run of opening-day form to just one defeat in nine seasons.
Embarking on their fifth straight season in the Championship, after surrendering a good start to slump to 14th last season, Michael O'Neill's side already know that they will have to improve on an insipid display in south London.
After former Stoke striker Benik Afobe wasted an early chance, it was two of Rowett's new arrivals who fashioned the hosts' opening goal when Cresswell met Hull City old boy Honeyman's corner.
Stoke were almost gifted an equaliser when Tyrese Campbell's shot from the edge of the area squirmed out of Bartosz Bialkowski's grasp only for the home keeper to grab the ball just before it could cross the line.
Afobe then bent an early second-half shot over from a narrow angle before Stoke goalkeeper Joe Bursik made a good save to keep out Tom Bradshaw before Cresswell struck again.
He nearly scored with a second header, denied by Bursik's reflex save, but when Malone swung over another corner, Cresswell took advantage of awful Potters defending to volley in from close range and kill off the contest, allowing the Lions to give record signing Zian Flemming a run-out for the last 15 minutes.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett:
"As a young player making his Millwall debut, Charlie Cresswell showed us what he is all about.
"It wasn't just the goals, as impressive as they were with the way he attacked both goals, it was the way he defended.
"He got a yellow card in the first half and he showed great control and great composure to know when to step in and when to come out with the ball."
Stoke boss Michael O'Neill:
"In terms of defending set-pieces I'm not sure we've got any personnel in the building that would have given us any more added strength in that situation. We changed the markers at half-time because we were concerned about it. We've used markers in a semi-zonal system, so there are different areas.
"I knew we would have to deal with Jake Cooper in particular but obviously it was the other lad, Cresswell, who was a threat as well and found space in behind.
"We got blocked and, if you're a marker, you can't get blocked. Ultimately if you look at the second goal, it's a volley and not a header. For him to get a volley in that area of the penalty area is very disappointing."