Millwall 1-0 Leicester City: Ryan Longman winner lifts Lions & dents Foxes' title bid
- Published
- comments
Ryan Longman's fine strike was his second goal in three games
Ryan Longman's brilliant winner for Millwall consigned stuttering promotion challengers Leicester to a fifth defeat in nine Championship matches.
Longman collected Billy Mitchell's pass, cut in from the left past Harry Winks and sent an unstoppable strike from near the edge of the penalty area beyond keeper Mads Hermansen and into the far corner of the net.
The victory took Millwall to 47 points, four clear of the relegation zone, and they have now taken 10 points from their four home matches since Neil Harris' recent return for a second spell as boss.
Leaders Leicester, meanwhile, clung onto top spot by virtue of Leeds only managing a goalless draw at home to Sunderland.
That point saw Leeds move up to second and Ipswich drop to third, but the Suffolk side will go top if they win at home to Watford on Wednesday.
Leicester dominated possession at The Den for large periods, especially in the first half, but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
However, substitute Patson Daka should have equalised deep into stoppage time but made a mess of an attempted header from Dennis Praet's cross. The ball bounced off his shoulder and wide of the target.
Millwall struggled badly under ex-boss Joe Edwards, who attempted to introduce an expansive style of play but was sacked in February after a series of poor results and performances.
Former Lions striker Harris, on the other hand, has gone back to basics, deploying a 4-4-2 formation and relying on hard work and good organisation. His team managed to frustrate the visitors.
Millwall defended well before and after Longman's goal, and a win at home to Cardiff City on Saturday would take them to the 50-point mark, which is typically enough to stay up.
Leicester will visit another relegation-threatened side, Plymouth, on Friday. The Foxes are now without a win in five away matches.
Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca told BBC Radio Leicester:
"A tough night. But we knew it would be a difficult game - every game until the end of the season will be difficult because every club is playing for some target.
"We struggled a little bit in the first half to find space and to create chances. The second half was much better, but they scored a fantastic goal.
"At this stage of the season, to be honest, I expected some games like this because now it's almost 50 games that we've played and it's the last three or four weeks, so everyone is a little bit tired.
"Now it's a matter of recovering energy and trying to win the game on Friday. Every game now is a big moment.
"The game we've played is gone. Now we need to be focused on the next games - they are the most important of the season."
Millwall manager Neil Harris:
"Firstly, it's so Millwall-like to lose to Rotherham and Huddersfield, both in the last minute, and then beat the league leaders.
"That's what this club does. Not just this group. The last 30 years of Millwall Football Club.
"We scored a goal that would win any game at this level. I thought it was an excellent Millwall performance. To play against arguably the best team in the league and limit them to very little was so impressive.
"We're moving in the right direction. What I'm seeing in the group is a lot of positives."