Match ends, Millwall 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0.
MillwallMillwall1Sheff WedSheffield Wednesday0
Millwall ended Sheffield Wednesday's perfect start to the season with a narrow win at The Den, despite playing 47 minutes of the match with 10 men.
The home side took the lead against the run of play when Matt Smith buried a close-range header from Connor Mahoney's corner, but the Lions had Jed Wallace sent off just before half-time for a high, late challenge on Kieran Lee.
Wednesday exerted plenty of pressure in the second half as they tried to capitalise on their numerical advantage, but Millwall defended well to hold firm.
Neil Harris' side remain unbeaten this season after two wins and a draw from their opening three games.
After a quiet start to the game, Wednesday's Liam Palmer had the first meaningful chance, but his near-post shot was smartly saved by Bartosz Bialkowski in the Milwall goal.
Adam Reach came within a whisker of putting his side in front just moments later as the visitors gathered momentum, but the winger's stunning half-volley from 35 yards narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Smith's headed finish came against the run of play, and Wednesday immediately threatened to level, but Jacob Murphy's effort with the outside of his foot curled just wide.
Murphy again came close as Wednesday looked to press home their advantage following Wallace's 43rd-minute dismissal, but the winger fired over after getting on the end of Dominic Iorfa's cut-back.
Iorfa was replaced by Barry Bannan at half-time as the Owls sought to pressure the 10 men and the Scot was immediately influential, floating a sublime pass to Steven Fletcher, who fired straight at Bialkowski.
Millwall, however, continued to carry a threat of their own, and Aiden O'Brien came close to sealing the win on the hour mark, but Keiren Westwood saved the full-back's powerful strike.
Wednesday came close on a number of occasions in the closing stages, but Bialkowski saved Bannan's drive and Jordan Rhodes headed wide from a corner as the Owls were ultimately frustrated.
Millwall boss Neil Harris told BBC Radio London:
"To win the game 1-0 and get back-to-back wins at home is really key. To start at The Den, the fortress we want it to be, with six points is vital.
"In the second half, the story is the backs-to-the-wall display that my team has put in today.
"Was it a red card? I'll have to see it back from more angles from what I've already seen."
Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager Lee Bullen told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I don't think it was a bad performance. We've made one mistake in the game, at a corner kick. I don't think I can ask much more of the players. We've been sucker-punched, at the end of the day. We just have to take a deep breath, calm down and get ourselves ready to go again.
"Millwall deserve a lot of credit. They put bodies on the line.
"I don't think we could have gone any more offensive. You think something is going to break for you, but the overriding feeling is that we never got that one real clear-cut opportunity. Our final ball could have been better."
Line-ups
Millwall
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 33Bialkowski
- 12RomeoBooked at 90mins
- 15Pearce
- 5Cooper
- 3M Wallace
- 21MahoneySubstituted forLeonardat 74'minutes
- 8Thompson
- 6Williams
- 7J WallaceBooked at 43mins
- 22O'BrienSubstituted forFergusonat 83'minutes
- 10SmithSubstituted forBradshawat 52'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Hutchinson
- 9Bradshaw
- 11Ferguson
- 14Steele
- 18Leonard
- 23Bödvarsson
- 26Skalak
Sheff Wed
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Westwood
- 27IorfaSubstituted forBannanat 45'minutes
- 15Lees
- 13Börner
- 2PalmerBooked at 56minsSubstituted forLuongoat 59'minutes
- 20Reach
- 23Hutchinson
- 5LeeSubstituted forRhodesat 65'minutes
- 14Murphy
- 9Fletcher
- 7K Harris
Substitutes
- 3Fox
- 6Rhodes
- 10Bannan
- 17Nuhiu
- 21Luongo
- 22Odubajo
- 25Dawson
- Referee:
- Gavin Ward
- Attendance:
- 15,017
Match Stats
Home TeamMillwallAway TeamSheff Wed
- Possession
- Home31%
- Away69%
- Shots
- Home3
- Away21
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away9
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Millwall 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0.
Post update
Foul by Massimo Luongo (Sheffield Wednesday).
Post update
Tom Bradshaw (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Mahlon Romeo (Millwall) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt missed. Julian Börner (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Reach with a cross.
Post update
Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tom Bradshaw (Millwall).
Post update
Foul by Massimo Luongo (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Mahlon Romeo (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Julian Börner (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jacob Murphy with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
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Attempt missed. Jordan Rhodes (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kadeem Harris with a cross.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Jake Cooper (Millwall).
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Attempt saved. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jordan Rhodes.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Shane Ferguson replaces Aiden O'Brien.
Post update
Hand ball by Jordan Rhodes (Sheffield Wednesday).
Post update
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Jake Cooper.
Post update
Foul by Massimo Luongo (Sheffield Wednesday).
