Millwall 0 Town 1
Millwall: Jordan Archer, Joe Martin (Aiden O'Brien 61), Tony Craig (c), Shaun Williams, Ben Thompson, Lee Gregory, Fred Onyedinma (David Worrall 82), Madhlon Romeo, Sid Nelson (Calum Butcher 72), Shane Ferguson, Harry SmithSubs: Tom King, Shaun Cummings, Christian Mbulu, Jimmy Abdou
Town: Jayson Leutwiler, Mat Sadler, Ryan McGivern (Jack Grimmer 62), Abu Ogogo, Ivan Toney, Louis Dodds (Joe Riley 88), Jim O'Brien, Junior Brown, Dom Smith, Gary Deegan, Adam El-Abd (c)
Subs: Mark Halstead, Olly Lancashire, Ian Black, George Waring, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Ref: John Busby
Assistants: C Fitch-Jackson and C Kidd
Fourth Official: A Aylott
Attendance: 8,354 (with 255 from Town)
Paul Hurst made the one change from the side that started against Fleetwood Town last week in the Emirates FA Cup, Abu Ogogo returns from a three match ban and comes straight into the starting line-up with Ian Black dropping down to the bench.
Town created a good opening with just one minute of the clock, O'Brien clipped the ball in behind the Millwall defence for Dodds, he got to the ball but just didn't have the pace to get away, he held up play well and then fed the ball to Toney who had got in behind the defence, he got to the byline and then cut the ball back to see two Millwall players slide in, Toney then played it back into the danger area but a Millwall player got in to block and then clear the ball.
Town were dealing with the early Millwall pressure well and when a corner was swung into the Town box the visitors cleared, it dropped to Toney who then tried to counter with his pace but when he went past Thompson the Millwall number 8 pulled Toney back to give away a free-kick and pick up a booking.
Town were creating some decent openings in the early exchanges and were building with some decent possession. The ball was out on the left and Town then looked to move it quickly across the field and then out to Smith on the right, he showed good pace to get past his marker and lifted the ball to the back post, Toney nodded it back into the danger area but it was just away from Dodds.
At the other end Millwall had a great chance after a ball in behind the Town defence saw Gregory in on goal, Leutwiler came but Gregory cleverly lifted the ball over the Town keeper but El-Abd had covered well and was there to clear off the line.
Town got their noses in front just past the quarter hour mark and it was good work between Toney and Dodds, they were high into the Millwall half and putting the pressure on the Millwall defence, it worked and Toney unselfishly played the ball to set-up Dodds who kept his cool to place the ball past Archer to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Millwall were putting the pressure on looking to get on level terms but Town were defending well, first McGivern put in a great challenge to nick the ball away from Onyedinma when it looked like he would score and then when the ball came back in Leutwiler was in a great position to pull off a great save from Smith from close range.
Millwall were looking to put the pressure on the Town goal but Louis Dodds had tracked back and put in a great challenge, he then came away with the ball and broke down field, he had options and elected for the ball into the run on Toney down the left, he took the ball down in the box and then looked to get his shot in but the Millwall defence had tracked back and got in an important block to deny Toney.
Town were looking to break and O'Brien held up play and then looked to cut back inside and was fouled, free-kick for Town but ref Busby called across and booked McGivern for something that had happened before.
Millwall were really putting the pressure on and when Nelson had the ball out on the left he drove it into the Town box, El-Abd slide in to block but the ball lifted up off him and it looked to be going in until Leutwiler pulled off a great reaction save to tip the ball over. The corner came in and a Millwall head got to it first and the ball was goal bound but O'Brien was there on the post and cleared off the line.
Half-time: 0-1
The half started with no changes for either side and Millwall were straight out of the blocks looking to get back onto level terms.
The opening exchanges were a little stop /start with physio Chris Skitt on to attend to injuries to firstly Abu Ogogo and then Ivan Toney who were left needing treatment after challenges.
Millwall were looking to press but Town were creating some good openings themselves, nice pressure down the left saw Brown cut the ball back onto his right foot and then deliver a good ball into the box, O'Brien chested it down to Dodds but his snapshot was blocked.
On the other wing Dom Smith was putting in some good deliveries and he showed this again when the ball was switch out to the right, he put in an inviting ball that Toney got up well to head in on goal but Archer was alert to it and pulled off a good save.
On 62 minutes McGivern was caught just in front of the dugouts and stayed down needing treatment, physio Chris Skitt was quickly onto the spot but it became apparent that McGivern had a problem with his shoulder and couldn't continue so was replaced by Jack Grimmer.
It looked dangerous when Gregory picked up the ball out on their right, he cut inside and rode the challenges as the Town defence tried to halt him, he got to the edge of the box and hit in a good looking shot but Leutwiler was equal to it with a lovely save to tip it round the post.
There was a let off for Town on 83 minutes when Worrall got the ball out on the right, he delivered a great ball to the back post and there were two players unmarked but neither took the initiative to turn the ball home and the chance was gone.
With the game going into 5 minutes of added time Millwall were throwing everything they had a Town and when another corner dropped to the home side even keeper Archer was sent up.
In the end Town were able to see the game out to take the 3 points, they rode their luck at time and Millwall had the chances but it's an important win on the road for Paul Hurst's side.
Full-time: 0-1