Millwall dealt a significant blow to Leeds United’s push for Premier League promotion as Japhet Tanganga’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 victory at The Den on Wednesday. The victory propelled Millwall into the Championship play-off spots, reinforcing their recent resurgence under the leadership of Neil Harris.
Tanganga, who joined Millwall from Tottenham Hotspur in January after struggling for game time at his former club, has proven to be a valuable asset in bolstering Millwall’s defense. On this occasion, he turned into an attacking force as well, netting the decisive goal just before halftime. The goal came from Jake Cooper’s well-timed header, which Tanganga clinically finished to give the hosts the lead.
Despite being forced to defend for long periods, Millwall displayed a resilient defensive performance that frustrated Leeds’ attempts to find an equalizer. The result handed Leeds only their second defeat of the season and their first away loss, halting their strong start and slowing their momentum in the race for promotion.
The victory marked Millwall’s fourth consecutive 1-0 win, a streak that has transformed their season. Just two weeks prior, they had been lingering near the relegation zone, but Harris’s return for a second stint as manager has revitalized the team. Under his guidance, Millwall have collected more points than any other team in the Championship, propelling them past Leeds in the standings.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Preston North End managed to hold league leaders Sunderland to a 0-0 draw at Deepdale. Sunderland, who missed key opportunities to secure a win, still retained their position at the top of the table, maintaining a slim two-point advantage over Sheffield United. Sheffield bolstered their own promotion hopes with a 2-1 victory at Bristol City on Tuesday.
Stoke City continued their upward trend with a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, with Million Manhoef breaking the deadlock in the second half and goalkeeper Viktor Johansson putting on a standout performance. Tom Cannon’s late penalty sealed the victory for Stoke, adding to Blackburn’s woes.
Meanwhile, Derby County finally secured their first away win of the season, overcoming Coventry City 2-1. Jerry Yates played a pivotal role, scoring the opening goal in the 11th minute and later contributing to a second that deflected off Bobby Thomas. Although Coventry mounted a late push with a goal from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Derby held on to claim the valuable three points.
In another critical clash, Luton Town lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a narrow 1-0 win over Cardiff City, thanks to Jacob Brown’s decisive strike.
These results underscore the fierce competition in the Championship, with teams like Millwall showing resilience and determination that could disrupt the promotion ambitions of more heavily favored sides like Leeds. The race for promotion and survival is shaping up to be as intense as ever as the season progresses.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0