Leeds United’s Yorkshire counterparts Sheffield United had jumped the Whites in the EFL Championship after the loss at Pompey last weekend, but with the Blades being held 1-1 by Bristol City, Leeds had an opportunity to pounce. With Burnley also breathing down their necks, Leeds United’s unbeaten streak was abruptly ended 17 games on the bounce. It was important for Leeds to exact revenge on a Millwall side who previously beat them in league action through a Japhet Tanganga header in November.
Lukas Jensen was the victim of an own goal three minutes in with the electric Manor Solomon causing problems all game – something Millwall would struggle with for the foreseeable. The Israeli winger cut in from the left and his cross turned shot trickled off the leg of Cooper.
Brenden Aaronson danced around the Millwall men before forcing Jensen to palm wide at the near post. Tanaka followed suit as his long-range effort sailed wide but had Jensen scrambling.
Aaronson created a chance for Joel Piroe who dispatched with aplomb, only to see the offside flag raised against the Dutchman after his American counterpart turned provider.
Aaronson is staking his claim to be Leeds main attacking midfielder next year and played very well creating chances and retaining possession.
Leeds United v Millwall
Leeds had a slight defensive gaffe as the Lions roared into gear with Cooper heading wide in an attempt to atone for his earlier mistake.
Millwall languish in mid-table at the moment and looked fairly uninspiring going forward, despite Femi Azeez’s best efforts to create chances.
However, Millwall’s work rate could not be faulted as they managed to calm the onslaught in the second half before beginning to tire, after which the game opened up a lot more.
Millwall did not really provide any trouble for Illan Meslier, whose only piece of goalkeeping came down at his near post late on from a deflected cross.
Late in the game, Ao Tanaka once more endeared himself to the Leeds United faithful. Whipping one past the goalkeeper into the far-left corner in the dying embers of the game, Tanaka wheeled away in celebration, beaming ear to ear and looking Premier League ready at the 85-minute mark.
Manor Solomon had previously cracked an effort off the frame of the goal in what would have been a brilliant strike, and was narrowly beaten to player of the match by Tanaka.
Leeds exacted revenge against Millwall after their FA Cup bout where they lost 2-0 at home. Millwall looked a shadow of the team that had beaten Leeds in the cup this season, as Farke’s men basked in the glory of 16 games without defeat at Elland Road.
For Leeds, it is top of the league and happy sailing as the end of the season looms. They will have to keep this winning form though, as the two quality chasers of Burnley and Sheffield United want them to slip into the play offs and visit Wembley again. For Millwall, their season looks all but over in a fixed mid table spot, as they take on the Potters in Stoke next weekend.
