Leeds United continued their strong home record against Millwall with a commanding 2-0 victory at Elland Road.
An early own goal, forced by Manor Solomon’s dangerous cross, gave Leeds the lead in the third minute. Despite having a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside, Leeds continued to dominate, with Solomon and Brenden Aaronson coming close to adding a second.
The win was sealed late in the game when Ao Tanaka finished off a brilliant 30-pass move with a powerful strike. The victory moves Leeds two and four points ahead of second and third place respectively, strengthening their push for promotion.
Story of the match
Leeds United had won each of their last three home league games against Millwall and have recorded eight victories across their last nine matches against the Lions at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke made one change to his side after a 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth, with Joe Rothwell replacing Ilia Gruev in The Whites’ midfield.
After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 in November, Millwall were looking to record a fourth league double over Leeds United after the 1987-88, 2009-10 and 2017-18 campaigns.
Alex Neil made four changes to his side after a 2-1 over Watford on Saturday, handing starts to Mihailo Ivanović, Wes Harding, Femi Azeez and George Saville.
Leeds open the scoring
Leeds took the lead in the third minute after a brilliant passage of play from Rothwell.
He won the ball in midfield, linking up with Joël Piroe, who played a perfectly weighted pass in behind for Manor Solomon. The winger fired in a low cross into the box, deflecting off Jake Cooper, sending the ball past Lukas Jensen - who could only get a slight touch as the ball found its way into the net.
Rothwell continued his strong start to the game, acting as the catalyst in the middle of the park, dictating transitions between attack and defense as Leeds searched for a second goal.
Brenden Aaronson did well to link up with Piroe, beating his man and bursting into the box - firing a left footed effort low to the keepers right, winning his side a corner in the 21st minute.
Leeds wrongly denied a second goal
Millwall were forced into the first change of the game in the 24th minute, with George Honeyman being replaced by Billy Mitchell due to injury.
Tanaka fired a powerful shot from just outside the box, as the ball fizzed wide of goal. Leeds dictated the majority of the attacking pressure in the first half, which led to Piroe having a goal wrongly disallowed for offside. A clever backheel from Aaronson set up the Dutchman, who did well to finish the chance despite the goal being ruled out.
Neither side made any changes as the second half got under way at Elland Road.
Solomon continued to cause issues down the left flank, driving into the box and firing a shot off the crossbar as Leeds pushed to double their advantage.
Aaronson did well to control the ball with his chest, setting up a volley that was inches away of flying into the top corner. Super football from Leeds going forward let to Firpo finding space in the box, laying off a backheel for Solmon to fire an effort on goal.
Millwall made two changes in the 79th minute, with Ivanović and Azeez being replaced by Josh Coburn and Aaron Connolly.
Tanaka seals all three points
A passing sequence consisting of over 30 passes resulted in Firpo cutting back a cross towards the edge of the box, falling to the feet of Tanaka, who fired a powerful effort past the keeper to put his side two-goals up with less than three minutes of regulation time to play.
Dan James, Rothwell and Solomon were replaced by Largie Ramazani, Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph as the game went into stoppage time.
The result puts leads two points ahead of promotion rivals Sheffield United in second, and four points ahead of Burnley in third.
Player of the match
Manor Solomon
The winger was a consistent threat down the left flank all game, using his pace, skill and agility to create the first goal and numerous other chances throughout the game.
