By Connor Mckeown
After yesterday’s results in the Championship, Leeds looked to reclaim top spot against a Millwall side that knocked them out of the FA cup earlier in the season, but with Leeds only being beaten once during the calendar year, it was expected to be a tough game for travellers Millwall.
And as expected, Leeds dominated Millwall to reclaim top spot, with an early Jake Cooper own goal and wonderful strike from Ao Tanaka.
Joel Piroe had a goal ruled out in the first half, but Leeds defeat a stubborn Millwall side.
Millwall started the game with an aggressive approach, looking the more likely to take an early lead, but despite Millwall’s more convincing start to the game, Leeds took the lead after three minutes.
With Leeds first attack of the game, Manor Soloman’s attempted cross found its way into the back of the Millwall net, courtesy of Jake Cooper. The home side, who have been free scoring as of late, made easy work of Millwall’s attempted press, breaking them down with no more than five passes that led to the goal, after winning the ball back in the middle of the park.
After a comfortable first 20 minutes for Leeds, Brendan Aaronson almost doubled the home side’s advantage, after Joel Piroe flicked the American in behind, but Lukas Jensen was level to the low shot in the bottom left corner.
But for Millwall, things went bad to worse in the 24th minute, with George Honeyman going down on the pitch with an innocuous injury. The right winger, who had started promisingly for Millwall, left the field with a suspected ankle or calf injury. This was greeted with cheers and jeers from the Leeds supporters, who had begun to become frustrated with the time it took for him to go off and for a substitute to be made. Billy Mitchell was brought into the fray.
Just before the half hour mark, Ao Tanaka shot from range after a the long lay off in play. Unfortunately for the Japanese international, it blistered past the right post and into the stands.
And just a minute later, Piroe thought he had finished off what was a lovely move from him and Aaronson, but the flag was raised for what was a very close call. Piroe passed into the feet of Aaronson, who used a backheel to put it into the path of Piroe, who then rounded the keeper and slot calmly. But scores remained 1-0 to the home side after half an hour.
Coming up to the 40-minute mark, you could feel the stadium becoming uneasy with just the goal to split the two sides, with Millwall finding bits of joy on the counter. Leeds, as expected dominated plenty of the ball, but Millwall only allowing the side a singular chance. However, Leeds fan should have plenty of faith in their side as under Daniel Farke, the side haven’t lost in 40 games when taking the lead, winning 39.
As commentary accurately assessed, based on the lack of touches in both boxes, this game was a gritty Millwall battle – which should debatably suit this Millwall side more – but Leeds had the advantage both on the scoreboard and in the middle of the pitch.
Millwall’s Jake Cooper almost scored at both ends, with him glancing goalward from a corner, but it just edged wide, as the first half came to a close.
Millwall kicked off the second half with a long ball, but Leeds brought it down and found Manor Solomon, who whipped in a dangerous cross, but it found the opposite touchline.
Leeds remained the more dominant of the two after the first five minutes, hardly allowing this Millwall side to touch the ball.
Femi Azeez, who scored a damning double against Leeds in the FA cup, struggled to get into this game this time out, being dispossessed.
Soloman, who had a brilliant outing this evening, found himself in bags of space in the 50th minute, with Millwall allowing him to drive towards goal. The winger, with license to roam, lashed a left footed shot off the top of the crossbar inside the Millwall box. Big chance to double their lead.
Leeds began to pressure Millwall more and more, with the home side just upping the intensity in the second half. A second goal was due, surely?
In the 56th minute, Leeds had another half chance through Aaronson, again, with the midfielder rifling a shot towards Jensen but to the keeper’s delight. It was too high to cause any danger.
After an hour of football, Leeds had 65% possession and 8 shots, with only one of them on target, but the pressure was beginning to mount on Millwall. A stat as telling as any, which was showing the difference from the first half compared to the first 15 minutes of the second, was that Leeds had 7 touches in the opponent’s box in the whole of the first half, but 10 after just 15 minutes in the second.
Millwall’s second and third substitutes were used just after the hour mark, with Adeyoni Emakhu and Tristan Crama entering the pitch to try and give Millwall any hopes of equalising. Leeds yet to make any after 65 minutes.
72nd Minute and Leeds let another chance go begging, with Soloman going close again. Fullback Junior Firpo ventured forward on the left and combined with Soloman, setting him free in the box, but the winger dragged his shot into the side netting – another let off.
A shaky save from Ilian Meslier gave Millwall another corner, with a cross nearly finding it’s way into the back of the net.
And from the corner in the 74th minute, Leeds countered and, again, allow Millwall to disrupt a chance. Soloman received the ball on the left in space and found dan James in bags of space, but the Welshman couldn’t find the finish and turning the ball back inside, with Millwall defending it.
Millwall used their final two substitutions, bringing on Josh Coburn and Jack Connolly in the 79th minute. Leeds, who had begun to look leggy and out of ideas, still yet to use a substitute.
And in the 85th minute, my Man of the Match for the evening, Ao Tanaka smashed home a superb goal for Leeds, guaranteeing the three points, taking Leeds back to the top of the championship. Soloman involved again, putting it on a plate for the Japanese.
This goal also sees Leeds make a triple change, with Sam Byram, Ilia Gruev and Willy Gnoto coming on to add a little bit of extra energy, to see out the result for Leeds.
Elland Road relieved, as fans begin to sing again.
With Leeds pressing for a third in the 90th minute, Farke made two more substitutes, with Mateo Joseph and Largie Ramazani coming on.
Leeds got the job done against Millwall, getting their revenge after an FA cup haunting, to take top spot after a tough game.