Millwall ease past QPR to boost automatic promotion hopes

Picture by William Powell

Millwall 2 (2) Mazou-Sacko 3', Neghli 17'

QPR 0 (0)

Millwall are back in the automatic promotion places in the Championship after a fast start helped them to a comprehensive London derby win against QPR.

Early goals from Derek Mazou-Sacko and Camiel Neghli were enough to snap a run of consecutive defeats at the Den and move Alex Neil’s side into second place.

QPR were overwhelmed by the physicality and intensity of the hosts in those crucial opening stages and, despite their good recent form, never threatened to mount a comeback.

Rangers barely got out of their own penalty area from the kick-off, yet still allowed young midfielder Mazou-Sako the time and space he needed to curl home the opener from the edge of the box after just three minutes.

Although Julien Stephan was brave enough to leave three players upfield when his team were defending corners, they still found it hard to get up the pitch. 

Defender Tristan Crama should have doubled Millwall’s lead soon after, but he could not hit the target with his header despite finding himself unmarked.

Millwall did go further ahead on seventeen minutes though. Neghli produced a moment of quality when Rangers once again struggled to clear, removing Jonathan Varane from the equation with an excellent turn before finishing into the bottom corner.

Neghli chipped over the crossbar after another defensive error had sent him through on goal, and only at that point - midway through the first half - were Rangers allowed the time to take a deep breath and put their foot on the ball.

Despite finally finding a way to contain Millwall, helped by a quadruple substitution at half-time, QPR never threatened a comeback, their minds drifting to the imminent reality of a summer break and dreams of emulating what the South London club have achieved this term.

For Alex Neil’s men, there is plenty to keep them grounded in this remarkable campaign they are experiencing.

They may lose their hold on second place by the end of the weekend, but they are now almost certain of a place in the play-offs. With three favourable fixtures remaining there is every reason to believe they can secure a first return to the top flight since 1990.