Millwall undone at the last after thrilling cup tie sees Newcastle United edge home

Sunset Boulevard of south London. The Den prepares : Picture by @YTJourno

League Cup Third Round

Millwall (0) 0

Newcastle United (0) 1 Willock 81

Sometimes you don't need a ton of goals for a thriller.

A solitary Joe Willock goal with about 10 minutes to play was just enough to see the Premier League boys overcome the Lions in a rip-roaring encounter in which Millwall filled their fans with pride.

Theirs was a great effort to contain and aim for a swift break or two and set pieces to cause an upset. They came mightily close, hitting a post and creating a few very decent chances to get the better of the Geordies.

Perhaps in the end, the right team won but home fans were appreciative of what they had seen.

The full-blooded encounter was perhaps not what we might have expected. Would Millwall be that bothered about this tie?

A potential route to silverware and a pathway back to Europe this match may have represented for Newcastle, but the line-ups at kick-off told of a different viewpoint in south London.

Lions boss Alex Neil is in no mood to compromise another assault on the Championship summit - with the untold riches that await those lucky enough to reach the promised land of the Premier League. And to be fair, his side is also beset with some early season injuries which need careful managing.

We need not have worried, though. The Lions did not hold back.

The never less than raucous Den was still very hopeful of seeing another of those memorable cup upsets which can give a season extra bite. Besides, no one is supposed to get a free pass at this venue.

Neil made four changes to the side which crushed Bolton at the weekend, with keeper Filip Marshall making his debut after completing a move from Stevenage this summer. Elkan Baggott, Dan Kelly and Zak Lovelace were recalled.

Newcastle, making their first ever visit to the new Den, 33 years since they last played Millwall away, fielded a really strong XI. They ended a decades-long wait for a trophy when they beat Liverpool at Wembley two years ago to win this competition and they looked eager to have another serious tilt at it.

Jacob Murphy whistled a shot just over the bar and Sven Botman's header at a corner did not clear the same bit of woodwork by much as the Magpies settled into dominant patterns.

It needed a last-ditch tackle to thwart a marauding Yoane Wissa. Fabian Schar's shot from distance almost deflected in - hitting the side-netting. The turn of speed from the visitors was unsettling and at times blistering. That was when their extra Premier League class showed.

There were a few moments of encouragement for the underdogs, however. Lyndon Dykes, who netted a double at the weekend, got on the end of a deep cross from the left to send a volley goalwards - although it lacked the pace or direction to trouble keeper Lukas Hornicek. Caleb Taylor was only just wide with a header from Camiel Neghli's free-kick.

The start of the second half and perhaps the sight of that Cold Blow Lane stand they were now attacking was inspiring for the Lions. First Neghli had a shot cleared off the line, following good work from Romain Esse, then Metcalfe thrashed a venomous shot just over.

From another rangy free-kick from Metcalfe, Taylor again rose highest to head back across goal and not far wide. On a swift counter, Dykes, attempted cross cannoned off Botman and almost had enough pace to beat a wrong-footed Hornicek.

Then they came even close when sub Tairyk Arconte scampered away from Tino Livramento before powering a shot that came back off the near post. Time stood still.

Hopes were well and truly rising. Could they take it to penalties?

In the end, heartache would have the final say, as Willock tucked home after Lewis Hall had worked some space behind the Millwall defence to slip in a telling low ball across the face of goal. And that was that.

Lions: (4-2-3-1) Marshall - Osei-Tutu (Parkes 88), Taylor, Cooper, Baggott - Kelly (Massey 87), Metcalfe -Esse (Issoufou 62), Neghli, Dykes (Monty 87) - Lovelace (Arconte 62)

Magpies: (4-2-3-1) Hornicek - Dedic (Livramento h/t), Schar, Botman, Hall - Gonzalez, Ramsey (Miley 83) - Murphy (Elanga 66), Willock (Steur 91), Barnes - Wissa (Fernandez-Pardo 66)

Attendance: 14,698