The Championship saw a dramatic upset as Millwall, led by former Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga, stunned promotion favorites Leeds United with a 1-0 victory. Tanganga, who was given his Premier League debut by Jose Mourinho in 2019, fired in the only goal of the game, dealing Leeds their second defeat of the season and ending their impressive unbeaten run on the road.
Tanganga, having fallen out of favor at Spurs, joined Millwall in January and is now playing a key role in their surprising climb up the table. The Lions are now fifth in the Championship, having been fourth from bottom just two weeks ago, and are showing the league just how much they’ve been transformed under Neil Harris, who took charge in February.
This victory was Millwall’s fourth consecutive 1-0 win, a scoreline synonymous with defensive solidity and counter-attacking prowess. Since Harris’ arrival, Millwall have taken more points than any other team in the Championship, proving their ability to upset even the biggest names in the division.
The match itself was a tense affair, with both sides canceling each other out for large parts of the game. Millwall’s first real chance came when captain Jake Cooper headed a free-kick straight at Leeds keeper Illan Meslier. Meanwhile, Leeds struggled to break down a resolute Millwall defense, with Lukas Jensen denying Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe from distance.
The breakthrough arrived six minutes before halftime when Leonard swung in another free-kick, and Cooper headed the ball back across goal, allowing Tanganga to volley home from close range. Leeds had a golden chance to equalize immediately after the break when Aaronson crossed for Wilfried Gnonto, but the young striker headed wide. Piroe later had the ball in the net but was flagged offside, as Leeds desperately searched for an equalizer.
Despite bringing on Patrick Bamford, Leeds couldn’t find a way past a determined Millwall, who almost added a second goal late on. Neil Harris, the Millwall manager, praised his team’s defensive discipline and resilience, highlighting their ability to frustrate even the best teams in the league. He expressed pride in his players’ performance and their determination to continue their upward trajectory.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke, while acknowledging Millwall’s impressive defensive performance, emphasized that his team had created more chances but lacked the clinical edge to capitalize. He stressed that the defeat was not a major cause for concern, and the team would bounce back.
Tanganga’s goal and Millwall’s resilience have sent shockwaves through the Championship, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the league and the potential for underdogs to rise to the top. This victory is a testament to Neil Harris’ impressive work, the spirit of the Millwall squad, and the impact a single player can have on the fortunes of a team.
