Leedsunited.com 27/10/07
TOP SIX!
United boss Dennis Wise was dealt an injury blow ahead of the game when loan signing Radostin Kishishev suffered a muscle strain during the final moments of Friday's training session, and was ruled out. Ian Westlake joined Jonathan Douglas at the centre of the midfield.
Wise was also joined by skipper Alan Thompson in the dug-out with assistant boss Gus Poyet not attending the game, following media speculation linking him with Tottenham Hotspur.
It was the visitors who actually had the ball in the net, though, with a disallowed effort in the third minute. Will Hoskins finished off a neat passing move, but the former Rotherham striker had strayed into an offside position.
Hoskins also skied a header over the top after Ahmet Brkovic delivered a cross from the right.
But the United response was immediate and Jermaine Beckford sent a shot inches wide after escaping the clutches of a Millwall defender.
Beckford also did well to win a corner after a Tresor Kandol ball found Seb Carole, and after Millwall failed to clear their lines, United's Frenchman tested Lenny Pidgeley with a strike from the edge of the box.
On 25 minutes, Frazer Richardson fashioned a chance when his cross found Kandol, but the striker's header was off target.
Shortly after the half-hour, Beckford curled a shot wide from outside the area as United looked to force an opening.
That opening did come on 36 minutes, though, when David Prutton fired United ahead with a sweet strike from the edge of the box. Millwall failed to deal with a Carole cross and Prutton picked his spot to perfection to leave Pidgeley well beaten.
Four minutes later, Pidgeley had to be at full stretch to beat away an effort from Douglas and moments later, it was Prutton who tried his luck with a shot from distance.
Douglas also sent a free-kick over the top at the start of the second period after Kandol was brought down on the edge of the box.
The second goal did come moments later though. Kandol charged down a Pidgeley clearance and the ball fell to Beckford who almost walked the ball into the net.
And it was 3-0 on 57 minutes when Douglas scored his first of the season when he converted from close range following a corner.
Amazingly, Douglas scored his second of the season less than two minutes later when he slammed home a low free-kick after Beckford was fouled on the edge of the box.
Millwall's confidence had clearly gone following the first goal, and United were dominating what had become a one-sided contest.
But the visitors did bag a consolation goal on 65 minutes when Hoskins converted after a quick break.
The goal proceeded to lift a Millwall side who had looked well beaten, and Ahmet Brkovic scored a second for the Lions when he headed home a cross from the left.
The warning shots sparked life into United again and Kandol was denied by Pidgeley in the final minute after a delightful pass from Curtis Weston.
But there was little other drama as United moved up to sixth in the table after stretching the unbeaten run to 13 games.

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