Leeds United 2 Millwall 0: Terrific Ao Tanaka strike helps hosts return to summit and prevail where Sheffield United and Burnley failed in Championship — YEP 11/3/25
By Leon Wobschall
EVENTS at Bramall Lane, Turf Moor and the Stadium of Light
from the previous night did not catch on at Elland Road the following evening.
Yes, the hosts were a bit edgy at 1-0 up as the clock ticked
down, but the immaculate Ao Tanaka took care of proceedings with a beauty to
seal it as Leeds United returned to the Championship summit and did what
Sheffield United, Burnley and Sunderland could not do in 1-1 home draws 24
hours earlier.
They extended their unbeaten home run in the process to 16
league matches, avenged their recent FA Cup setback to Millwall here and in
terms of the league, normal service was resumed.
Style chiefly arrived through Tanaka’s sumptuous effort, but
there was enough substance elsewhere.
Leeds even indulged in a bit of sport after they finished it
with a second, with their stadium announcer brazenly referencing Millwall’s 391
away fans in revealing the attendance late on. It produced the biggest cheer of
the evening alongside Tanaka’s moment.
Granted, there was a slight sense of unease as this game got
under way. The nerves lasted all of three minutes.
Jake Cooper’s own goal soothed the crowd at a timely
juncture. After that, Leeds were in control without being high vintage. Back in
late 2018-19, Cooper scored a famous late leveller for Millwall against the
Blades which aided Leeds at the time and those in West Yorkshire were toasting
him again.
Daniel Farke would have liked to see United’s ‘greedy’ side
by virtue of a second goal ahead of the break for sure. But given the noise
around after his side’s surprise loss at Portsmouth, he’d have taken this, all
right. He was also calm, as per.
Cooper’s own goal was unfortunate upon Millwall, in
wrong-footing helpless Lions keeper Lukas Jensen. But it was worth mentioning
the intent and appetite of Leeds before that.
The recalled Joe Rothwell, full of drive, hunger, tidiness
and responsibility in the first half, picked the pocket of a Millwall rival.
A nifty exchange with Joel Piroe, whose close control, silk
and intelligence shone sporadically, unhinged Millwall.
Midfielder Casper De Norre slid in and the loose ball fell
to Manor Solomon, whose low centre took a significant deflection off Cooper and
crept almost apologetically into the net.
Leeds were present and correct after that. No further goals
arrived, but this was a night about winning as opposed to goal difference.
A second goal should have arrived. An offside flag was
raised after sublime inter-play between Piroe and Aaronson. The former netted
after the latter was ruled offside in the build-up. Replays showed him to be
level.
Some of Leeds’ intricate play was of a good working order.
It was bright and clever at times.
United, featuring just two of the side who lined up in the
recent FA Cup loss to Millwall - there were seven in visiting colours - had
other semi-dangerous moments.
Aaronson’s low shot was not dealt with convincingly at his
near post by Jensen while Tanaka was not far away with a cracker from distance.
Millwall were quiet. One late header from Cooper flew over,
while Femi Azeez, who was the difference in the cup meeting, was largely
subdued.
On the restart, Solomon flew solo before clipping the
woodwork with a rising drive. It was an orderly show from Leeds, which just
needed an unflattering second. All the while, the scoreline was enough to keep
Millwall interested, mindful of events at the top of the table on the previous
night and some concern again among home fans, who wanted that second goal
badly.
Leeds certainly had enough of the ball and the territory to
match and just required that bit of quality to finish some decent exchanges.
One arrived between Firpo and Solomon, who fired into the
side-netting. Still no killer second with Tristan Crama’s cross-shot forcing
Meslier into his first bit of meaningful work at the other end.
Millwall emptied the bench, while Farke resisted the urge to
make any changes on his part.
He did after Tanaka sealed the deal following a good
contribution from Firpo.