Millwall the 1-0 specialists do just enough again as high-riding Leeds United are thwarted

Millwall (1) 1 Tanganga 40

Leeds United (0) 0

At first they wobbled, now they roar...or at least snarl in a well organised backs-to-the-wall kind of way.

Just one defeat in nine and four wins in a row have heightened expectations and hope around the Den following an iffy start to the campaign.

Japhet Tanganga's first goal of the season just before the interval was enough to get the job done. Another victory chalked up thanks to the central defenders. On Sunday, it was skipper Jake Cooper doing the honors as he plundered the winner against Burnley.

Millwall's only defeat in this impressive spell came at an improving Cardiff and there have been signs in recent weeks that their home is once more becoming a bit of a fortress. And that their defence, always ably marshalled by Cooper, is looking mean again with a succession of clean sheets.

It may not be spectacular - is this approach so very different from the one Gary Rowett got castigated for in the end? - but this tough-to-beat character stitched into the DNA is proving effective. All four wins have been 1-0.

They will travel up to Stoke at the weekend, sitting pretty in fifth or sixth place.

Leeds, third in the table and unbeaten in eight, looked likely to be a big test, even if two of the players who helped destroy them 3-0 at the Den last season - Crysensio Summerville and Georginio Rutter - have since departed. There had only been one win in the previous six meetings with the Yorkshire outfit.

After easing into the contest, Daniel Farke's men started asking questions through Wilfried Gnonto down the left and Dan James down the right. Lukas Jensen had to stop a couple of routine efforts as a few warning signs were showing.

But the pretty football amounted to not much. Some good old fashioned direct play was the antidote and when a ball was floated in from the right, Cooper rose highest to nod back across goal and Tanganga buried the ball into the bottom corner with a sweet half volley with the outside of his right boot.

It was a fine strike out of keeping with much that preceded it from Neil Harris' team.

After the break, Gnonto headed a good chance over the crossbar and Joel Piroe had the ball in the net, with a linesman's flag coming to the rescue for the Lions. But overall, Millwall kept Leeds' chances to a minimum and almost scored themselves when sub Femi Azeez headed against a post from close range.

2-0 though? So unnecessary these days for the Lions.

Lions: (4-4-2) Jensen - Leonard, Tanganga, Cooper, McNamara - Esse (Azeez 78), Whintle (Hutchinson 92), Saville, Watmore (De Norre 62) - Honeyman, Langstaff (Coburn 62)

Leeds: (4-2-3-1) Meslier - Bogle (Bamford 81), Rodon, Struijk, Firpo - Tanaka, Rothwell (Solomon 72) - James, Aaronson, Gnonto (Joseph 81) - Piroe

Attendance: 16,693