Millwall vs Middlesbrough. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Millwall and Middlesbrough at The Den as Zian Flemming starred for Millwall again with two goals in victory on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday 8 October 2022 19:29, UK
Zian Flemming scored twice as Millwall continued their fine home form with a 2-0 Championship win over Middlesbrough.
The summer signing from Dutch side Fortuna Sittard benefitted from a lucky deflection early in the first half before striking again just after the break for his third goal this week.
Millwall have now claimed 15 of their 17 points at the Den this season, while Middlesbrough are still looking for a first away win since early April.
Boro are also searching for a permanent manager after the sacking of Chris Wilder, with interim boss Leo Percovich unable to build on a gutsy victory over Birmingham on Wednesday.
Having rescued a point away at Rotherham in midweek, it was Dutch playmaker Flemming who gave the hosts the lead in the fifth minute.
His low free-kick clipped the bottom of Middlesbrough's two-man wall and wrongfooted goalkeeper Zack Steffen, the ball fortuitously nestling in the far corner.
And the 24-year-old perhaps should have made it two a couple of minutes later but could not keep his header down from 10 yards out.
Middlesbrough were showing signs of improvement midway through the first half, culminating in Matt Crooks blazing a poorly-cleared ball over from inside the area.
And striker Rodrigo Muniz was left inexplicably free at the back post at a corner shortly before the break but he too could not hit the target.
Millwall had a golden chance to double their lead on the stroke of half-time as Tom Bradshaw followed up when Steffen failed to deal with a long-range Andreas Voglsammer effort.
But the American made immediate amends, stretching to deny Bradshaw as the striker looked certain to slot home.
The home side started the second half even more quickly than the first, with Flemming smashing in Jake Cooper's knockdown at the back post in the 49th minute.
Middlesbrough's Isaiah Jones, returning from a one-match suspension, looked to force the issue with a mazy run into the area.
The 23-year-old went down under a challenge, but referee Matthew Donohue waved away his penalty claim.
Middlesbrough fans broke into an ironic rendition of 'We've had a shot' in the 85th minute when substitute Matthew Hoppe fired from distance, but it failed to trouble George Long.
A minute later Hoppe had another effort on target, heading low from a corner.
Long this time did well to turn the ball behind at his near post as Boro failed to find a way back into the game.
Millwall's Gary Rowett: "I've had to really think about each formation. I mean, it's because we haven't really found that form I'd like. Who knows? We've done it for two games.
"How many times have we played a five for two games and actually been good for two games? It's about being good over a 10- or 15-game period."
Middlesbrough's interim boss Leo Percovich: "It's very positive. The dressing room is very positive, for sure. The players are still alive. When people are talking about the expectations of the season, I think this could be a very good season for us.
"We've started bad, but it doesn't mean the season is gone. It doesn't mean that it's finished. A positive thing is that the team from the last game to this one, they feel more comfortable with the ball, they do more movements."
