Middlesbrough vs Millwall. Sky Bet Championship.
Riverside StadiumAttendance23,445.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Millwall: Neil Harris' final game as Lions boss ends in narrow defeat on Teesside
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Millwall at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday; Emmanuel Latte Lath's first-half goal sees Lions beaten in Neil Harris' final game in charge
Saturday 14 December 2024 18:15, UK
Emmanuel Latte Lath's eighth goal of the season moved Middlesbrough back into the Championship play-off places and ensured Neil Harris's second reign as Millwall boss would end in defeat at the Riverside Stadium.
Harris, who announced last week the trip to the north-east would be his last in charge of the Lions, saw his side spurn golden first-half chances for Macauley Langstaff and Femi Azeez.
And after Latte Lath's 10th-minute opener, Michael Carrick's men went on to bounce back from their midweek loss at Leeds with three points without ever looking entirely convincing.
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It might have been a different send-off for Harris had Langstaff - still looking for his first goal since his summer move from Notts County - not drilled a low shot straight at Boro keeper Sol Brynn after pouncing on a careless back pass by George Edmundson after seven minutes.
The visitors were punished three minutes later when a neat ball from Finn Azaz outfoxed Murray Wallace and let Latte Lath in to fire the opener past Lukas Jensen.
Boro suffered a setback when Luke Ayling was forced off with an injury on 22 minutes and the Lions missed a second golden opportunity when Azeez beat the offside trap but was again denied down low by Brynn.
The hosts had the better chances as the first half ticked towards its conclusion, Azaz slicing a shot wide on the end of a crisp counter-attack then Hayden Hackney drilling a shot at Jensen from a tight angle.
Millwall's threat subsided in the early stages of the second half and a good defensive intervention from Casper De Norre prevented the ever-dangerous Latte Lath from adding to his tally.
Boro had a penalty appeal turned down after Ben Doak was challenged by Danny McNamara, and an unmarked Azaz slammed a shot wide from the edge of the box as Millwall left spaces in their push for a leveller.
Boro duo Tommy Conway and Delano Burgzorg came closest to snatching a second in the final stages before Harris was denied a dramatic send-off when Millwall saw a penalty appeal for handball waved away deep into injury time.
The managers
Middlesbrough's Michael Carrick:
"It was one of my favourite ones, for how the game went and what we had to do to win it. They are an extremely tough team to play against, and we can pay better football, but I thought as the game went on we defended fantastically and limited them to not too much.
"We spoke about playing well enough to win games, and sometimes it takes a little extra skill set and dynamic. We had to find that tonight and the boys did well.
"It was disappointing to lose Luke [Ayling]. He came off originally to get two or three stitches in his foot, then he came back on and did his knee. It's unfortunate but we'll have to see how he goes."
Millwall's Neil Harris:
"It's a little bit frustrating and it's felt like groundhog day for all of us this week, because where we've fallen short over the last 10 months is that little bit of quality up front.
"It's not the first tiff I've had with the Millwall fans over the years, but if there's one person who can get away with having an evil mouth sometimes at Millwall Football Club, it's Neil Harris.
"It was a beautiful moment for us and it's a shame we were so many miles from home and more couldn't have been here. It's been a privilege to lead this club for so long, because it's a brilliant and unique club and I'll be back as a supporter in the future.
"I've really enjoyed this spell. It's been an amazing, whirlwind 10 months but I've loved it, and it's left me full of energy and excitement and passion for football.
"Over the coming weeks and months I'm going to travel around the country and see friends at Premier League clubs, and watch my local team Southend. I also look forward to Christmas, because I haven't had many of them at home over the last 30 years in football."
