Millwall vs Derby County. Sky Bet Championship.
The DenAttendance2,000.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Millwall and Derby County at The Den as Jason Knight's second-half goal earned interim boss Wayne Rooney a first victory on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday 5 December 2020 20:36, UK
Wayne Rooney's first win in interim charge of Derby was overshadowed by a section of the crowd booing when the players took the knee.
Jason Knight's strike was enough to ensure Millwall suffered back-to-back defeats and the 1-0 victory was the Rams' second win of the campaign.
But as 2,000 fans were welcomed back to the Den for the first time since February after the lifting of England's second lockdown, a section of the crowd were heard booing as the players took the knee in support of the fight against racial injustice.
When the game started, the visitors created the first meaningful attempt as winger Kamil Jozwiak's long-range strike drifted wide.
Millwall came close to taking the lead moments later thanks to some individual brilliance from Jed Wallace.
After receiving Matt Smith's drilled pass on the halfway line, Wallace used his pace to beat central defenders Matthew Clarke and Curtis Davies only for David Marshall to make a stunning save.
Ben Thompson then scooped an effort over the crossbar having been found by a fine Mahlon Romeo cross as the home side continued to search for the opener.
Derby responded with Knight being frustrated by a vital block before Graeme Shinnie blazed over the crossbar with a 30-yard drive.
Smith nearly gave Millwall the lead nine minutes after the break.
Wallace evaded Craig Forsyth, leaving the Derby left-back grounded, and stood a teasing cross up for Smith to attack.
However, the former QPR and Fulham frontman's header from close range was tame and Marshall was able to make a comfortable save to keep the home side at bay.
Millwall boss Gary Rowett upped the ante by bringing Tottenham loanee Troy Parrott off the bench and the Republic of Ireland international immediately forced Marshall into a save.
Jake Cooper then nodded a Shane Ferguson cross wide as the Lions continued to be frustrated in their efforts to make the breakthrough.
Despite Millwall's attacking threat, Derby broke the deadlock with 69 minutes on the clock.
A teasing cross found substitute Martyn Waghorn and although his header was kept out by goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, Knight was on hand to sweep home the rebound.
Waghorn then passed up an opportunity to double the Rams' lead when his long-range attempt was blocked.
Millwall pushed for a leveller and felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Parrott went down under a challenge, but the referee waved away the appeals as the home side's hopes of a point quickly evaporated.
Derby were able to hold on to their lead and boost their hopes of avoiding the drop with a crucial win at The Den, though they remain in the bottom three after 16 Championship games.
Millwall's Gary Rowett: "I'm sat here as a manager disappointed that we're not talking about the game. I think the club have done so many positive things in the community related to anti-discrimination through great initiatives. It's a club that works incredibly hard to enact change and do something about situations we all feel we need to be more proactive on. We're all disappointed we're having to come in and talk about it.
"The players have released a statement together and said they don't support it [taking the knee] as a political message but support anti-discrimination. Moving forward, like a lot of clubs, they would prefer not to take the knee and actually enact change. They want to be proactive rather than it being a gesture, which a lot of clubs are now saying is perhaps empty. That's not my consideration, but they now feel that gesture is in danger of being empty."
Derby's interim manager Wayne Rooney: "I heard it and was very surprised. It's a sad thing to happen but all I can say is everyone involved at Derby County Football Club has fully backed taking the knee and will continue to do so. It's a shame because there has been great progress in that campaign and hearing that is very disappointing and upsetting for a lot of people.
"I'm pleased with how my team dealt with that because I'm sure they put it to the back of their minds during the 90 minutes. I'm sure it's something that does need looking at and addressing. I could see the team progressing in a very good way coming into the game.
"I'm delighted with the clean sheet, which has been long overdue, and getting the three points was deserved because of all the effort the players are putting in on the training ground and in games. It's really pleasing, gives us something to build on and will give the players great confidence. I'm delighted for everyone at the club because it has been a difficult time."
