Alex Neil thought his Millwall side were worthy winners in their 1-0 victory at Championship automatic promotion hopefuls Sheffield United on Tuesday night.
The Lions took the lead after 20 minutes with a lovely move and finish from Josh Coburn.
Billy Mitchell threaded the ball into the path of Casper De Norre, who turned well and played in Coburn. The Middlesbrough loanee took one touch and smashed a right-footed shot into the roof of the net.
The hosts should have equalised in the 26th minute when Harrison Burrows’ free-kick saw Ben Brereton Diaz evade the marking on Jake Cooper, but the former Blackburn forward could only plant his header straight at Lukas Jensen.
Mihailo Ivanovic should have extended Neil’s side’s lead in the 57th minute, but he rushed his chance one-on-one with Michael Cooper after being played through by Coburn.
But the South Londoners held out to move just three points off the top six with five games left to go of the season.
The Blades had 24 shots during the 90 minutes, but Millwall kept the Blades to very few clear cut chances.
“I thought we deserved it,” Neil told MillwallTV.
“We knew Sheffield United were going to give us some pressure and that they start games really well.
“They’re the best in the league in the first 15 minutes of games, so we had to see that out.
“We knew that playing a front two was going to give us a threat but we would be one man down in the middle, but it was a risk worth taking with where we are in the league and with the number of games left.
“We were good value for the lead in the first half. We should have extended the lead.
“We didn’t, which meant that we needed to defend for our lives until the end of the game.
“But I thought that everyone to a man – all the lads that came on and started – ran themselves into a ground.
“I have loved coaching this group and nights like tonight show everybody why – they give you everything they’ve got.”
The Lions host Middlesbrough on Saturday, who occupy that final play-off spot that Neil’s side are three points off.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to go and get another three points to see where that takes us,” said Neil.
“We will then take stock with four games remaining. We’re still in the fight. Looking at our last 10 fixtures, we were going to have to do it the hard way with the teams we were playing. If we manage to win at the weekend, we certainly have.”
PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS
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