Middlesbrough picked up only their second away win of the season on Saturday as they beat Millwall 2-0 in the Championship.
Following a goalless first half, the deadlock was broken on 48 minutes when Emmanuel Ledesma came off the bench to curl a spectacular effort into the far corner.
The victory was then sealed late on as Albert Adomah slotted in from close range after rounding goalkeeper David Forde.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded in South London.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of tonight's Championship encounter as Millwall welcome Middlesbrough to The Den. We should have some team news through for you shortly.
Both of these teams have had disappointing seasons so far, but three points for either side today would be welcome as we approach a busy festive schedule. There are also 10 other matches currently being played in the Championship, and we will bring you those results as soon as they're confirmed.
MILLWALL: Forde; Dunne, Robinson, Beevers, Malone; Feeney, Trotter, Abdou, Woolford; McDonald, Morison
MILLWALL SUBS: Bywater, Shittu, Lowry, Smith, Moussi, Easter, Keogh
Millwall have made just the one change following last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Blackburn Rovers as Scott McDonald returns to the starting XI in place of Martyn Waghorn.
We've already had one result come through in the Championship's early kickoff as Leicester City earned an important 1-0 win at promotion rivals Queens Park Rangers. You can read all about that match right here.
We're still waiting to hear from Middlesbrough regarding their starting lineup...
RECENT FORM:
MILLWALL: LWLDWL
BORO: DLWLDL
BORO: Given; Varga, Gibson, Ayala, Friend; Adomah, Whitehead, Smallwood, Carayol; Emnes, Main
BORO SUBS: Konstantopoulos, Butterfield, Jutkiewicz, Ledesma, L Williams, Hines, Haroun
The visitors have made a total of five changes after last weekend's narrow 1-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion. Josef Varga, Ben Gibson, Richard Smallwood, Marvin Emnes and Curtis Main are those who have been given the nod by Aitor Karanka.
HEAD TO HEAD: Boro just have the edge when it comes to past meetings between these teams. They've come out on top 16 times to Millwall's 14. Meanwhile, there have been seven draws since they first face each other way back in 1928.
However, Millwall have been the better side during the past six encounters. The South-London club have three victories compared to Boro's two. They also took the spoils in both fixtures last season as a 3-1 triumph at The Den was followed by a 2-1 win at the Riverside Stadium. Can they make it three in a row tonight?
Right, the full-time whistles have gone in today's other Championship matches so here come the results...
CHAMPIONSHIP FULL-TIME RESULTS:
Birmingham City 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Huddersfield Town
Burnley 2-1 Blackpool
Derby County 3-1 Doncaster Rovers
Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford
Leeds United 0-0 Barnsley
Reading 1-2 Wigan Athletic
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Bournemouth
Yeovil Town 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
So, what do those results mean for tonight's match between Millwall and Boro? The maths are easy enough: whoever wins tonight's encounter will move up to 17th place in the table after 21 matches. As it stands, Millwall are four points above the relegation zone, Boro three.
Millwall are likely to fancy their chances tonight considering that they are at home. The Lions are unbeaten in their last seven games at The New Den.
While Millwall have been solid at home in recent weeks, Boro's away form has been woeful. They've still only won once on the road this season, and that was their first away fixture of the campaign against Charlton Athletic.
The visitors have also struggled following the arrival of Aitor Karanka as manager on November 13. They've taken four points from a possible 15 during his brief time at the helm.
Around 10 minutes to go until this one gets underway and it's raining fairly steadily in South London. It has been all day, so the surface could provide one or two surprises tonight.
PREDICTION TIME: There's very little to separate these two teams ahead of the match but Millwall could well come away with the points due to their decent home form combined with Boro's poor away form.
REFEREE WATCH: The man in the middle for tonight's match is James Linington. Five minutes until kickoff.
The players are lined up in the tunnel, ready to step out onto the rain-soaked pitch at The New Den.
The pre-match handshakes have been done and it will be Middlesbrough to get us underway. Here we go!
It's been a good, bright start from the visitors as they look to impose themselves early on. Millwall haven't really been able to get hold of the ball during the opening few minutes.
Aitor Karanka will be very pleased with what he's seen from his players so far. They continue to push Millwall back and control the game with some sharp, snappy passing in and around midfield.
For all of Boro's quick passing, Millwall are showing no fear in terms of getting stuck into their opponents. We've already had a few tasty tackles from the home side. However, we're still yet to see any real chances in front of goal.
Something of a half-chance for the visitors as Emnes bobs and weaves inside the penalty area, but he eventually gets crowded out by Millwall shirts before running the ball out for a goal kick. Boro are still the better team at the moment.
He might be considered a veteran these days, but Shay Given has shown quick feet on a couple of occasions already tonight. The goalkeeper has had to deal with a few dodgy back-passes from his teammates thanks to the slippery surface at The New Den.
Now it's Millwall who are starting to put their stamp on proceedings. Their attacking play doesn't quite have the panache of Boro's, but this is certainly better from the home side.
A real waste of an attack there from Boro as Main picked out Emnes on the edge of the box, but he took too long on the ball before a number of Millwall shirts closed him down. That was a promising position for the away side as we await the opening goal of the game. Meanwhile, the rain continues to lash down in South London.
The Millwall fans want a free kick on the right side as Feeney is brought down, but the referee waves play on before the ball goes out of play for a goal kick. The wide areas have been important for both teams so far.
The conditions are certainly playing their part now as both teams struggle to keep hold of the ball. It's all got a little bit scrappy out there. Boro were well on top early on, but it's far more of an even contest now.
YELLOW CARD: Boro defender Daniel Ayala is the first player to go into the book tonight after chopping down Liam Trotter.
SUBSTITUTION: Boro are forced into an early change as Mustapha Carayol limps off to be replaced by Emmanuel Ledesma.
The ball has spent plenty of time in the air during the last few minutes as both teams seem content to boot it upfield in search of a goal. It's not been a classic so far. Ten minutes left of normal time in this first half.
That's better from Millwall. Boro fail to make a corner count at the other end, allowing the hosts to break with the pace of Feeney. The winger does well to get deep into the opposition half, but his cross is not a good one and is easily cleared. Still, that's about as exciting as it's been.
Decent stuff from Boro as Smallwood feeds the ball to Emnes inside the box, but he just can't get it out from under his feet as Millwall do enough to clear the danger. The good news is that it looks as if the rain is easing off slightly. It's certainly hampered both sides so far.
We've had our first shot on target. Repeat, we've had out first shot on target. It was Dunne who decided to have a crack from long range after switching the ball onto his left foot, but his tame effort was easily dealt with by fellow Irishman Given.
Feeney delivers a cross in from the right that causes a bit of trouble inside the Boro box, though there aren't any Millwall players near it, allowing the visitors to clear.
There will be one minute of added time...
HALF TIME: MILLWALL 0-0 MIDDLESBROUGH
The half-time whistle goes and it's goalless between Millwall and Middlesbrough. Both teams showed occasional flashes of attacking intent, though there wasn't much to shout about during that opening 45 minutes.
It might be easy to criticise the two sets of players for that uninspiring first half, but it must also be said that the weather has played its part in this match. The rain has been pretty heavy, providing difficult conditions for the teams to play in.
As it stands, Millwall will remain in 18th place in the table while Boro will stay in 19th. The winner of this match will climb up to 17th place in the standings.
One are where both teams can improve in the second half is their bravery and willingness to go forward. Emnes has looked dangerous for Boro on a couple of occasions, as has Feeney for Millwall. However, there was a complete lack of genuine derring-do in that opening 45 minutes.
Right, the players are back out and it will be Millwall to kick off this second half. No changes for either side at the break. Let's hope that we see a bit more action than the first.
GOAL! MILLWALL 0-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (LEDESMA)
We have a goal and it's an absolute beauty from Emmanuel Ledesma for Boro! The visitors broke quickly upfield following some Millwall pressure before the Argentine curled a stunning effort into the far corner from about 25 yards. Ledesma's celebration was a bit excessive there, so he goes into the book for his troubles.
Millwall were looking fairly positive until Boro broke the deadlock. The visitors are now showing a lot more confidence.
YELLOW CARD: Millwall's Scott McDonald goes into the book for a late challenge on Dean Whitehead. There was a bit of pushing and shoving between the pair after that, so don't be surprised if they clash again sometime before the final whistle.
Millwall are getting a little frustrated out there at the moment as the referee penalises them for a few meaningless fouls. Still, they have plenty of time to get themselves back into this match. Just over 30 minutes remaining.
UPDATE: Boro medical staff have confirmed that Mustapha Carayol went off in the first half with a "slight groin strain". Let's hope it's nothing too serious for the Gambian.
SUBSTITUTION: Millwall make a change now as Jermaine Easter comes on for Scott McDonald, who has struggled up front tonight against his former club.
Despite that moment of magic from Ledesma, this game remains a bit of a dull affair. Boro are trying to pass and probe against their opponents, while Millwall seem quite happy to hoof the ball high up the other end. It's not the most sophisticated tactic, but it could be their only way back into this match.
One positive for Millwall is that Easter has caused Boro a few problems since coming on in place of McDonald. The forward has looked lively as he tries to run in behind the visiting defence. He's certainly giving the away side a bit more to think about as we head into the final 20 minutes.
SAVE! Nearly an equaliser for Millwall! Woolford's cross finds the head of Morison, but Given is there to claw the ball away. Great goalkeeping from the Irish veteran to keep Boro in front.
CHANCE! Boro should be 2-0 ahead. Ledesma gets down the right before cutting the ball back to Smallwood who is about 12 yards from goal with no one around him. However, he can only scoop his effort well over the crossbar.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Another change for Millwall here as Jimmy Abdou is replaced by Andy Keogh. Meanwhile, Marvin Emnes comes off for Jacob Butterfield for Boro.
If anyone looks like scoring at the moment, it's Boro. The visitors are starting to crank up the pressure on their opponents, who are finding it difficult to create an real chances. However, this is the Championship and anything can happen.
CHANCE! An own goal almost puts Boro 2-0 up as Trotter heads narrowly wide from a corner. The visitors get a second bite of the cherry, but they fail to make anything of it. It's sure to be a nervy final 10 minutes if the away side can't add to their lead.
CHANCE! Now Trotters comes close at the other end! The ball breaks for him on the edge of the box before the midfielder smashes his shot over the crossbar. An inch or two lower and Given might have had trouble stopping that.
CHANCE! Not a bad end to this game, is it?! Adomah managed to create himself some space inside the Millwall penalty area, but his effort was a tame one that Forde got down easily to save.
SUBSTITUTION: Boro make their final change of the night as Lukas Jutkiewicz replaces Curtis Main, who has worked hard for the visitors this evening.
CHANCE! That could have been game, set and match for Boro. Ledesma received the ball following a quick Boro counter-attack before trying to chip Forde from the edge of the box. However, the Millwall goalkeeper got the faintest of touches on the ball before play was stopped for a foul.
GOAL! MILLWALL 0-2 MIDDLESBROUGH (ADOMAH)
It's game over now! Albert Adomah makes it 2-0 to Boro after springing the offside trap, rounding Forde, and slotting the ball into an empty net. Simple yet clinical from the visitors as they look on course for only their second away win of the season.
Four minutes added time...
SAVE! Forde stops it from being 3-0 as he gets down to push away Butterfield's low drive from 25 yards. Boro are having fun now.
FULL TIME: MILLWALL 0-2 MIDDLESBROUGH
The full-time whistle goes and Middlesbrough have only their second away win of the season thanks to a 2-0 victory over Millwall. Emmanuel Ledesma came off the bench to open the scoring in spectacular style on 48 minutes before Albert Adomah sealed the points late on.
Anyway, that's all from me but don't forget that you can find reports and reaction for all of today's Championship games right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Goodnight!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
