Kieffer Moores header put Wrexham on their way to their first win of the season in the Sky Bet Championship as they ground out a 2-0 victory against Millwall at The Den. It was the Red Dragons first win in the second tier since they defeated Rotherham on the final day of the 1981-82 season, and it was sealed by Lewis OBriens goal deep into stoppage time.
The only thing that took the shine off the result for Phil Parkinsons side was a serious injury to Danny Ward, who was stretchered off not long before OBriens clincher. Championship highlights | Table | FixturesAll you need to know – Streaming Sky Sports with NOW | Get Sky SportsDownload the Sky Sports App to watch every Sky Sports+ gameLive EFL on Sky Sports+ & how to watch | Get more EFL to your phone with WhatsAppNeither team were able to fashion any clear chances in the early stages, although Millwall goalkeeper Steven Benda did well to prevent Ryan Hardie from getting on the end of Ryan Longmans long pass.
But Wrexham could be pleased with the way they had nullified the Lions after they had made a bright start, with Zak Sturge and Aidomo Emakhu looking lively down the left-hand side. That combination led to Massimo Luongo having a chance to take aim from outside the box with just over half an hour played, but the Australian miscued his shot over.
A clearer chance for the hosts came after 36 minutes when Mihailo Ivanovic could have done better than glance an inviting cross from Emakhu wide. There was another chance for Wrexham just before half-time when Hardie glanced on George Dobsons cross, but Moore couldnt get on the end of it at the back post.
The first time Ward was really called into action was two minutes after the restart when he had to push behind Sturges deflected cross. But Millwall had started the second half well and created another opening when Emakhu played the ball into the area for Josh Coburn whose wild shot was comfortably off target.
Against the run of play, it was Wrexham who took the lead in the 57th minute when Moore beat Benda to Max Cleworths cross from deep and nodded in his fourth goal in three games. The Lions struggled to respond to this setback and it took them until the 74th minute to threaten an equaliser when substitute Raees Bangura-Williams low shot was comfortably saved by Ward.
Emakhu then almost had the goal his performance deserved when his volley from Coburns cross flew narrowly wide of the near post. Millwalls best chance to level came three minutes into stoppage time when Ward, who injured himself on landing, dropped Joe Bryans long ball into the box but Kevin Nisbet blazed over.
There was a 12-minute delay before Ward was stretchered off, and Wrexham sealed victory in the 19th minute of added time when OBrien got in behind and lofted the ball over Benda. The managersMillwalls Alex Neil: I think where we came up short in the game was our use of the ball.
In the final third our use of the ball, whether it was a cross, whether it was a finish, whether it was the final run [wasnt good enough]. Obviously we had much more territory, much more use of the game, if you like, and then even the first goal we conceded was a mistake.
Steven comes fishing for it, doesnt get there and Kieffer managed to get a touch on it and scores the goal. Then from there it allows Wrexham to sit in, and that suits them down to the ground – they dont really need to go searching for anything else.
Wrexhams Phil Parkinson: We showed a gritty and determined nature to us today, and I think that was important. You have to do that here at Millwall because theyre a good side and its a really difficult place to come – Ive managed here many times and Ive played here, and youve got to be stand up and be counted.
Every single player, everybody whos on the coach, has got to do their bit to make sure you give yourself the best chance of getting a result. Im so pleased for the boys. Tuesday was a great win at Preston (in the Carabao Cup) and I felt the belief was coming into us a little bit.
