Millwall 0-3 Leeds United: Joel Piroe at the double with Georginio Rutter also on target as Daniel Farke’s side win grudge match at The Den to climb into Championship top half
- Joel Piroe netted twice as Leeds eased to a 3-0 victory over Millwall at The Den
- Georginio Rutter rounded off a comfortable afternoon’s work for the Whites
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off!
Leeds United demonstrated the potency of their attack as they cruised to victory at Millwall and climbed into the Championship’s upper half.
Summer arrival Joel Piroe was at the double, with Georginio Rutter adding a third, as Daniel Farke’s side showed the cutting edge they hope will return them to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
They recorded their first win at The Den since March 2012 to claim bragging rights in what has become a lively rivalry between the two clubs.
Piroe, signed from Swansea last month for £10.5million, rounded off a slick 15th-minute move after Georginio slipped him through to open the scoring.
The Dutch striker was left with a tap-in to double the lead on 78 minutes after Dan James stumbled over the ball but guided it into his path.
Joel Piroe celebrates the second of his two goals as Leeds eased to a 3-0 win away to Millwall
The Dutch striker was left with a tap-in for his second goal after Dan James teed him up
Georginio Rutter lashed home a third goal for Leeds moments after they’d doubled their lead
It set the seal on a handsome victory which lifted Leeds up into the Championship top half
Joel Piroe rolls the ball home to culminate a slick Leeds move and given them an early lead
Georginio then made absolutely sure moments later, crashing the ball high into the net after James picked him out in the box.
While Leeds climb into 10th in the early season standings, Millwall sit 18th with seven points gained from their opening six games.
Millwall took the game to Leeds in the opening stages and Tom Bradshaw and Kevin Nisbet had shots blocked from close range within the opening five minutes.
Leeds held firm, however, and edged into the contest as Rutter raced through on goal only to be denied by Lions skipper Jake Cooper.
That opportunity gave Leeds momentum and a flowing counter-attack led to the opener when Wilfried Gnonto’s pass found Rutter on the edge of the area, before the Frenchman played a deft through ball into Piroe, who curled past Bartosz Bialkowski into the bottom corner.
Leeds almost doubled their lead midway through the first half after Crysencio Summerville raced on to a long through ball over the Millwall defence and his first-time chip over Bialkowski nearly found the net but bounced just past a post.
Millwall pushed for a leveller before half-time and almost struck when Nisbet held the ball up and released Ryan Longman inside the area who struck a powerful swerving shot towards the bottom corner that Illan Meslier palmed to safety.
Leeds goalkeeper Ilian Meslier misjudges the flight of the ball as Tom Bradshaw pounces
Wilfried Gnonto of Leeds turns out of trouble during the Sunday lunchtime game at The Den
The Lions started brightly after the break and Casper De Norre’s through ball released Bradshaw in the area but the striker fired his shot straight at Meslier from six yards.
As Millwall pushed for the equaliser, Leeds continued to show their threat on the counter and Gnonto dribbled past his marker and whipped a dangerous cross into the six-yard area that the Millwall defence managed to clear.
With 30 minutes reaming, Millwall tried to keep the pressure on and worked the ball out to Longman who evaded two challenges and attempted a 25-yard shot that sailed over the crossbar.
Georginio Rutter of Leeds tries to get clear of Allan Campbell and Billy Mitchell (left)
Leeds captain Luke Ayling chases Tom Bradshaw as the Millwall man tried to break away
Jake Cooper of Millwall slides in to stop Crysencio Summerville as he goes on a run
The hosts pushed players forward late on which allowed Leeds space to create two late goals.
First, Rutter and Daniel James played a quick one-two in the box before the former teed up Piroe to tap into the net from inside the six-yard box.
The visitors then sealed all three points minutes later when James raced into empty space on the right wing and crossed for Rutter, who took full advantage of Cooper’s misjudged clearance and fired high into the net past Bialkowski.
Match facts
Millwall (3-1-4-2): Bialkowski; Leonard, Cooper (c), M Wallace; Mitchell (Saville 84); Norton-Cuffy, Campbell (Esse 64), De Norre (Flemming 64), Longman (Emakhu 73); Bradshaw, Nisbet (Watmore 64)
Substitutes not used: Trueman (GK); McNamara, Harding, Adom-Malaki
Manager: Gary Rowett
Leeds United (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Ayling (c), Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Gray (Gruev 89), Ampadu; Summerville (James 70), Piroe (Kamara 83), Gnonto (Anthony 70); Rutter (Gelhardt 89)
Substitutes not used: Darlow (GK); Cresswell, Shackleton, Poveda
Manager: Daniel Farke
Scorers: Piroe 15, 78; Rutter 81
Referee: Chris Kavanagh Attendance: 17,909
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