LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Luton Town fans show their support prior to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Coventry City and Luton Town at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Millwall manager Neil Harris made his frustration clear in “no uncertain terms” following their 1-0 defeat to Luton Town at The Den.
In a match where Millwall struggled to break down a determined Luton side, a first-half strike from Teden Mengi sealed the Lions’ fate, extending their winless run. A series of impressive saves by goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski helped give the Hatters their first victory of the season.
The game started with Millwall applying early pressure, as George Saville went down in the box, appealing for a penalty, only for referee Josh Smith to wave away the protests. Moments later, Kaminski easily gathered Casper De Norre’s speculative shot from range. Against the run of play, Luton struck with their first meaningful attack. Elijah Adebayo did well to control the ball inside the box and laid it off to Tahith Chong. Although Millwall keeper Lukas Jensen tipped Chong’s initial cross away, Mengi capitalized on the rebound, firing a perfectly placed shot into the corner from just outside the box.
Luton nearly doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Alfie Doughty’s free-kick was headed back across the goal. Chong connected with it, but his shot struck the inside of the post and bounced out. Millwall, struggling to contain Luton’s counter-attacks, narrowly avoided conceding again before half-time when a poorly cleared header from Joe Bryan allowed Doughty to send a dangerous cross into the box, though Jordan Clark couldn’t convert.
In the second half, Millwall sought to take control, with De Norre continuing to be a threat from midfield. His quick free-kick created a half-chance, but the final effort from 20 yards flew over the bar. Millwall’s frustrations continued when Teden Mengi, who had been booked earlier, committed another foul, sparking calls for a second yellow card from the home crowd, but referee Smith chose not to show him a red.
Luton’s ability to break up play and frustrate Millwall’s attacks became evident as the game progressed. Chong’s lung-busting run down the left relieved pressure for the visitors, while Kaminski’s heroics in goal kept Millwall at bay. One of the key moments saw Kaminski making a crucial low save from Mengi, denying the centre-back a second goal.
Despite late pressure from the hosts, including a series of corners and half-chances, Luton held firm. Millwall’s inability to capitalise on their opportunities, combined with Luton’s defensive resilience, meant that Neil Harris’s side left The Den without a point.
Speaking after the defeat, a visibly frustrated Neil Harris did not hold back in his assessment of his team’s performance, particularly in how they defended Luton’s goal.
