Millwall returned to the Championship’s automatic promotion spots as well as guaranteeing at least a place in the play-offs with a victory at Stoke City.
Goals from Camiel Neghli and Femi Azeez put the Lions in control at the bet365 Stadium.
Before a Caleb Taylor own goal opened the door for an unlikely comeback for the Potters.
However, Josh Coburn made up for a poor miss with his ninth league goal of the season to seal all three points for the visitors and send Alex Neil’s side second in the table, with Ipswich Town playing on Wednesday.
Neghli’s curling left-foot effort put the Lions on their way as the Algerian bent the ball into the top corner, leaving Gavin Bazunu no chance in the Stoke net.
But the Potters keeper was at fault for the second, letting Azeez’s shot from distance go through his hands and into the goal behind him.
Millwall looked to be well on top in the game until Stoke’s reply, which came from nowhere.
Substitute Lamine Cisse, with pretty much his first touch, passed the ball into the Millwall area, which deflected off of Taylor and into his own net via the near post.
Stoke, who had already rattled the post with Tatsuki Seko’s first-time shot, improved after the goal.
But having blazed a good chance over the bar in the first half, Coburn restored his side’s two-goal lead with a cool finish under pressure from Basunu and Ashley Phillips, after Neghli had picked up a loose pass out from the Potters’ defence.
Millwall now have a three-point cushion over Ipswich and Southampton in the race for automatic promotion, though the Tractor Boys have two games in hand.
