Millwall 0-1 Huddersfield Town: Danny Ward earns struggling Terriers shock win over play-off-chasing Lions

Danny Ward’s second-half strike stunned play-off-chasing Millwall as relegation-threatened Huddersfield snatched all three points at The Den.

Huddersfield’s resolute back line held firm to secure a first win in six games and boost their hopes of escaping the drop.

The win sees Neil Warnock’s side rise to 22nd place in the Championship, three points from safety, while Millwall remain in the play-off zone in sixth.

• Relive Saturday’s EFL action as it happened

Millwall, who were unchanged from the side that beat Swansea on Tuesday, began on the front foot and Andreas Voglsammer should have put them in front, drilling over the bar after Murray Wallace set him up.

Tom Bradshaw and Zian Flemming were also off-target for the Lions, while Charlie Cresswell tested Huddersfield goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik from the edge of the box.

At the other end, Jack Rudoni’s effort was turned around the post and Town continued to frustrate their hosts as the interval came and went.

Huddersfield’s goal arrived midway through the second period when Josh Ruffels combined with Jackson on the left and Ward stole in front of his marker at the near post to steer the ball past George Long.

It was only the visitors’ second goal in five games and they protected it fiercely, restricting Millwall to a Ryan Leonard drive that deflected wide 10 minutes from time.

Substitute Romain Esse sent a teasing cross into the penalty area late on, but could not find a Lions team-mate as his side drew a blank for the first time in their last eight matches.

Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC London 94.9:

“When do we normally have 70% possession? I think we’ve had nearly 20 shots, they’ve had four.

“The disappointment to me is not the way the game went – when it’s that type of game you can’t make a poor mistake and we left their player unmarked in the six-yard box.

“To lose with just that one moment when we switch-off, that’s always the danger with those games when you have so much of the ball.

“We’re going to be a little bit disappointed going into the international break but I don’t think that can overshadow where we are and what we’ve done so far.”

Huddersfield manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Leeds:

“We changed a few positions around. I asked certain people to do different jobs to what they’re used to and I couldn’t fault their effort – they’ve never worked as hard as that in their lives.

“We were organised, we didn’t give them a lot of clear chances and we didn’t give any stupid penalties and things away.

“It was a super goal and then the way they defended their box at the end, putting their heads on the line and the tackles – it was great for the supporters.

“They deserve something like that and I’m really pleased for them today.”