Jake Cooper's unfortunate second-half own goal gave gritty Hull City a second successive 1-0 away win as the resurgent Tigers edged past out-of-form Millwall.
The luckless Lions captain put Regan Slater’s 58th-minute cross through his own net to secure a first victory of 2025 and lift the Tigers out of the relegation zone.
Rubén Sellés made three changes from the FA Cup penalty shootout exit to Doncaster Rovers for the Tigers’ trip to the Lions’ Den.
Lewie Coyle, Alfie Jones and Mason Burstow returned to the starting XI, with new signings Matt Crooks, Joe Gelhardt and Nordin Amrabat named on the bench.
Carl Rushworth retained the gloves for his City league debut and made a routine early save to hold Mihailo Ivanović’s downward header from Joe Bryan’s free-kick.
Coyle’s tame left-footed curler from outside the D was straightforward for Lukas Jensen, although the home keeper was called into more meaningful action on 10 minutes.
João Pedro’s slide-rule pass played through Abu Kamara but the advancing Jensen narrowed the angle and smothered his central right-footed drive with his chest.
Sean Mcloughlin, deployed at left-back, produced a brave block to thwart his opposite number six, Japhet Tanganga, with the Lions baring their teeth again when Duncan Watmore broke through the middle.
The forward hit the deck after a robust challenge from Jones but still managed to swivel and backheel the ball to former Tiger George Honeyman, who swept first time over the top.
Coyle was withdrawn through injury and replaced by Cody Drameh midway through the half, but the Tigers’ rearguard remained resolute, with Leonard lashing and Casper De Norre smashing over from range.
Possession
48%Shots
7Shots On Target
2Corners
3Fouls
161
0
Cards
1
0
Honeyman’s free-kick, 90 seconds into the second half, was nodded well wide by Tanganga as City continued to keep Millwall at arm’s length before nudging in front just before the hour mark.
Slater swapped passes with Kamara down the right and his low cross was inadvertently turned towards his own goal by Cooper, deceiving Jensen as the ball flashed inside his near post.
Gelhardt came on for Burstow not long after and immediately set up a shooting chance for Slater, who dragged a low strike wide from the edge of the box.
Slick interplay involving Drameh and Slater culminated in Pedro curling over from 20 yards, with a composed City in complete control.
New boys Crooks and Amrabat entered the fray nine minutes from time as Gustavo Puerta and Kamara made way.
February 2013 was the last time the Tigers left south-east London with maximum points, but Sellés’ side saw out the match with relative comfort, heading and hacking away every ball into the box.
Attendance: 14,579 (1,629 Hull City supporters).
Millwall: Jensen, Tanganga, Cooper, Bryan, Leonard, De Norre, Saville (Mitchell 77'), Scanlon (Connolly 63'), Watmore (Langstaff 72'), Honeyman, Ivanovic (Bangura-Williams 77')
Subs: McNamara, Wallace, Hutchinson, Roberts, Crama
Hull City: Rushworth, Coyle (Drameh 24'), Burns, Jones, McLoughlin, Slater, Alzate, Puerta (Crooks 83'), Kamara (Amrabat 82'), Pedro, Burstow (Gelhardt 63')
Subs: Pandur, Vaughan, Simons, Smith, Jacob
Extended highlights of Millwall 0-1 Hull City are available on Tigers+
