Joe Edwards hailed unlikely match-winner Shaun Hutchinson after the Millwall skipper ended a near three-year scoring drought in stoppage time to sink Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The experienced centre-back went forward for a 92nd-minute corner and, when City failed to clear, sent a sweet left-footed volley beyond the dive of goalkeeper Max O’Leary to clinch a 1-0 win.
It was Hutchinson’s first goal since March 2021, which meant he took a fair bit of stick from celebrating team-mates in the dressing room after the game.
Head coach Edwards said: “The lads are saying sarcastically that it was all part of the game plan to stay level and work the ball on to Shaun’s left foot at the end.
“Fans not at the game looking at the score sheet will probably think he netted with a header. In fact, it was a quality strike with his weaker foot.
“I hope we don’t have to wait as long for his next goal. Because of injury, Shaun hasn’t played as much as he would have liked since I arrived at the club.
“But I never doubted his value. He is a leader by nature and that’s why he is captain.
“Bristol City are one of the Championship teams capable of dominating possession. But we came prepared for that and restricted them to very few chances.”
City head coach Liam Manning said his side should have come away “with at least a point”.
He said: “To concede so late makes the result doubly frustrating, as does the fact that we can play so much better.
“We have had four games in 11 days without being able to change the back four because of injuries, but I don’t want to use tiredness as an excuse.
“If anything, I thought it showed in our mindset, rather than physically. We could have been more positive and in the second half we dropped too deep.
“We weren’t brave enough with our passing at times and didn’t play our normal game. Millwall showed the respect due to us after our recent run and were prepared to sit back.
“I am under no illusion that we are still at the start when it comes to players’ understanding how I want us to play. Because of Christmas, we have still only had three weeks training together since I arrived.”
The game ended in a melee involving numerous players from both teams, but neither coach saw much amiss and referee Tom Nield took no action.
Edwards said: “It looked as though a player got pushed over the advertising boards and it provoked a reaction, but it was nothing serious.”
Al-Ahli 1-2 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic double keeps Saudi champions perfect
Aleksandar Mitrovic proved to be the difference once again for Al-Hilal as the reigning Saudi Pro League champions beat Al-Ahli 2-1 on Saturday.
Al-Ahil went in front with 12 minutes played when Gabri Veiga was sent through on goal by Franck Kessie, with the Spaniard rounding Yassine Bounou to open the scoring at King Abdullah Sports City.
The hosts went close to doubling their advantage soon after, with Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney going close, before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic saw his effort cleared off the line at the other end.
But parity was restored early in the second half through Al-Hilal's master marksman, as Mitrovic nodded home a trademark header from Renan Lodi's delivery.
Al-Ahil were then awarded a penalty when Rayan Hamed fouled Malcom inside the box, only for Mitrovic to see his effort saved by Abdulrahman Al Sanbi.
However, the Serbian was given the chance to redeem himself after the VAR deemed encroachment had taken place, and he made no mistake at the second time of asking to net his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
Data Debrief: Mitrovic the main man
Mitrovic has been in fine form since his move to Saudi Arabia, with his latest double taking his tally to 54 goals in as many appearances for Al-Hilal.
This time out, he contributed 1.16 expected goals (xG) tally to the visitors' 2.24 total, while also recording the most touches in the opposition box (six).
Malcom also impressed for Al-Hilal, creating more chances (three) than anyone on the pitch, with his 14 passes into the final third a total only bettered by Ruben Neves (18) and Salem Al Dawsari (15) among his team-mates.
Championship: Sheff Utd joint-top after win over Luton, Rooney sent off but Plymouth prevail
Sheffield United maintained their unbeaten start in the Championship and moved joint-top of the table with a 2-0 home win over Luton Town.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi marked his 22nd birthday in style, scoring a goal in each half, as the Blades brushed aside their struggling visitors on Saturday.
The youngster was denied in the opening stages, but still ensured United got off to a strong start, firing in an emphatic finish after just 12 minutes.
He then got his second just seven minutes after the restart, sliding it through Thomas Kaminski's legs.
The Blades should have had a third late on when Vinicius Souza struck the post, but they had already done enough to take advantage of Sunderland dropping points on Friday to join them on 19 points at the summit.
Luton, meanwhile, are winless in three as they sit just above the relegation zone in 21st place.
Elsewhere, Plymouth Argyle snatched a dramatic 2-1 home win over Blackburn Rovers, after manager Wayne Rooney had been sent off.
Michael Obafemi's 15th-minute goal looked enough to secure a win until Joe Rankin-Costello equalised with four minutes left of normal time.
Rooney was subsequently sent to the stands for his protests as he felt there was a foul in the build-up, meaning he was not on the touchline when Morgan Whittaker headed in a last-gasp winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Watford also secured a late victory, with Tom Cleverley's side coming from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Vicarage Road.
It initially looked like they were in danger of falling to a second consecutive defeat, having failed to create chances before George Edmundson took advantage of slack defending to put Boro ahead.
However, the Hornets' substitutions swung the game back in their favour, with Edo Kayembe pulling them level before Kwadwo Baah's half-volley secured the points in the 87th minute.
Al-Nassr 3-0 Al-Orubah: Mane double helps hosts close in on leaders
Sadio Mane scored a goal in either half, helping Al-Nassr cruise to a 3-0 win over Al-Orubah and close in on the top two in the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo had given the hosts the lead from the spot, setting them on their way to a dominant victory.
After a slow start, Jean Seri was penalised for a handball, and Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot. After a stuttering run-up, he coolly slotted his strike into the bottom-left corner.
Mane got his first on the stroke of half-time, latching onto Ronaldo's pull-back before firing his low shot into the far side of the net.
He could have had a hat-trick, having also hit the woodwork and squandered a first-time shot by slicing it wide, but he did get his second in the 71st minute, guiding Nawaf Bu Washi's cross past Gaetan Coucke.
Cristian Tello came closest to a consolation for the visitors, smashing a long-range effort off the crossbar.
Data Debrief: Mane's time to shine
Mane, so far this season, has been providing the spark as a playmaker after registering five assists in Al-Nassr's first five games in the Saudi Pro League.
Today, however, he regained his scoring touch, getting his first two goals of the campaign.
He had the most shots (five), and shots on target (three), as he accumulated 0.97 expected goals (xG), while his seven touches in the box was the most of any player on the field.
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