Josh Coburn atoned for his earlier penalty miss by scoring a 95th minute winner to condemn John Eustace’s Derby to defeat.
Substitute Coburn had won a spot-kick twelve minutes earlier, following a foul by Sondre Langås, but it was saved by Jacob Widell Zetterström.
Eustace was in the Pride Park dugout for the first time but couldn’t end The Rams’ winless start to 2025 and lost Matt Clarke and David Ozoh to injury.
The Derby side saw three changes to the team that lost 4-0 at QPR: Ebou Adams took the armband as Kayden Jackson, Kenzo Goudmijn and Ozoh replaced Callum Elder, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Marcus Harness. And fans were filled with hope that the team could bounce back from Valentine’s Night disappointment after a week of training.
But the visitors dominated the opening half hour, with claims for a penalty following a foul on Japhet Tanganga rightly turned down before Joe Bryan’s 25-yard strike deflected wide.
Clarke then had to make strong blocks to deny Alex Neil’s side on multiple occasions. The Lions were getting joy in high and wide areas following swift breaks led by Tristan Crama.
As Derby won their first corner in the 31st minute, play was halted as Adams vomited following what appeared to be a kick in the head.
But the hosts’ skipper was okay to continue and had The Rams’ best chance of the half when he headed wide from Kenzo Goudmijn’s dangerous delivery despite crossing wires with Lars-Jørgen Salvesen.
The Pride Park faithful sounded heartened by the start to the second half, a left-sided link-up between Ben Osborn, Goudmjn and Salvesen leading to Jerry Yates’ blocked effort before Langås’ long-range strike deflected out of harm’s way.
Continuing to cause Derby problems down the right, Crama flashed a ball across the six-yard box, which Luke Cundle was inches away from getting the crucial touch on.
Before Derby then went even closer.
Black-and-white shirts flooded the Millwall box, but The Lions held firm to block Jackson’s effort, which went out for a corner. Matt Clarke connected with Goudmijn’s delivery to make a strong header, which deflected off Femi Azeez, onto the bar, then off the back of Azeez’s head before finding the hands of Lukas Jensen.
An attacking triple-change from Eustace saw a fresh burst of impetus, before Clarke went off with a Hamstring injury at the back.
Osborn was denied by Millwall’s centre back pairing in the 82nd minute before Millwall went up the other end, with Camiel Neghli registering the first shot on target.
Moments later, Langås adjudged to have fouled Coburn, whose spot-kick was weak and aimed straight down the middle, allowing Zetterström to save with his trailing leg as he dived to his right.
Derby suffered another injury blow in the 88th minute, David Ozoh going down with what John Eustace confirmed to be a muscle injury and being replaced by debutant Kemar Roofe.
Learn more about Kemar Roofe in our latest YouTube video.
The former Leeds and Rangers striker, whose signing was confirmed on Thursday showed some neat touches in the closing minutes.
But Millwall found a winner after breaking quickly down the left. Aidomo Emakhu played a low ball across the box and though Zetterström denied George Saville, he could only parry the ball to Coburn, who tapped in from six yards.
Analysis: The story of Derby’s season
Lacking up front and more injuries to important players. How many times has that been the synopsis of a Derby game this season?
Now 12 without a win, having not scored in six home games, all the stats reflec the miserable nature of Derby's form.
Alex Neil’s Millwall are on a good run as they look to make a late play-off charge, granted, but Derby looked no better this afternoon than in any other game recently.
Patterns of play were still lacking, while Millwall’s overloads in wide areas of the final third caused consistent problems.
Otherwise, they were similarly uninspiring – after all they came into the game having scored the same number of goals as Derby.
But they ultimately had what Derby have so often lacked – killer instinct at the key moment.
There was defensive improvement, bar Sondre Langås giving away the penalty, much of this came from a strong double pivot of Ozoh and Adams, while Clarke was commanding at the back. Now though, two of those players have picked up injuries, and there are yet more gaps to plug.
Up front, Yates must get into positions where he can influence the game more, and Salvesen needs more service – but even then, their finishing clearly hasn’t been good enough.
To have a chance of staying up, Kemar Roofe will need to stay fit. At Championship level, technique has never been his problem: fitness has.
With Hull having beaten promotion-chasers Sunderland, Derby are four points from safety, and have dropped to 23rd after Plymouth Argyle drew with Cardiff. Goals must come from somewhere, and quickly.
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