FootyChatter.com

Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Latte Lath celebrates his goal in the first half against Millwall Emmanuel Latte Lath fired Middlesbrough back into the Championship play-off places with a goal that inflicted defeat on Millwall manager Neil Harris in his final match in charge. The Lions boss this week announced he was walking away from The Den after the trip to the Riverside Stadium but his team could not make it a happy occasion as their winless run stretched to six games with Latte Lath's 10th-minute goal proving decisive. Victory got Boro back on track after they had won just one of their previous four games, with manager Michael Carrick making five changes from the team that lost at Leeds in midweek. Home-grown Boro goalkeeper Sol Brynn was preferred to Seny Dieng and distinguished himself with important saves from Macaulay Langstaff and Femi Azeez. Chapter ends in one of football's great romances There were reports of Millwall players in tears at the training ground after Harris made his shock announcement on Tuesday, saying he would remain in charge for the two final games, against promotion hopefuls Sheffield United and Boro. They ended up losing both games; although they began at the Riverside Stadium like a side intent on giving the popular Harris a fine send-off. George Edmundson blocked Langstaff's overhead kick at close range and then Brynn had to spread his big frame to deny the same Millwall man after Edmundson had underhit a backpass. Boro woke up and struck after 10 minutes as Latte Lath played a sharp one-two with Finn Azaz and struck his shot between the legs of goalkeeper Lukas Jensen for his eighth goal of the season and a sixth goal involvement in the past five home games for the influential Azaz, Boro lost Luke Ayling through injury and Brynn had to be on his toes again as Femi Azeez raced clear from Romain Esse's ball over the top to ensure the home side's first clean sheet for 10 games. Millwall's fire faded as the half wore on and Boro should have made sure as Latte Lath ran half the length of the field and played in Azaz, who got his shot all wrong, and then Hayden Hackney had a shot beaten away by Jensen. The only sniff of a goal for Millwall came when Esse beat three men in a run to the edge of the box but fired his shot tamely into the arms of Brynn. The second half was curiously short on penalty area action as Boro were content to protect their lead and play on the break and the visitors could not summon enough inventiveness to trouble them. Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: "They (Millwall) are a very good team, so hard to play against, and it proved to be the case. In the end we had to do some really good things to win the game - a really good goal and we had to defend at times and protected the goal ever so well. "Sol (Brynn) made two big saves in the first half early on but after that we coped with them very well and maybe should have nicked an extra goal or two, in the spaces that we created for ourselves. "That was one of my favourite wins of the season, coming off the back of the two games we had [Burnley and Leeds] and knowing how tough it was going to be. To keep a clean sheet and win 1-0 … there will be games like that this season and that's what we need to find. " Millwall manager Neil Harris told BBC Radio London: "It wasn't the way I wanted to leave the football club, on the back of a defeat. We were playing a really good Boro side, whose front four is exceptional, and I can't be any prouder of the club. "It's the right time to part ways, for the club to have a new direction for themselves. I've been here for five-and-a-half years over two periods as manager and it's been phenomenal. "Today's result and results off the back of a week won't define my second reign. We've had a successful 10 months and I feel we leave the club in really good hands and safe position, so I'm disappointed today but still extremely proud. "It's been emotional because a lot of the staff and players have been with me for a long time, and it's been a phenomenal rise from February, when we were in the bottom three, to security last year and to start so well this year. "It's been difficult for the lads because they're losing their leader and it's difficult for them to understand why, and where they're going next. We've tried to bridge that gap with humility, honesty and love as I care about the players, they're really good lads. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 14th December 2024 at 17: 20 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Michael Carrick Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Neil Harris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Michael Carrick Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Neil Harris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Middlesbrough have won two of their last three league games against Millwall (L1), as many as across their prior nine matches combined against them (D5 L2). Millwall have won just one of their last eight away league games against Middlesbrough (D3 L4), though it did come in their most recent trip on the opening day of last season (1-0); they could win successive such games for the first time since April 2014.   Middlesbrough have alternated between victory (4) and defeat (3) in their last seven home league games, winning 3-1 over Hull in their most recent such game. Five of Millwall’s last seven away league games have been drawn (W1 L1), last drawing three in a row on the road in the league in April 2022. Middlesbrough’s Finn Azaz has been involved in five goals in his last four home league appearances (3 goals, 2 assists), one more involvement than in his first 15 such games for the club (4 assists). Match ends, Middlesbrough 1, Millwall 0. Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Millwall 0. Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Rav van den Berg. Attempt blocked. Billy Mitchell (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Leonard with a headed pass. Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time. Offside, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg is caught offside. Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg. Foul by Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough). Duncan Watmore (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match (Middlesbrough). Substitution, Middlesbrough. Dael Fry replaces Finn Azaz. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by George Saville (Millwall). Attempt missed. Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jonny Howson. Foul by Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough). George Saville (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt saved. Murray Wallace (Millwall) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Leonard. Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough). Tom Bradshaw (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.