Middlesbrough 1-0 Millwall: Emmanuel Latte Lath ends Neil Harris’ reign with defeat

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.