Steve Morison’s goal condemned QPR to defeat in the London derby at The Den, where manager Ian Holloway was given a predictably hostile reception on his return to his former club.
Morison struck 10 minutes into the second half, heading home at the far post from Jed Wallace’s right-wing cross.
It came after Rangers, with the fit-again Grant Hall starting a game for the first time since April, in place of the ill Jack Robinson, rode their luck during the first half.
Lee Gregory slipped after being set up by Wallace’s cut-back from the left and a minute later Aiden O’Brien shot wide from close range.
And the home side appealed in vain for a penalty when the ball struck Hall’s arm as the Rangers defender slid in to prevent Gregory capitalising on Morison’s quickly-taken throw.
During a spell of Millwall pressure just before the half-hour mark, keeper Alex Smithies saved with his legs to deny George Saville, Hall superbly blocked Gregory’s goal-bound shot after the striker had turned away from Nedum Onuoha, and Wallace fired into the side netting.
Rangers’ best chance of the first half fell to Jake Bidwell, whose header from Alex Baptiste’s cross was saved by keeper Jordan Archer.
Early in the second half, Archer kept out Luke Freeman’s header from Jordan Cousins’ cross and Rangers seemed to be building some momentum before going behind.
Their best chance of an equaliser fell to substitute Matt Smith, who headed wide from Freeman’s 89th-minute corner.
QPR: Smithies, Baptiste, Onuoha, Hall, Wszolek (Smith 58), Luongo, Cousins, Freeman, Bidwell, Osayi-Samuel (Oteh 69), Sylla (Wheeler 81).
Subs not used: Lumley, Furlong, Manning, Washington.
This post was last modified on 29/12/2017