Crewe 2 Millwall 3
Neil Harris wrote himself into the Millwall history books as he broke the club's goalscoring record to help the Lions into the FA Cup fourth round.
Harris notched his 112th goal for the club in Tuesday night's third round replay at Crewe, but it was defender Zak Whitbread who was the hero when he scored an 86th minute winner.
The big centre-back, returning to the side after missing 12 games through injury, headed home from a corner to break the hearts of the dogged home side and their fans.
Crewe took an early lead when Luke Murphy fired home after just seven minutes but their advantage lasted barely 60 seconds, with home keeper Steve Collis making a howler as he fumbled Scott Baron's cross into his own net.
An entertaining game saw both sides produce some slick football as well as occasional nervy defending.
Millwall looked the more likely winners during the first half but somehow could not make their dominance tell.
Harris's moment arrived in the 54th minute as he slotted the ball home from two yards to surpass Teddy Sheringham in the scoring charts.
The 31-year-old striker could not contain his delight as he celebrated in front of the travelling support.
But Crewe fought back to claim an equaliser four minutes later as Shaun Miller scrambled in from a free-kick after Millwall failed to clear their lines.
Both sides had the scent of victory in their nostrils and went all-out for the winner during the last half-hour. Millwall created more openings but could not convert their chances, while Crewe looked dangerous on the break.
The Lions quality began to tell and they forced three corners in succession as the game neared its climax.
It was from the third of these, delivered by Mark Laird, that Whitbread planted a header past Collis to send Millwall through.
Their reward will be a Premier League payday with an away tie in the next round against either Hull City or Newcastle United, who meet this evening.
But it was Harris - the last survivor from Millwall's FA Cup final team of 2004 - who perhaps had most to savour from a thrilling cup tie.
Crewe: Collis, Brayford, Lawrence, Baudet, Jones (Zola 83), Murphy, O'Connor (Carrington 90), Bailey, Daniel, Miller (Pope 88), Donaldson. Unused subs: Tomlinson, O'Donnell, Moore, Shelley.
Goals: Murphy 7, Miller 58.
Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Whitbread, Frampton, Barron, Grabban, Fuseini, Laird, Martin, Kandol (Alexander 90), Harris. Unused subs: Pidgeley, Brkovic, Grimes, Forbes, Ebsworth, O'Connor.
Booked: Barron
Goals: Barron 8, Harris 54, Whitbread 86
Attendance: 3,060
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