Millwall 2 Norwich 1

On a cold, clear day at The Den Millwall got off to the worst possible start in front of their biggest crowd of the season.

Norwich forward Chris Martin was brought down just outside the penalty area in the fourth minute and from the resulting free kick he curled a shot round the wall and beyond the despairing David Forde to give the visitors the lead.

The Canaries, unbeaten in over two months looked ominously set to continue their charge towards the Championship but Millwall proved to have other ideas.

Lewis Grabban wasted a couple of decent scoring chances, before he brought a mistake out of visiting keeper Fraser Forster, who fumbled the young forward's shot out for a corner on 25 minutes.

The ball was swung into the box and fell to Tony Craig, lurking on the edge of the area, and his shot deflected off a defender's foot to level the scores.

It was Craig's first goal of the season and he celebrated enthusiastically.

After that neither side could really establish their superiority on the game, with Millwall always looking threatening with Steve Morison's direct running and Grabban's pace, while Norwich were dangerous on the break.

Norwich danger man Wes Hoolahan was well-shackled by Jimmy Abdou but it was Martin who was proving to be the biggest worry for the home defence.

Just before half-time he was allowed to run from his own half into the Millwall box and his shot was well saved by Forde.

Kenny Jackett made a change at half-time, bringing Harris on for the disappointing Grabban and the move paid dividends just six minutes later.

From a short corner on the left Chris Hackett swung in an excellent cross which Harris diverted home with his head from six yards out, having been inexplicably left unmarked in the area.

The goal stung Norwich and they showed more attacking intent but were well rebuffed by Millwall's back four.

The home side's tails were up and they continued to threaten, with Hackett and Harris both going close to increasing the lead.

Norwich boss Paul Lambert brought on the tricky Anthony McNamee and the winger began to cause Alan Dunne problems on the flank, sending over several teasing crosses.

Millwall were still creating chances of the own, the best of which saw Forster produce an outstanding reflex save to deny Harris.

But try as they might Norwich could not find the equalising goal and a sign of their desperation came when Hoolahan was brought off, to be replaced by former Millwall favourite Zak Whitbread.

The centre-back was greeted with a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball, after his very public demands to leave The Den since the start of the season.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes Millwall found themselves defending deeper and deeper, a dangerous tactic against such a potent attacking team.

Michael Nelson almost scored a spectacular equaliser with an overhead kick three minutes from time but the ball deflected for a corner.

Millwall were clinging on, scrapping for every ball as they sensed victory was close. And they nearly settled it in the last minute of the four added on at the end of the game, when Morison was played through by Harris and bore down on goal, only to be upended from behind by Whitbread.

It looked a stone-cold red card for the defender but to the crowd's amazment, and Jackett's, the referee blew for the end of the game instead.

The win puts Millwall in fifth place and extends their unbeaten league run to six games. Jackett was pleased with the manner of victory and his side's climb up the table.

He said: "It was certainly entertainment. We rewarded a big crowd with a good game, and most importantly, a win.

"We're fifth in the league, and most importantly our season is ahead of us. Sometimes you can get here and you can have a mountain to climb but we are genuinely in the mix with a number of other clubs and it's a good place to be."

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Robinson, Craig, Ward, Barron, Hackett, Trotter, Abdou, Morison, Grabban (Harris, 46), Unused subs: Sullivan, Frampton, Grimes, Smith, Fuseini, Batt.

Goals: Craig 25, Harris 51

Norwich: Forster, Nelson, R Martin, Doherty, Hoolahan (Whitbread, 77), C Martin, Lappin, Russel, Rose, McDonald (Johnson, 64), Smith (McNamee, 64). Unused subs: Rudd, Gill, Hughes, Adeyemi.

Goal: C Martin 4

Attendance: 14,374

Referee: Grant Hegley