Millwall 2-1 Portsmouth: Saville goal seals EFL Cup win

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, George Saville scored on his return to Millwall after re-signing for the club from Middlesborough last month

Millwall produced a great first-half comeback to edge past Portsmouth in an entertaining first-round EFL Cup tie.

Reeco Hackett-Fairchild dribbled away from two defenders to fire the League One visitors in front, before Scott Malone's side-footed leveller.

George Saville's volley put the Championship side into a lead that was rarely troubled in the second half.

Portsmouth were clinical with their first chance after Hackett-Fairchild latched on to a loose back pass.

The winger, making his first start for Danny Cowley's side, cut inside and struck the ball cleanly and emphatically into the net in the fourth minute.

Pompey fans roared but they were silenced when Malone was first to react to goalkeeper Alex Bass parrying a shot, as the left-back powered the ball in to make it 1-1.

It was a similar story when Ryan Leonard's forward run resulted in Tom Bradshaw's effort being blocked, only for Saville to calmly provide a cushioned, volleyed finish from the resultant cross, to turn the match on its head.

Hopes of a Portsmouth resurgence suffered a hammer blow just moments after the second-half restart when defender Callum Johnson was shown a straight red card for what the referee deemed to be a dangerous tackle.