Report | Millwall 2 Swansea City 1

An outstanding display from goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux was not enough for Swansea City to emerge with a point against Millwall as Caleb Taylor headed in a stoppage-time winner for the hosts at The Den.

The hosts had much the better of the opening half at The Den and would have led by more than Mihailo Ivanovic’s strike had Vigouroux not made a series of stunning saves to deny Ivanovic, Macaulay Langstaff, Femi Azeez and Camiel Neghli.

But the visitors improved after falling behind and levelled early in the second half when skipper Cabango arrived at the far post to convert from a flick-on, with Vigouroux then making what looked like being two further priceless stops to prevent Jay Fulton putting through his own net and to deny Jake Cooper a late winner.

However, he could stop Taylor's header finding the net after the centre-back rose at the far post deep into four added minutes.

The Swans showed five changes as they played a fourth game in 10 days, with Ethan Galbraith, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Fulton, Jisung Eom and Zan Vipotnik coming into the team.

Ollie Cooper was named among the substitutes after being recalled from his loan spell with Wigan, while Josh Key missed out due to the foot injury he suffered against West Brom.

The home side made the better start, getting some joy down the flanks and delivering into the Swansea box, and Vigouroux had to tip over after Langstaff had been played in down the left side of the visitors’ area.

The Chile international then tipped Neghli’s curling effort around the post as the Lions made the early running.

Caleb Taylor headed onto the roof of the net after a succession of Millwall corners before Swansea finally lifted the early siege and enjoyed a good spell of possession  around the 10- minute mark than ended with Malick Yalcouye slipping a pass to Ronald in the area, but the winger could not take the ball in stride.

But Vigouroux was called upon again to make a superb double block as he parried a firm header from Ivanovic at the near post and then – while still on the floor – managed to repel Langstaff’s close-range follow up.

Swansea had offered little attacking threat, but they should have done better when they sprung Eom into space down the left. The Korean raced into the box but waited before delivering, with his final ball evading covering defenders but also all the waiting white shirts.

Galbraith then surged infield to send Vipotnik into space, but the offside flag was belatedly raised as the Slovenian dragged wide.

But Vigouroux’s busy half continued with another brilliant double stop 10 minutes before the break.

Ivanovic’s smart shot from a quick turn was blocked by the keeper but a goal looked certain when the ball rolled out towards Langstaff, but Vigouroux spread himself and the ball cannoned away off his body to ensure the game remained goalless.

And he wasn’t done there, getting a hand to Femi Azeez’s firm angled drive, but he could not prevent the Lions eventually opening the scoring in the 38th minute.

A flick on from a long throw was knocked back down to Ivanovic, and he turned to dispatch a firm strike low into the net.

Swansea looked to respond and Ronald saw his strike saved at the near post by Max Crocombe, although the Brazilian may have been better served looking to find fellow white shirts who were in support.

The Millwall keeper then saved a hooked effort from Cabango from the resulting corner, before denying Ronald again after a slip from Zak Sturge had given the Swansea winger a headstart in their race for a ball in behind the defence.

Swansea trailed at the break but they levelled two minutes into the second half. Galbraith sent in a cross from the right, Fulton flicked on and Cabango arrived at the far post to convert from point-blank range.

The goal changed the whole feel of the contest, and the Swans began to ask concerted questions of their hosts and show far greater aggression.

Ronald twice fired pull-backs into the area that just had too much on for his arriving teammates to reach, while Eom sent an effort high and wide after cutting inside on the left side of the area.

Fortune looked set to shine on the hosts when Taylor’s header hit Fulton and rolled towards the bottom corner, but Vigouroux somehow got down to his right and palmed the ball away for a corner.

Fulton then went close at the other end, seeing his deflected shot superbly saved by Crocombe with just under 20 minutes to go.

Billy Mitchell fizzed an effort narrowly over the bar for the hosts, while Widell was off target from distance for the visitors as the final 10 minutes arrived.

Vigouroux stepped up again, getting a hand to Cooper's thumping header from an excellent delivery, but the Swans would leave with nothing to show for their efforts as Taylor struck at the death.

Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Ethan Galbraith, Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Ishe Samuels-Smith (Josh Tymon 59); Jay Fulton, Goncalo Franco, Malick Yalcouye (Melker Widell 59); Ronald (Zeidane Inoussa 73), Jisung Eom (Marko Stamenic 73): Zan Vipotnik (Bobby Wales 88).

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Kaelan Casey, Ollie Cooper, Sam Parker.

Millwall: Max Crocombe, Zak Sturge (Joe Bryan 77), Tristan Crama, Jack Cooper (captain), Caleb Taylor, Thierno Ballo (Aidomo Emakhu 77), Billy Mitchell, Mihailo Ivanovic, Camiel Neghli (Derek Mazou-Sacko 77), Femi Azeez (Alfie Doughty 86), Macaulay Langstaff.

Unused Substitutes: Steven Benda, Dan McNamara, Ryan Leonard, Ajay Matthews, Raees Bangura-Williams.

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 14,252 (953 away)