AN 81st minute winner from Neil Harris sealed Millwall’s fifth consecutive League One victory as the Lions overcame Exeter City at The Den this afternoon.

The home side controlled the game from the kick-off but it seemed they were destined to settle for a point until Harris smashed home a 20-yard free-kick for the only goal of the game.

Millwall were denied by two super saves in quick succession from Exeter keeper Andy Marriott on four minutes.

First he pushed behind Steve Morison’s effort after the striker got on the end of Alan Dunne’s cross before keeping out Shaun Batt’s close range header from the resultant Chris Hackett corner.

Batt tested Marriott again with headers in the 12th minute but the Exeter stopper again dealt comfortably with the effort.

The visitors suffered a blow on quarter of an hour when injury forced Marcus Stewart to make way for Bertrand Cozic.

Morison headed off target from Hackett’s cross into the danger zone on 18 minutes as Millwall continued to dominate proceedings.

Despite this, the next 10 minutes or so were instantly forgettable as not one shot was made on target by either side.

Things suddenly sprung into life again on 32 minutes when Batt broke clear down the left and his cross into the six-yard box just missed the outstretched leg of Harris by a matter of inches.

Rob Edwards was forced to put behind Harris’ 35th minute delivery to deny Liam Trotter and Marriott had to tip behind Hackett’s resultant corner.

Liam Sercombe produced Exeter’s first attempt five minutes before the break with a low 20-yard drive, although it was easily caught by David Forde in the Millwall goal.

And that was essentially it for the first half, a 45 minutes it is safe to say will not live long in the memory for anyone unfortunate to witness it.

Morison blazed over from six-yards within two minutes of the restart, and the striker headed straight at Marriott four minutes later.

Batt should have put the Lions ahead when he got on the end of Morison’s cross but Marriott somehow managed to retrieve the ball on the line, much to the relief of the visitors.

Manager Kenny Jackett decided to freshen things up on the hour by replacing Craig with Scott Barron.

Batt found Hackett completely unmarked two minutes later but his first time shot went off target, although Harris was able to get on the loose ball but then he somehow fired wide.

On-loan Charlton striker Fleetwood the came to the fore with three chances in quick succession with an audacious chip, a shot over and another whizzing cross.

Morison looked certain to score on 70 minutes when he scuffed a shot from two yards before the danger was scrambled away by Rob Edwards.

Marriott clawed away Barron’s cross and the ball fell invitingly to Morison, but he completely failed to make contact at the first attempt before eventually firing wide.

But the breakthrough was finally made nine minutes from time when the Lions were awarded a free-kick just outside of the are following a foul by Matt Taylor on substitute Jonathan Obika.

Harris stepped up to fire his shot over the wall and beyond Marriott into the top corner as the Exeter keeper was finally beaten.

Marriott was a relieved man four minutes later when he spilled the ball into the path of Obika, but an Exeter defender retrieved the situation and the danger was scrambled away.

Exeter were reduced to 10-men in the 89th minure when Barry Corr was shown a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Dunne.

This game certainly wasn’t pretty but Jackett won’t care as the Lions march on up the table to further cement their play-off hopes.

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Robinson, Ward, Craig (Barron 60), Hackett, Abdou, Trotter, Batt (Obika 67), Harris, Morison. Subs not used: Sullivan, Frampton, Grimes, Fuseini, O’Connor.