IN-FORM set-piece specialists Millwall put a dent in Leeds United’s automatic promotion hopes with a 1-0 win at the New Den.

It was the London side’s fourth successive Championship win by that scoreline and saw them climb into the top five while the Whites lost ground in the race to get into the Premier League.

It was Leeds' first defeat on the road this season and after 14 games they were in third position, four points behind leaders Sunderland and two adrift of Sheffield United ahead of Burnley’s game against West Brom on Thursday.

The goal which ended the West Yorkshire side’s eight-match unbeaten run came in the 40th minute when they were undone by the home side’s centre-backs.

Towering 6ft 4in Jake Cooper headed on George Saville’s free-kick for ex-Tottenham Hotspur man Japhet Tanganga to stab the ball with the outside of his right foot into the bottom corner of the Leeds net.

The defensive duo were outstanding as they kept dominant Leeds at bay as the visitors desperately sought an equaliser.

Millwall, who featured former York City striker Macauley Langstaff in attack, worked hard off the ball to follow up their victory on Saturday over Burnley, another side fancied for promotion.

Despite having 75 per cent of possession, Leeds huffed and puffed as they struggled to prise open the Lions defence which was expertly marshalled by Cooper, Tanganga and their team-mates.

Although Millwall offered very little in open play they stuck to their strengths by winning aerial battles in both penalty boxes.

Leeds won a dozen corners but Millwall cleared the lot while the free-kicks and both corners they put into the United area caused Daniel Farke’s side problems.

Indeed it was Millwall who came closest to doubling their lead four minutes from the end when another set-piece ball headed on by Cooper came back off the post via the head of United’s Matteo Joseph.

Leeds won 3-0 at the New Den last season but Millwall have been a different animal since Neil Harris returned for his second spell in charge in February when they were 21st in the Championship one point above the relegation zone.

Leeds had the ball for most of the match but their below-par attack rarely looked like scoring.

Joel Piroe did have the ball in the net on the hour mark when he converted a Daniel James cross from the right flank but was fractionally offside.

After a cautious opening by both sides Leeds came to life midway through the first half

as efforts from Brenden Aaronson and Piroe were easily held by goalkeeper Lukas Jensen before Willie Gnonto’s goal-bound drive was deflected behind by Tanganga.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: “Congratulations to Millwall for excellent defending and efficiency. They were more effective than us with their chances.

“Football is efficiency with your chances and no mistakes. They were better than us.

“In the final third we were not quick enough in the head to score against such good defending.”