Millwall got off to a slow start on the Championship’s return, losing 3-2 to fellow Play-Off chasers Derby County following a superb Louie Sibley hat-trick.
The Lions took the lead against the run of play after fifteen minutes when Matt Smith headed in Shane Ferguson’s cross following an excellent counter-attack.
However, Derby deservedly equalised eleven minutes later after Sibley single-handedly took on Millwall’s defence and smashed his effort into the top left corner.
Millwall’s pressing and all-round game quickened early in the second-half though they struggled to create any clear cut chances with Smith’s lofted effort – which went over – the closest they came.
At the other end, Sibley continued to run the show and linked up well with former Lions man Martyn Waghorn for a one-two before slotting past Bartosz Bialkowski.
And he completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute, scuffing an effort that narrowly evaded Millwall’s Polish shot-stopper.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson did net a very late consolation after Shaun Williams’ header fell kindly to him but it was too little, too late.