Harris made his return to The Den as manager in February, more than four years after his resignation from the position, but the club announced on Tuesday that a “mutual decision” was reached for the former striker to depart following the game against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Current league leaders United showcased glimpses of their finest form in the first half, when Rhian Brewster capped off an impressive move in the 42nd minute, allowing Chris Wilder’s squad to regain their position ahead of their Yorkshire adversaries Leeds United, who overcame Middlesbrough 3-1 on Tuesday night.
This marked a second consecutive defeat for Millwall after Saturday’s loss to Coventry, extending their winless streak to five matches as the south London side slipped further from the playoff contention.
Sheffield United demonstrated precisely the caliber in the early activities that illustrated why they are in the promotion race.
Following some remarkable footwork by Gustavo Hamer in the eighth minute, Harrison Burrows’ powerful strike from the edge of the box took an awkward deflection and veered behind for a corner, much to the relief of the overwhelmed goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.
The Blades exhibited a captivating style of play, with intricate one-touch passes through the midfield, involving players like Hamer and Callum O’Hare, which finally found the ball at the feet of Chelsea loanee Alfie Gilchrist. Although he ventured into the box from the right, the right-back was unable to convert his attempt from a tight angle.
Millwall weathered the storm and pushed forward in an effort to deliver the first strike midway through the half.
After Duncan Watmore was thwarted by impressive defending during a one-on-one opportunity, Japhet Tanganga made a cut inside and fired a shot from the following play. However, his attempt struck the exterior of the left post and went out of bounds.
The recently gained momentum for the hosts was quickly interrupted when United crafted a precise move to take the lead just before half-time.
A beautifully timed pass over the top found Hamer sprinting down the right, where he delivered a ball across the six-yard area to the perfectly positioned Brewster, who tapped it in.
Wilder’s team clearly stated their intentions following the break, with the visitors seizing control of the ball to stifle the pace of the game.
While the Blades exhibited superior quality compared to their rivals, as long as the score remained 1-0, Millwall were still in contention; however, a deficiency in midfield control rendered their possession fleeting as the match began to slip away.
Appeals for a penalty following a challenge on Romain Esse within the 18-yard area were dismissed by referee Matthew Donohue in the 85th minute, as Millwall enjoyed a late surge of opportunities, but United held firm.
