Match Report Millwall (0) 1-3 (1) Fulham Carabao Cup Rnd 03 1819 at The Den Tuesday 25th September 2018    KO: 19:45 Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire)

Fulham defender Joe Bryan

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It was a moment to further age the hard-bitten souls in attendance.

In the 81st minute of this Carabao Cup tie, Slavisa Jokanovic sent on Harvey Elliott for his professional debut.

The Fulham winger was 15 years and 174 days old.

The Surrey schoolboy became the youngest player to appear for Fulham while it is also believed that he became the most youthful player in this competition’s history.

Records are a little hazy because of data protection laws.

What is more, Elliott had some nice touches, showcasing his balance and low centre of gravity, although the most spectacular interlude of a one-sided occasion had come a little earlier.

Fulham midfielder Luca de la Torre

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Cyrus Christie does not score too many but he unfurled a classic to open his Fulham account, as his club made light work of Millwall.

The wing-back, who joined from Middlesbrough in January, collected the ball on the right before cutting inside and curling a left-footed beauty from 25 yards into the far corner to close out a 3-1 win.

Neil Harris, the Millwall manager, made eight changes to his struggling Championship team for this match, advertising where his priorities lay, and they were well beaten.

Fulham were into their stride at the outset and they went ahead with a smartly taken goal.

Fulham defender Cyrus Christie

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Luca de la Torre, revelling in the free role behind the strikers, worked the ball out left and Joe Bryan was able to advance into space inside the area.

The wing-back took a touch before lashing low into the far corner.

Slavisa Jokanovic made 10 changes to his Fulham team while he also switched to a back three system but there was cohesion from his stand ins.

They manipulated the ball with an impressive slickness and, for long spells, Millwall chased shadows.

The Fulham support packed the top tier of the away enclosure and their first-half supremacy was so pronounced that they could ask their goalkeeper, Sergio Rico, for a wave and he could oblige.

Match Stats	Millwall	Fulham
Goals	(0) 1	3 (1)
Scorers	Elliott 61	Bryan 7
		De La Torre 52
		Christie 68
,
Goal attempts	5	16
On target	3	6
Shooting Accuracy	60%	38%
Possession	40%	60%
Crosses	24	16
Corners	7	2
Saves	3	2
Fouls	9	10
Offsides	5	2
Yellows	0	0
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

There was a pantomime bad guy interlude from Alexandar Mitrovic midway through the first half when the substitute came out to warm up and he cupped his ears to the Millwall fans.

It drew the desired reaction and Mitrovic loved it.

Fulham ought to have been further in front by half-time, as Millwall laboured to make any inroads or, indeed, get close to their opponents.

De la Torre had two glorious chances only to be denied by Ben Amos; Kevin McDonald fizzed wide from distance and Tim Ream had a shot blocked after a corner. Millwall were booed off at the interval.

Harris had to do something and he reshuffled to 3-5-2 for the second half.

It seemed as though he had also delivered a rocket because his players showed a bit more intensity upon the restart.

They were soon further behind when De la Torre got the goal he had threatened.

Floyd Ayite’s low cross was precise; De la Torre took a touch and fired home.

Millwall fashioned a lifeline when Tom Elliott rose to force home Shane Ferguson’s corner and, briefly, the hosts hinted at the unlikeliest of comebacks.

But Christie’s blast ensured that the established order was restored.

Millwall: Amos, McLaughlin, Wallace, Cooper, Ferguson (Wallace 88), Karacan (Williams 74), Skalak (Romeo 45), Tunnicliffe, O'Brien, Gregory, Elliott

Unused substitutes: Martin, Webster, White, Morison

Goals:
Elliott 61 (header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Shane Ferguson following a corner.)

Fulham : Rico, S Sessegnon, Ream (Odoi 62), Le Marchand, Christie, McDonald, Anguissa, Bryan, De La Torre (O'Riley 85), Kamara, Ayite (Elliott 81)

Unused substitutes: Fabri, Chambers, Cisse, Mitrovic

Goals:
Bryan 07 (left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Luca De La Torre.)
De La Torre 52 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Floyd Ayite.)
Christie 68 (left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Luca De La Torre.)

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire)

Attendance: 5,839