Millwall’s play-off hopes were dealt a huge blow after losing 3-0 to Fulham at the Den this evening.

It was the Lions’ first league defeat in 18 games thanks to second-half goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Kevin McDonald and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Neil Harris’ side had a goal controversially disallowed and an effort cleared off the line in the first-half.

The result leaves Millwall in sixth place with their promotion rivals playing tomorrow.

Harris kept faith with the same starting line-up that rescued a point against Sheffield United last weekend.

Coming into the game, it was unbeaten league run versus unbeaten run - Millwall’s 17 against Fulham’s 21.

Millwall could have taken a shock four-minute lead when Jake Cooper’s header crashed against the crossbar. Shaun Williams was able to get his head to the rebound, but Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli comfortably gathered.

The Lions’ forwards and midfielders were constantly hounding the Cottagers’ backline in the opening stages - and the hosts were unlucky not to be in front on 15 minutes.

Lee Gregory was adjudged to have fouled Tim Ream when heading back to Saville, who slotted home confidently. The harshly disallowed goal seemed to wake Fulham up. Mitrovic headed over with the visitors’ first attempt on goal before Sessegnon’s dangerous cross-shot was cleared off the line by Cooper.

Millwall went so close to scoring for a second time when Ream somehow got back in time to clear Jed Wallace’s close-range strike off the line after Bettinelli tipped Marshall’s cross into his path.

Towards the end of an action-packed first-half, Wallace’s superb reverse pass found Morison in the box, but his cross was too high for Gregory.

Morison was in the thick of it again as Marshall’s inviting delivery was headed over by the Millwall captain.

While the Lions would have felt hard done by with Saville’s disallowed goal, they were counting their lucky stars after Matt Targett’s powerful drive clipped the crossbar.

Millwall, who have been so quick out the blocks in halves this season, got off to the worst possible start by conceding within seconds of the restart.

Jordan Archer spilled Mitrovic’s long-range effort into the path of Sessegnon, who scored his 15th goal of the season.

It would get even worse as Fulham doubled their lead ten minutes later through McDonald’s stunning 20-yard curling strike.

With no response from Millwall, Sessegnon could have made it three on the hour mark, however, Archer was equal to his effort.

Harris threw on Tom Elliott to give Millwall more height up front in the 64th minute. He won his headers, but Fulham continued to dominate possession to nullify his threat.

Sessegnon, who was the Whites’ best player on the day, continued to pose danger when his shot was inches away from finding the bottom left corner.

The Lions were unable to match the intensity shown in their first-half performance as Tomas Kalas powered through midfield to set up Mitrovic, who added a third one minute from time to maintain their top-two push.

Millwall XI: Archer, Romeo (O’Brien 87), Hutchinson, Cooper, Meredith (Cahill 77), Wallace, Williams, Saville, Marshall (Elliott 64), Morison, Gregory.

Subs not used: Martin, Shackell, Tunnicliffe, Onyedinma.