DAVE Martin's second half free-kick gave the Lions a much needed victory against Southend and lifted the Londoners out of the League One drop zone.
The 22-year-old winger was making his first start for the Lions at The Den after his recent signing from Crystal Palace.
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However, he seemed unfazed by the task, regularly causing problems for Simon Francis, the Southend right back, before driving a free-kick under the Shrimpers' wall and into the bottom corner on 54 minutes.
Martin's strike put Millwall into the lead after Gary Alexander's header five minutes before half-time had cancelled out Nick Bailey's stunning 25-yard volley for the visitors.
The result left Millwall boss Kenny Jackett satisfied with his team's resilience, but hoping the victory will inspire a run of form which will see the Lions pull away from the relegation spots.
He said: "It's very nice to come back from a terrific strike from the Southend boy. "We couldn't manage that kind of response against Doncaster and Nottingham Forest, but we responded very well tonight.
"I think we took the game to Southend and thoroughly deserved to win the game.
"And of course, we scored from a set piece instead of conceding from one which is nice."
Jackett added: "Our last victory two weeks ago was a very good one away to Cheltenham.
"We lost the next two, albeit to Doncaster and Forest who are both very strong, but we want to be following this result up now and try to put a run together.
"The win is fine but it's the run that gives you the confidence and takes the club forward."
Jackett was delighted with the contribution from his new signing, but felt somewhat deflated when he saw the former Dartford youngster hobble off on 70 minutes with a groin injury.
He added: "We have been waiting for him and I'm pleased to say that in the end we got him.
"It was an impressive start by him individually and he gives the side some balance and some shape, but it's frustrating to see him coming off with a groin injury.
"I feel like I've nursed him along a little bit as well.
"He hasn't played many games and came to us off the back of an illness, so we've had to be patient with him. I just hope it isn't too bad."
The Lions could have taken the lead after just two minutes when superb work down the left flank by the outstanding Martin presented Alexander with a glorious opportunity eight yards from goal.
However, the forward fired his shot wildly over the bar.
Millwall were made to pay for their wastefulness when Bailey scored the goal of the game on nine minutes.
Zac Whitbread blocked Tommy Black's shot from just inside the box, but saw the ball loop out to Bailey who sent a right foot volley flying past Rhys Evans.
However, Alexander did eventually put the ball in the back of the net on 41 minutes when he rose highest to head Martin's corner goalwards.
Darryl Flahavan in the Shrimpers' goal, who had been largely untroubled for much of the first period, did well to get his hands to the ball but couldn't prevent Alexander scoring his ninth goal of the season.
The home side barely deserved to be level at the break, but with Jay Simpson switching from the wing to centre forward and a renewed determination in their play, Millwall become a more effective force in the second half.
And the comeback was complete when Martin slid his free-kick cleverly under the jumping Southend wall from 20-yards.
As the Seasiders poured forward trying to find an equaliser, tempers threatened to boil over with both sides putting in combatitive challenges on their opponents.
Substitute Damian Scannell went too far and saw red for a rash two-footed lunge on Whitbread in the 83rd minute.
The 10-man visiting team still threatened to level the scores late on, drawing three fine saves from Millwall keeper Evans and forcing Whitread into several smart pieces of defending.
But the Lions were not to be denied and held on for their first home win of 2008, a result which sees them climb out of the drop zone.
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