Millwall 0 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

The Slovakian slotted home his seventh goal of the season, when he outpaced Carlos Edwards and slotted past goalkeeper David Forde just before the half-hour mark.

Lalkovic and Anthony Forde both went close to increasing the Saddlers lead before half-time.

Millwall improved after the break but Aiden O'Brien's header, which hit the bar, was the closest they came to an equaliser.

Saddlers goalkeeper Neil Etheridge also made a crucial save from Sid Nelson during six minutes of stoppage time, as Sean O'Driscoll's side held firm.

The win continued his 100 per cent record as head coach and was enough to send his team back top of the league, as pre-game leaders Burton saw their game at Bradford postponed.

Millwall: Forde, Edwards, Nelson, Beevers, Martin (Pavey 77), Onyedinma (Upson 67), Abdou, Williams, Ferguson, O'Brien, Morison (c).

Subs not used: Cummings, Webster, Saville, Thompson, King (gk).

Walsall: Etheridge, Demetriou, O'Connor, Downing, Taylor (Kinsella HT), Chambers (c), Evans, Morris (Cook 73), Sawyers, Forde, Lalkovic (Preston 89),

O'Driscoll stayed with the same starting line-up which started last Sunday's 2-0 win over Port Vale with Jordan Cook, who scored both goals in that game, again on the bench.

Millwall boss Neil Harris made five changes to his team, who were beaten 3-0 by Gillingham at the Den last weekend. Veteran Forde replaced the suspended Jordan Archer in goal.

The visitors began in confident mood but were unable to fashion little in the way of chances, aside from a James O'Connor header which was easily gathered by Forde.

Millwall, by contrast, were sluggish in the opening stages but created - and missed - the first clear opening of the match when Steve Morison side-footed Fred Onyedinma's cross wide at the far post, with the goal at his mercy.

Onyedinma was involved in much of the home side's best work and his deft header then sent Aiden O'Brien racing into the box.

The striker made a good connection on his half volley but with the angle tight, Saddlers keeper Etheridge stood tall to save at his near post.

The home crowd, having been frustrated as the Saddlers dominated possession early on, were becoming louder, only to be silenced when Lalkovic scored a goal out of nothing.

Edwards looked outstanding favourite to reach Paul Downing's long punt forward up to Lalkovic, despite giving up a five-yard head-start.

They beat him in the footrace before cutting inside and finishing past Forde, who had been left in no man's land.

Suddenly in complete command, the Saddlers should have added to their advantage before the break.

But Lalkovic side-footed wide at the end of a beautiful passing move, while Anthony Forde was denied by his namesake in the home goal after showing superb skill to drift past Edwards.

Morison hammered a snap-shot a foot or so wide from distance for the hosts, who otherwise finished the half with a whimper.

O'Driscoll was forced into a half-time change with Liam Kinsella replacing the injured Andy Taylor.

It did little, initially, to halt the flow of the game as Lalkovic threatened early in the second period after cutting in from the right and driving in a shot which Forde did well to hold.

Yet it took a big save from Etheridge to preserve the one-goal advantage, as he denied O'Brien at point blank range after the Irish striker had met Morison's cross.

The game was now far more even, with the Saddlers lacking the fluidity of the opening half and Millwall looking far more dangerous.

O'Brien wasted another good chance to bring the scores level when he hurriedly shot wide from Morison;s clever reverse ball.

As the clock ticked down, O'Brien sent a header from Shane Ferguson's cross off the bar, while Etheridge did superbly to deny Nelson's header from a stoppage time corner.