Mihailo Ivanovic’s first-half header and strikes by Casper De Norre and Ra’ess Bangura-Williams after the break gave Championship club Millwall victory over fifth-tier Dagenham & Redbridge in the final game of the FA Cup third round at The Den.
Serbia forward Ivanovic scored his third Millwall goal of the campaign in scrappy fashion from almost on the line in the 30th minute.
THE SALMON DIVE HEADER! 🐟
Mihailo Ivanović with possibly the strangest finish we’ve seen. 1-0 to Millwall ⚽️#ITVFootball | #FACup | @MillwallFC pic.twitter.com/F0wZuDCODR
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 13, 2025
Ivanovic shot over the crossbar from close range after the break, but his wastefulness was redeemed when Belgian midfielder De Norre volleyed in from Joe Bryan’s cross 20 minutes from time.
Three days after signing a long-term professional deal with Millwall, 20-year-old midfielder Bangura-Williams celebrated his debut with a jinking run and firm finish to put the result beyond doubt with five minutes of regular time remaining.
De Norre caps a lovely Millwall move! ⚽️
It’s a long way back for Dagenham & Redbridge now…#ITVFootball | #FACup | @MillwallFC pic.twitter.com/GRsB5Bv36H
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 13, 2025
Millwall vs Dagenham: Lions through
The result was Alex Neil’s first win since the Scot succeeded Neil Harris as Millwall manager on December 30 and sent The Lions to the fourth round for the first time in four seasons.
What a moment for Bangura-Williams! A goal on debut ⚽️
Millwall heading into the next round #ITVFootball | #FACup | @MillwallFC pic.twitter.com/UCf3Fsv0aE
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 13, 2025
The 14th-placed side in the second tier will meet opponents who are currently top of the table and 23 points above them when they visit Leeds United in the fourth round on the weekend of February 8.
Dagenham’s FA Cup run ended after three matches in this season’s competition, including eye-catching wins at League Two clubs Wimbledon and Crewe Alexandra.