Millwall 0 Leeds United 3: Whites' attacking beauty triumphs in a beast of an away assignment

They scored three goals in the Lions' Den at Millwall, each a work of counter-attacking art. They were their only three shots on target.

Joel Piroe got two and Georginio Rutter the other in a 3-0 win of character and class but all the attacking players impressed.

Play like this, and the odd moment of defensive insecurity, such as the one immediately before the first goal, can be easily forgotten.

A minute after coming out of his area to play sweeper-keeper and head clear, Illan Meslier's heavy touch got him in trouble with Kevin Nisbet breathing down his neck. Luke Ayling's attempt to deal with in his penalty area were so clumsy that he went full-on Gary Kelly at one point, heading the ball from a prone position. But as soon as Leeds won the ball back they swept down the left with a quite beautiful move.

Rutter played the ball to Willy Gnonto and as he returned it, Piroe ran over it, making the run Rutter picked out for the opening goal.

When Rutter, Gnonto, Piroe and Crysencio Summerville are in synch, it made you think Leeds' struggles in front of goal in the early weeks of the season (Portman Road apart) are not going to last. When Dan James and Jaidon Anthony were introduced late on, standards did not drop but the pace increased.

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If Rutter did not look like a £35m footballer, he certainly looked like a top Championship one, which has not always been the case, playing with a confidence belying his record in English football.

Flowing Leeds football had not been on the cards in the early stages.

In the first 125 seconds alone they had to head away one corner and two long throw-ins away, before Meslier caught another.

It was a "Welcome to the Championship" day. A thumping atmosphere at the New Den – noon kick-off or not – made last season's Premier League days out feel genteel, but then a game against Leeds at the New Den makes an illegal cockfight in an East End pub look genteel.

Referee Chris Kavanagh decided to deal with it by leaving his cards in the dressing room.

The whole team stood up to it, Joe Rodon leading the way.

It was nine minutes before Leeds really got their foot as opposed to their heads on the ball but they instantly looked a different team. Although Sam Byram's cross was cut out when Ayling worked the ball to his opposite full-back, Pascal Struijk was soon threatening at a Summerville corner.

It was when Ethan Amadu gave the ball away, exposing Leeds down the middle, that Meslier was forced to rush out and Tom Bradshaw's chasing of a lost cause was behind more unnecessary mild panic but the 15th-minute goal settled it.

Soon Jake Cooper was the one slicing a corner away uncertainly.

Leeds came close to adding another couple of lovely goals, Gnonto's reverse pass just failing to pick out Piroe after Rutter found him brilliantly. A wonderful Ayling ball found Gnonto to shoot past the post.

As the football flowed, James must have been watching from the bench worried how he might break into this line-up but with 20 minutes to go, he and debutant Anthony were both introduced. Piroe's goal was still their only shot on target at that stage.

Much of the second half had been played in Leeds' territory but Millwall were also struggling to work the goalkeeper beyond Bradshaw forcing a save 71 seconds in.

Leeds counter-attacks came to nothing in the 55th and 60th minutes when nobody anticipated Gnonto's cross, and when Cooper tackled Summerville in the area.

But in the 78th minute things clicked again, James feeding Rutter and although he fell over as the striker returned it, he still laid on a tap-in for the arriving Piroe.

Three minutes later Ayling released James to sprint down the right and pick out Rutter, pushing the offside line, to get his just rewards for a bright performance.

The ingredients for a very promising seasons are taking shape.

The players got their dues as they went to thank the away fans at full-time but the biggest cheer came for the man who lingered at the back, Farke's work recognised by the gleeful supporters.

Trips to Millwall are not supposed to be this much fun.

Millwall: Bialkowski; Leonard, Cooper, Wallace; Norton-Cuffy, Mitchell (Saville 83), Campbell (Esse 64), de Norre (Flemming 64), Longman (Emakhu 73); Nisbet (Watmore 64), Bradshaw. Unused substitutes: McNamara, Trueman, Harding, Adom-Malaki.

Leeds United: Meslier; Ayling, Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Ampadu, Gray (Gruev 89); Summerville (James 69), Piroe (Kamara 83), Gnonto (Anthony 69); Rutter (Gelhardt 89). Unused substitutes: Darlow, Cresswell, Shackleton, Poveda.

Referee: C Kavanagh (Manchester).