Millwall's Tristan Crama scored in the seventh minute of added time to hand Tonda Eckert his first defeat as Southampton caretaker boss.

Saints thought they had snatched a point when Finn Azaz extended his scoring streak under Eckert to five goals in four games with a strike three minutes from time.

But Frenchman Crama netted a dramatic late winner at The Den to maintain the Lions' promotion push as they moved up one place to third.

Earlier, Adam Armstrong had given Southampton the lead from the penalty spot after 55 minutes before Millwall hit back through Femi Azeez and Caleb Taylor.

Lions goalkeeper Max Crocombe was Millwall's saviour early on as he denied Armstrong, Azaz and Jay Robinson.

But Millwall also had their moments as Jack Stephens made a goalline clearance and Aidomo Emakhu and Azeez went close, while Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu saved from Mihailo Ivanovic.

Southampton took the lead against the run of play ten minutes into the second half when Jake Cooper fouled Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Armstrong converted his seventh goal of the season.

Millwall piled on the pressure and deservedly equalised when Azeez fired home from Crama's pass.

The Lions were then in the ascendancy and took the lead on 81 minutes when Taylor fired into the top right corner from outside the box.

Somehow Saints managed to claw their way back level three minutes from time when a Harwood-Bellis header was saved by Crocombe and Azaz knocked home the rebound.

But that was not the end of the drama and after Ryan Manning cleared off the line, Crama arrived at the back post to score the winner.

The late defeat was heartbreaking for Saints but fully deserved for Millwall and puts Alex Neil's side firmly back on track in the hunt for a Premier League place.

Millwall head coach Alex Neil told BBC Radio London:

"I thought the game merited that type of finish.

"You've got Femi's (Azeez) goal, then Caleb's (Taylor) goal and you finish it that way, that's a game you'll always remember especially against the quality of the opposition and how depleted we are with so many young lads on as well.

"You can see how much the group like each other, they're all friends, this isn't just their work and they go home, it matters to them, this club matters to them, the fans matter to them, winning matters to them - it's a great club to be a part of."

Saints caretaker boss Tonda Eckert told BBC Radio Solent:

"It's disappointing. We knew it wouldn't be easy to come here. The way we came back, compliments to the boys, but we just needed to bring it over the line.

"Credit also to Millwall. The way they are set up, they are a very good team. It's not easy to find solutions against them.

"I didn't feel they would score when we went up 1-0, but then they equalised and in a sold-out stadium, it was not easy to manage the game and that's what we need to be better at."

After being asked about his chances of landing the job full-time:

"It's not a topic for today. We just lost the game and we need to be strong for next Saturday."