Walsall ended a run of four successive Nationwide Division One defeats with a shock victory over Millwall at the New Den.

First-half goals from David Zdrilic and Darren Wrack and a Jorge Leitao strike late in the second period helped Colin Lee's strugglers to a much-needed three-point haul.

It was Millwall, however, looking to put a disappointing run which has seen them win just once in their last four games, who almost made an immediate impact when Stuart Nethercott flashed a header just over the bar from six yards out after rising to meet a Christophe Kinet corner.

Zdrilic, who netted twice in the midweek 4-3 home defeat by Rotherham, responded quickly and should have done better with a shot from 18 yards but spooned his effort into the hands of grateful goalkeeper Tony Warner.

Two shots in quick succession shortly after also proved fruitless. Leitao saw the ball sail high over the crossbar from his powerful strike before Lions veteran Steve Claridge dragged a shot wide of James Walker's upright.

Heat

A right-footed effort from Zdrilic soon after sliced wide of Warner's post. Ian Roper did well to scramble clear a curling Kinet corner before Zdrilic, once again at the centre of the action, saw a fierce 20-yard drive charged down.

But the Australian's persistence paid dividends after 22 minutes as he timed his run perfectly to guide an inch-perfect Steve Corica cross into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Another Kinet corner soon after the restart provided Paul Ifill with a fine opportunity to level matters - but the 23-year-old smacked his shot wide of the target.

And David Livermore, eager to pull his team level, arrowed a shot wide the target, but just as the Lions looked to be hauling themselves back into the contest, Wrack pounced to double the visitors' lead, running onto a Leitao pass and firing a powerful drive into the roof of the net.

Striker Neil Harris replaced Kinet soon into the second period as Millwall attempted to reduce their deficit.

A curling Andy Roberts cross was punched clear by Walker before the same player saw a 25-yard shot blocked on the edge of the area.

The Lions, turning up the heat on their opponents, were unlucky when Harris' cut-back evaded a host of his own team-mates for Darren Bazeley to hack clear and on-loan striker by Kevin Davies, who netted against Burnley in his last game, turned a shot wide of the mark.

But, against the run of play, it was the Saddlers who found the net and sealed the result, Leitao angling a low shot past Warner after a neat through-ball from Corica.

Millwall: Warner, Lawrence, Bull, Nethercott, Ward, Ifill, Kinet, Roberts, Livermore, Davies, Claridge. Subs: Gueret, Ryan, Harris, Braniff, Phillips.

Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Aranalde, Hay, Roper, Wrack, O'Connor, Simpson, Corica, Zdrilic, Leitao. Subs: Ward, Birch, Wright, Barras, Martinez.

Referee: L Cable (Surrey)