Dennis Wise's first goal for the club and a Neil Harris double gave Millwall victory as Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom was sent off at the New Den.

Former England midfielder Wise put the Lions ahead with an angled drive from the corner of the penalty area three minutes before half-time.

Harris made the points safe nine minutes from the end when he converted from the spot having been fouled by Poom, with the Estonian shown the red card.

Four minutes into stoppage time, Harris netted his second goal when heading the ball home following a cross from veteran fellow frontman Steve Claridge.

The result piles the pressure on Derby manager John Gregory and eases the burden on Mark McGhee's shoulders.

For most of a scrappy opening period chances were few and far between, and the game was instead dominated by a series of crunching challenges.

Claridge had the first effort on goal after 11 minutes when he connected with a cross from Harris but headed the ball wide.

Another 11 minutes elapsed before the next strike, which was the first by Derby when Bolder tried his luck with a 25-yard curler held by goalkeeper Tony Warner.

Striker Lee Morris, standing in for Malcolm Christie, thought he had put Derby ahead after 42 minutes but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Millwall went straight down the other end and instead it was they who took the lead through Wise.

The second half started much more promisingly, with Ifill becoming increasingly influential.

Derby were now posing much more attacking threat and shooting on sight in their search for an equaliser, with Ian Evatt and Izale McLeod firing just off target.

But when Harris got on the scoresheet Derby's forward thrusts subsided.

And after Roberts had gone close in the dying moments, the Millwall striker put the gloss on a resounding victory with his double.

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

Derby: Poom, Evatt, Riggott, Higginbotham, Barton, Bolder, Kinkladze, Murray, Jackson, McLeod, Morris. Subs: Grant, Elliott, Hunt, Twigg, Huddlestone.

Referee: M Cowburn (Lancashire)