Millwall 2, Norwich City 1

David Cuffley

Substitute Neil Harris condemned top-of-the-table Norwich City to their first League One defeat since October with a second-half winner for Millwall at The New Den.

The Canaries' 16-match unbeaten run was ended after Harris glanced home a cross by Chris Hackett five minutes after coming on as a half-time replacement for Lewis Grabban.

City, looking for a ninth successive win, had made the perfect start when Chris Martin fired them ahead in the fourth minute from a superb free-kick, his 19th goal of the season.

But defender Tony Craig levelled in the 25th minute when his left-foot drive was deflected past Fraser Forster.

The arrival of Harris at the interval proved decisive and although the Canaries threw everything forward in the closing stages, with skipper Gary Doherty pushed into attack, there were few clear-cut chances to get on terms.

Despite the defeat, City still lead by two points after Leeds were held to a 2-2 draw at Hartlepool, but the Yorkshire side have two games in hand.

Charlton are six points behind the Canaries in third place after drawing 1-1 at Swindon.,

City boss Paul Lambert, named manager of the month for January, was able to select an unchanged side with top scorer Grant Holt completing a three-match ban and full-back Adam Drury facing a few weeks on the sidelines with a torn thigh muscle.

The only change from the 2-1 win over Hartlepool was on the bench, where Tom Adeyemi replaced Danny Kelly.

Millwall made three changes with Alan Dunne, Scott Barron and Lewis Grabban all recalled to the starting line-up.

City went into the match unbeaten in 16 league games, 14 of them wins, while Millwall had chalked up four wins and a draw since their 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at Carrow Road.

It was a bright, chilly afternoon in South London, and the two sides emerged to a great reception from Millwall's biggest crowd of the season, which included 2,865 travelling Norwich fans.

With two minutes gone, City 'keeper Forster was brought into action by Hackett's volley but was right behind it.

In the fourth minute, City took the lead with a superb goal by Chris Martin, his 19th of the season.

A foul by Robinson on Martin gave City a free-kick six yards outside the penalty area and the same player got up to curl the perfect right-foot shot from the direct free-kick low inside Forde's left-hand post.

Millwall looked for a swift reply but Trotter fired wildly over the top, before, in their next attack, Grabban shot straight at Forster without getting any power behind his effort.

With 18 minutes gone, Barron sliced a shot wide of the target after Hackett's corner has been only partially cleared.

Forster saved a powerful effort from Grabban after the youngster turned smartly just inside the area, but the keeper was adjudged to have dropped the ball behind the line.

The resulting corner was cleared but Millwall stayed on the attack and drew level with a 25th-minute goal by Craig, whose left-foot drive appeared to take a deflection off Nelson on its way past Forster.

A foul by Abdou on Rose gave City another free-kick and Chris Martin, from a few yards further out than when he scored, struck another right-footer but straight into Forde's midriff.

McDonald needed treatment for a bang in the face, but was soon back in the action, heading wide from Chris Martin's cross.

Referee Hegley had a word with McDonald after he caught Dunne on the thigh, stretching for a through-ball, but the two players shook hands and play carried on.

Three minutes before the break, Russell Martin set off on a solo run that took him into the Millwall area and his left-foot shot brought a fingertip save out of Forde, denying him what would have been a marvellous goal.

With Nelson down injured, a foul by Rose on Dunne gave Millwall a free-kick wide on the right, Robinson meeting Hackett's kick with a far-post header but it was safely pouched by Forster.

t Half-time: Millwall 1, Norwich City 1

Millwall made a change at half-time with Harris replacing Grabban in attack.

Harris made a swift impact by giving the home side the lead five minutes after the break.

A corner on the left, conceded by Russell Martin, was played short to Hackett and his cross into the area was met with a glancing header by Harris that gave Forster no chance.

City won a corner as they pushed forward and Lappin's kick found the heads of both Nelson and Doherty, but Forde was able to gather.

With City struggling to make any headway, there was a double change with 25 minutes left, McNamee and Johnson replacing Korey Smith and McDonald.

A dangerous clearance by Lappin across the front of the penalty area fell to Hackett and he was just inches over the top with a powerful drive as he tried to extend his side's lead.

Chris Martin was well off target with a long-range effort as the Canaries tried to battle back.

Trotter came close to making it 3-1 when his shot took a deflection and Forster made an instinctive block.

A curling cross from McNamee forced Craig to concede a corner, but Hoolahan's flag-kick was straight into Forde's hands.

City boss Lambert made his final change with 13 minutes to go, replacing Hoolahan with Whitbread and pushing Doherty into attack.

Another McNamee cross was cleared for a corner, but once again Forde was out to claim Lappin's kick.

Russell tried his luck from long range but a deflection took the sting out of his effort and Forde saved easily.

Nelson's overhead kick was deflected narrowly wide for a corner, then McNamee's cross found the head of Nelson but Forde made a clean catch.

t Result: Millwall 2, Norwich City 1

t Millwall: Forde; Dunne, Robinson, Ward, Craig; Hackett, Trotter, Abdou, Barron; Grabban, Morison.

Subs: Sullivan, Jack Smith, Frampton, Grimes, Fuseini, Harris (for Grabban, 45), Batt.

t Norwich City: Forster; Russell Martin, Doherty, Nelson, Rose; Russell; Korey Smith, Lappin; Hoolahan; Chris Martin, McDonald.

Subs: Rudd, Whitbread (for Hoolahan, 77), Gill, Hughes, McNamee (for Smith, 65), Adeyemi Johnson (for McDonald, 65).

t Referee: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire)

t Attendance: 14,374

t Goals: Millwall: Craig (25), Harris (50). City: Chris Martin (4)