MILLWALL were beaten in a seven-goal thriller by Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The hosts led 2-0 at the break thanks to early strikes from Anis Mehmeti and Sinclair Armstrong.
But the Lions flew out of the traps at the restart and found themselves 3-2 ahead by the 64th minute thanks to Romain Esse, Tom Bradshaw (penalty) and Duncan Watmore.
However, they were ultimately undone by goals from Bristol City substitutes Fally Mayulu and Scott Twine to leave Millwall still searching for a first point after two Championship fixtures.
Millwall named the same starting line-up which played against Watford seven days ago for this afternoon’s trip to Ashton Gate.
Neil Harris made half a dozen changes at Pompey in midweek where Esse scored the Lions’ winner in the Carabao Cup.
The six to come back in were Shaun Hutchinson, Ryan Leonard, Watmore, George Saville, Bradshaw and keeper Lukas Jensen.
Liam Roberts, Danny McNamara, Macaulay Langstaff, Aidomo Emakhu, Alfie Massey and Wes Harding all dropped back to the bench.
The Lions made the worst possible start when they fell behind inside three minutes, Armstrong bursting clear on the right and picking out Mehmeti to slot home from close range.
Joe Williams was a very relieved man just moments later after almost firing into his own net and there were big shouts for handball from Millwall’s players after Casper De Norre’s low shot was blocked in the box.
The visitors found themselves two goals down on 12 minutes, as Armstrong seemingly had all the time in the world to head past Jensen from Max Bird’s delivery.
Leonard was extremely unlucky not to halve the deficit with an angled volley which came back off the post and then along the goal-line.
Max O’Leary was able to gather the rebound, much to the obvious relief of the Bristol City keeper and the home fans.
Saville headed off target from Leonard’s cross and then Esse saw a shot blocked as Millwall began to pose some problems in the final third.
George Honeyman won a free-kick just outside the area but Saville’s attempt flew over the bar, while Bird had a decent shot at the other end that also went off target.
Esse produced an excellently timed challenge to win the ball from Jason Knight inside the area and there was still time for Mehmeti to have a crack at goal as the first-half drew to a close.
De Norre earned a yellow card for a committed challenge on Williams four minutes after the break, with Sykes going into Sunny Gill’s book moments later for a foul on Joe Bryan.
Millwall were right back in contention on 51 minutes when Honeyman found Esse, who dinked into the box just like he did at Fratton Park before shooting low into the bottom corner.
And they were back on terms three minutes later after Mr Gill adjudged George Tanner to have handled in the box before pointing to the spot.
Bradshaw stepped up to send O’Leary the wrong way from the spot for his first goal of the campaign to make it 2-2.
The striker was unfortunate not to instantly add to his tally a couple of minutes later with an attempt that wasn’t a million miles away.
But the Lions did get their noses in front for the first time in the 64th minute and what a goal it was as Watmore’s stunning volley flew past O’Leary.
Jensen was alert at the other end to deny Bird an instant equaliser, a nice morale boosting stop from the keeper who is still settling in at his new club.
But there was nothing he could do to prevent Mayulu scoring in the 78th minute as the substitute swept home from inside after the box after being set up by Bird.
Jensen was able to make a simple save from Mayulu after he broke into the box and then Bryan got in a crucial block to put behind Scott Twine’s 85th minute goal-bound shot.
But Twine wasn’t to be denied three minutes later when he got on the end of Williams’ inviting right-wing cross to tap home from six yards and break Millwall’s hearts.
George Earthy could have made things even worse for the visitors but placed his attempt behind and then Jensen made a fine save from Mayulu deep into stoppage time.
Defeat was harsh on Harris’ side after that impressive second-half comeback. Next up are Hull a week today.
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