Norwich City were well beaten at Millwall in their opening away fixture of the 2026/27 Sky Bet Championship season.
The Canaries were under pressure for large periods of the game, and a goal in each half from Taïryk Arconte had the hosts in complete control of the contest.
City rarely threatened, and saw José Córdoba sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second period.
Debutant Anthony Musaba had City’s best chance of the second period, but in the end Luke Cundle added a third for the hosts on what was a disappointing afternoon in the capital.
Philippe Clement made two changes to the City starting line-up following an opening day defeat against West Bromwich Albion. One was enforced, with Paris Maghoma missing out with a minor knock. Oscar Schwartau took his place. The other saw Sam Field preferred in a central midfield berth over Pelle Mattsson.
Prior to kick off, there was a special tribute remembering former Millwall boss Kenny Jackett, who had sadly passed away over the summer months.
Backed by a vocal crowd, the home side were direct and aggressive from the first whistle.
On six minutes Josh Coburn fired an early warning shot against the base of Vladan Kovačević’s post after being slipped into the right channel.
City were very much up against it and defending for large periods, but did create opportunities.
Schwartau sent a low daisy cutter from range down the throat of the goalkeeper before then bundling wide a low delivery from Andre Brooks, following his weaving run down the right wing.
It was an open and high tempo start to the contest, and the hosts made their early pressure pay on 18 minutes.
Arconte was the goalscorer, tapping in from close range after Kovačević’s had kept out Coburn’s initial shot.
Jake Cooper then thought he’d doubled Millwall’s lead, heading in from a deep looping free kick, only to be flagged offside.
Norwich were in need of the half time break, but did engineer a big chance for Brooks following a neat passing move, only for the wide man to fire wide following Mohamed Touré’s lay off.
Just before the interval, Córdoba was alert to scramble Kyrell Lisbie’s deflected effort off the line following another Millwall breakaway.
The second half assumed a similar pattern to that of the first, with Millwall’s energy and directness continuing to cause issues.
And just before the hour mark Arconte doubled his and Millwall’s tally for the afternoon.
Cooper nodded down a floated cross into the City penalty area, before an unmarked Arconte swept a right footed shot into the far corner of the Norwich net.
Clement responded with a triple substitution, introducing Mattsson, Papa Amadou Diallo and Jack Stacey on the hour mark.
Diallo almost had an immediate impact, jinking infield from the left wing before seeing a curling shot destined for the far corner palmed away by Lukas Jensen.
But any slim hopes of a Norwich fightback were dealt a hammer blow shortly after, when Córdoba was shown a second yellow after bundling over Arconte as he raced towards goal.
Recent loan signing Musaba was introduced for his City debut late on. He skipped away from multiple Millwall shirts before firing wide from the edge of the area.
But in the end, there was to be no way back into the contest, as the hosts add a third through Cundle to seal victory.
Millwall: Jensen, Sturge, Cooper (c), Taylor, Arconte (Lovelace 71), Neghli, Metcalfe (Kelly 77), Sykes, Coburn (Dykes 78), Lisbie (Cundle 78), De Norre (Osei-Tutu 86)
Subs not used: Crocombe, Baggott, Batth, Bangura-Williams
Norwich City: Kovačević, Fisher (Stacey 60), Darling, Córdoba, Chrisene, McLean (c), Field (Mattsson 60), Brooks (Musaba 73), Slimane (Diallo 60), Schwartau (McConville 65), Touré
Subs not used: Grimshaw, Yongwa, Wright, Kvistgaarden
Half-time: 1-0
Full-time: 3-0
Goals: Arconte (18, 58), Cundle (84)
Booked: Córdoba, Darling, Metcalfe, Córdoba
Sent off: Córdoba (64)
Referee: Samuel Allison
Venue: The Den