Three goals before Derby had settled, a captain's fourth late on, and Eustace's side are still one win from 13
By Our Special Correspondent
John Eustace's Derby had at least been decent on their travels this season. At The Den, in front of 19,762, they were blitzed. By the 17th minute they were three down, and by full-time the only argument was over how many it might have been.
Alex Neil named the side that lost at Portsmouth last weekend. Derby were without the suspended Dion Sanderson and Joe Ward, with Jack Robinson and Max Johnston coming in.
It took Millwall three minutes. Lyndon Dykes laid it on for Kyrell Lisbie, and the young forward calmly finished from the left side of the box into the bottom corner. He had scored his first of the season in Millwall's last home game. By the tenth minute he had trebled his tally.
Ten minutes of Lisbie
Zak Sturge had already gone close and Caleb Taylor had headed wide when Taylor nodded a ball down in the box and Lisbie poked it in from close range. Derby's skipper Carlton Morris got on the end of a Rhian Brewster cross and couldn't keep it down.
Then came the best goal of the afternoon. Millwall broke from their own half, Camiel Neghli found Luke Cundle in the middle of the box, and Cundle drilled it into the bottom right corner.
It didn't get any better for the Rams before the break. David Ozoh went off injured, replaced by Alex Mowatt, and Brewster was booked. Derby went in without a shot on target.
Derby rally, too late
To their credit, they were better after half-time. Morris headed straight at Max Crocombe for Derby's first effort on target, and Brewster brought a second save out of the New Zealand international after Sam Szmodics' through ball.
Lisbie went looking for his hat-trick, firing over and then high and wide, before Neil took him off. Ryan Leonard, Mihailo Ivanovic, Mark Sykes, Alfie Doughty and Romain Esse all got a run-out.
One of them helped himself to an assist. Six minutes from time, from a corner, Doughty's mis-hit shot fell to Ivanovic, who squared for captain Jake Cooper to slam into the roof of the net from close range.
Filip Bilbija, on as a substitute, slotted in a consolation three minutes later with a low left-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
"No excuse"
Neil had asked for a fast start and no fear, and got both.
It was a lot of pent-up frustration building up into the game. A lot of today was about putting things right, making sure we started well and won the game.
Alex Neil, Millwall head coach, to BBC Radio London
We looked like a team that was confident and they didn't - I said before the game to make sure we don't play with any fear.
Alex Neil, Millwall head coach, to BBC Radio London
Eustace wasn't hiding behind his injury list.
It was always going to be tough with a makeshift back four but there is no excuse. We've got a patched-up defence but you still expect better - the way we defended was poor.
John Eustace, Derby County boss, to BBC Radio Derby
I expect a huge reaction - the players, fans and staff have got to get through this really difficult moment.
John Eustace, Derby County boss, to BBC Radio Derby
Millwall's run without defeat against Derby now stretches to eight league games. Derby have won one of 13 and are nine without a win. Only Preston are below them, and they stay four points adrift of Watford in 21st.
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