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Danny Shittu scored on his first league start of the season as Millwall won for the first time in nine games.

Ian Holloway's men had been desperate for a first victory since they beat Blackpool in August.

They sealed three points when Shittu rose at the back post to head in Shaun Williams's corner and move them into mid-table, two points behind Cardiff.

It is a first defeat for Russell Slade, who won his first two games after replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The result leaves his Cardiff side one of three Championship clubs without an away win all season.

Millwall's busy and direct approach prevented Cardiff from playing a passing game.

But after recovering from the loss of midfielder Aron Gunnarsson - forced off after being accidentally caught in the face by Ricardo Fuller's boot - the visitors should have gone in front when Adam Le Fondre fired too high after being sent clear, then shot straight at David Forde from six yards.

Millwall came close themselves when Scott McDonald sent a shot past the post from long distance but it was only after the home side scored that the game began to open up.

Shittu grabbed his first goal since last November on 54 minutes, although there appeared to be a foul on Bluebirds keeper David Marshall in the build-up.

As Cardiff began to chase the game, it was Millwall who had the better opportunities to score again.

Lee Gregory had two clear sights of goal but could not hit the target while Ed Upson came close with a drive from 25 yards, then shot wide from inside the box.

The Bluebirds almost salvaged a point when Anthony Pilkington's close-range effort was brilliantly blocked by Stoke loanee Andy Wilkinson.