Sheffield Wednesday threatened to record only their second victory of the season after taking the lead against Millwall before their promotion-chasing opponents hit back to win 2-1.
Having not scored a goal since Boxing Day, there was a mixture of relief and jubilation among the home supporters when Jamal Lowe scored in the 60th minute to put Wednesday ahead.
However, the joy was short-lived as Millwall scored two goals in two minutes after Cole McGhee put into his own goal and Macaulay Langstaff's winner earned all three points.
Millwall included former Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan in their line-up and, such is his standing at Hillsborough, home supporters chanted his name and applauded in the 11th minute. The veteran midfielder joined the Lions after making more than 450 appearances during a decade with Owls.
The first chance of the match fell to Millwall's Tristan Crama, whose effort was held by goalkeeper Murphy Cooper.
Caleb Taylor also threatened for the visitors, putting his header over from a good position following a corner from Alfie Doughty, while Josh Coburn later headed wide.
Wednesday never seriously troubled the Millwall defence during the first 45 minutes, occasionally threatening on the break but lacking any real potency in the final third.
Olaf Kobacki had a great opportunity to score for the hosts early in the second half, getting the better of Taylor inside the area before firing into the side-netting.
McGhee then had a shot on target from the edge of the area, which was comfortably saved by Max Crocombe, to give the home support some hope.
Boosted by the improved showing after the break, the Owls' lengthy goal drought was finally ended on the hour-mark when Crocombe failed to hold a low drive from Charlie McNeill and Lowe pounced on the loose ball, turning it into the net from close range.
Taylor appealed for a penalty after going down under a challenge inside the area, but succeeded only in being shown a yellow card by referee Ed Duckworth.
Millwall drew level in the 72nd minute when the home defence failed to deal effectively with an attack and McGhee turned the ball into his own net.
Substitute Langstaff struck the winner two minutes later, finding the net with a near-post finish following a low cross from Femi Azeez.
The result means Wednesday will be relegated by local rivals Sheffield United if they look the Steel derby next Sunday, while Millwall's three-point haul strengthens their bid for promotion in third.
Sheffield Wednesday's Henrik Pedersen:
"A tough, tough opponent today, a physical monster opponent. How much physical power they could bring into the game.
"We knew it's a top team from the league, we know they are physically strong, we know the vertical play, second ball, set-pieces that maybe the best in the league. But how we manage this game today, how we defend, how we press, how we protect on goal and all the set-pieces. It was very positive.
"I think also how we manage the game offensively today was, it was strong because we know Millwall with the physical power is a fantastic pressing team.
"And how we played a little bit more direct, how we run more with them and how we won a lot of second ball against them. So I think in general, a strong performance from our four senior players and seven young guys."
Millwall's Alex Neil:
"I always thought it was going to be a tough match. In the first half, we had enough opportunities to score the first goal. We weren't clinical enough at times.
"And then I thought there was a little bit of anxiousness crept into our game because we didn't get that first goal. We make an error, they manage to then score. And strangely, I thought it sort of settled us down a little bit. And the fact that, 'right, OK, that's happened', now we need to respond and react.
"I thought the lads had come on, I thought it helped us, I thought it had a good impact on the game. Tommy (Watson) does a great bit of footwork, I think Josh Coburn links it really well, finds him and then a great bit of footwork for the first one.
"We're a bit unfortunate, the other one I think was about two centimetres that it doesn't cross the line with. I think we all expected that to be a goal.
"So like I say, can we play better? Yeah, of course we can. But what I will say at this level, when you've got a team that sits in, they defend well, they're steadfast. They've lost their last game 4-0, so the last thing they want to do is go and concede goals."
