In a high-tempered affair, often lacking in moments of quality, De Norre’s second-half strike after indecision in midfield would be the ultimate sucker punch for the Swans who saw Matt Grimes’ penalty saved by visiting goalkeeper Matija Sarkic minutes earlier.
Both sides would finish with ten men as tempers boiled over with Jerry Yates and Japhet Tanganga seeing red, but it would be the visitors who would earn the three points.
For Swansea head coach Luke Williams, it would be a frustrating way to end the campaign as their recent unbeaten run came to an end.
The hosts came into the game looking to extend a fine four-match unbeaten run and finish the season on a high after sharing the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Norwich at Carrow Road last weekend.
The Londoner looking for consistency to build momentum ahead of what will be a busy summer in SA1 opted to make two changes to his side from the eleven that turned out against the Canaries seven days ago.
On-loan Chelsea defender Bashir Humphries coming in for Harry Darling who has undergone surgery on a foot injury, whilst Charlie Patino would finish his spell from Arsenal at the club taking his place in midfield for Jay Fulton missing with a knock.
In a youthful-looking bench, promising academy graduates Filip Lissah, Aimar Govea and Azeem Abdulai would be named looking for a chance to impress.
Millwall, meanwhile, under former club legend Neil Harris in the dugout have been revolutionised in recent weeks from deep in the relegation mire to comfortable midtable mediocrity.
Former Lions forward Harris, in his second spell in charge of the club, couldn’t have wished for a better start back at the New Den with seven wins from 12 games, including victories in the last four outings.
Five clean sheets in those dozen games had been the basis of the revival, a far cry from the side taken apart by the Swans 3-0 in London back in September.
Millwall would show two changes from their 1-0 win over Plymouth. Midfielder Billy Mitchell and exciting winger Romain Esse earning starts.
It would be the home side who would have the best of the opening exchanges in the spring sunshine. Liam Cullen, creating the game’s first chance, playing a delicious cross from the left-hand side across the face of the goal to find Ronald. The Brazilian winger though would not be able to adjust his positioning with his first-time finish sailing over the crossbar.
Millwall would be rigid and compact in their set-up and happy to allow the Swans enjoy the majority of the play.
Ollie Cooper setting up Jamie Paterson with an in-swinging cross from the left to head over the crossbar and at the other end Carl Rushworth beating away Ryan Longman’s drive in a rare moment of quality in a half lacking tempo and a cutting edge.
The visitors would improve after the break and would have the first sight at goal. Full back Danny McNamara, finding space on the left after the Swans had been sloppy in midfield but would drag his low effort past Rushworth’s far post.
It would be the Swans though who would have a golden opportunity to take the lead midway through the half. Ronald would find a rare moment of space on the right after being found by Paterson’s searching pass to run at Lions captain Jake Cooper drawing the Millwall defender into a foul and leaving referee Geoff Eltringham no choice but to award a penalty.
Sarkic, in the Millwall goal, however, would guess the right way to save Grimes’ spot kick, beating the effort away. The Swans would have a second bite at the cherry as the rebound would fall to Cullen, but his finish would lack composure and sailed over the crossbar.
It would prove a costly miss as the Swans would be punished minutes later as Millwall would take the lead against the run of play. A mix-up in midfield leading to a Lions counter attack and with a cross only half cleared, Belgian midfielder De Norre would be on hand to slide in to knock the ball into the bottom corner.
In an ill-disciplined finish to the match, both sides would be reduced to ten men as tempers boiled over. Swans substitute Jerry Yates seeing his marching orders for an off-the-ball incident with on-loan Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga.
It would be a poor end to the season for the home side and will leave Williams with food for thought with a long summer of comings and goings expected to be seen as the Londoner looks to improve his sides on field fortunes come August.
Swansea City X1
Carl Rushworth, Josh Tymon, Josh Key, Bashir Humphries, Ben Cabango, Charlie Patino (Liam Walsh 60), Matt Grimes (captain), Jamie Paterson (Jerry Yates 73), Ronald (Azeem Abdulai 73), Ollie Cooper (Jamal Lowe 60), Liam Cullen.
Millwall X1
Matija Sarkic, Ryan Leonard, Dan McNamara, Japhet Tanganga, Jake Cooper (captain), Ryan Longman, Billy Mitchell (George Saville 77), Casper De Norre, Romain Esse, Tom Bradshaw (George Honeyman 77), Zian Flemming (Sean Hutchinson 86).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
