Nigel Pearson defended Max O'Leary's role in Millwall's winner but admitted it's the same old story as Bristol City failed to build on their win during the week.
City started brightly but failed to maintain their intensity as the visitors started to pose a threat with their direct nature. The defence struggled to deal with set pieces and Mark Sykes' clearance off the line from a corner was a stark warning of the threat of Gary Rowett's side.
Just two minutes before half-time and Millwall were rewarded when they recycled a free-kick. City switched off to allow Murray Wallace to get his cross into the box which Tom Bradshaw capitalised after O'Leary's excellent initial save.
Millwall's deep defensive line nullified City's attacking threat limiting them to just one shot on target. But they got themselves back into the game when Cam Pring's delivery was turned into his own net by Sam Hutchinson.
However, City shot themselves in the foot with 15 minutes to play when a mix-up between O'Leary and the returning Tomas Kalas allowed Zian Flemming to roll it into an empty net. It was Millwall's first away victory of the season.
Pearson said after the game: "I heard Max shout from the technical area. Maybe he should punch it but I'd rather that than the goals conceded against Birmingham. I'd rather there be a positive mistake.
"Of course he's not (to blame). He's (Kalas) partially at fault for the second goal but it's a difficult one to come back into I think.
"When you play against a side like Millwall, they were exactly how we expected them to be. Physically strong, pretty direct. They limit the opportunities that you have to play.
"For the most part I thought we dealt with it relatively well, we were committed but the goals are just poor goals again. The first one we don't react.
"Max makes a super save, we've got some players reacting and some standing still. It's annoying, frustrating and of course, we get back into the game but then gift them a very bizarre winner.
"It knocks the stuffing out of themselves as much as anything.
"I'm frustrated for the players because I think there would be games in the past where we would have been bullied. I think we stood up physically we competed with them."
Millwall could have had a third in the final few seconds when Benik Afobe saw his penalty kick saved by O'Leary. It came from a City throw-in inside the opponent's half and Pearson labelled the decision-making from his players as "bizarre."
He added: "There's a lot of physical commitment to the game in terms of dealing with their aerial threat and so it's not really those moments that are definitive for us. It's more the times that we either switch off or make bizarre decisions.
"Like the throw-in at the end. Rob's 6 ft 3" and he shows for Pringy to throw a ball to his feet. It has to go in the box. It has to go in the box.
"We make these strange decisions on the pitch where if we are in front with one goal up you would expect the ball to come into the box and yet we go down a different route ourselves. I find it bizarre that we make these types of decisions.
"It's the same old story I'm afraid. Do okay in midweek, get ourselves to a winning position and really the worst we should get today if we were more streetwise is a point."
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