Dave Martin's stunning 68th-minute strike crowned a superb display as Millwall secured three priceless points against fellow League One strugglers Port Vale.
Martin, back in the team after missing the last two games with an abductor muscle strain, marked his return to action with a goal worthy of gracing any stage.
Picking up Gary Alexander's flick, the flying winger picked his way past six Vale players before unleashing a sizzling left-foot shot into the roof of the net from the tightest of angles.
This was an afternoon with plenty of plus points for Millwall manager Kenny Jackett, although it's important not to get too carried away such was the pitiful performance of a Port Vale outfit that look nailed-on certainities for the drop.
From the first minute to the last, Jackett's young side looked sharper, hungrier and more determined than their opponents.
The Lions put Vale under the cosh from the kick-off. Alexander had a great chance to open the scoring on nine minutes when Ali Fuseini's corner was fumbled by keeper Joe Anyon, and the striker's close-range shot was blocked on the line before the ball was eventually hooked clear.
Millwall's pressure finally paid off after 17 minutes with a well-worked goal. Martin worked his magic on the left, slipped a great ball through to Alexander who in turn picked out Lewis Grabban on the edge of the area. Grabban took a couple of strides forward before thumping a low shot into the bottom corner for his first goal for The Lions.
Paul Robinson sent a header from Martin's 19th-minute corner over the bar and then Grabban was denied by a great block from keeper Anyon as The Lions kept the pressure on.
Danny Senda set up Jay Simpson after 31 minutes, and the flying winger's right-foot effort curled agonisingly wide as the visiting defence looked decidedly ill-at-ease.
Alexander will be left wondering how he didn't make it onto the scoree sheer himself five minutes before the break when Grabban's trickery and persistence saw the young frontman break into the box on the left. He picked out strike partner Alexander four yards out, but the latter's shot was somehow cleared for the 11th Millwall corner in the opening 45 minutes.
The Lions were not to be denied a second goal before half-time though, and when the irrepressible Martin sent over a precision delivery from the right, Marc Laird guided the ball into the back of the net with a sublime touch.
That effectively killed the match as a contest, but Vale were so bereft of attacking ideas it would have taken Millwall to press the self-destruct button for the visitors to get anything from this match.
Once the second-half started, The Lions merely picked up where they had left off. Marcus Bignot's 47th-minute freekick was headed on by Alexander to Grabban, whose left-foot shot on the turn flashed a yard wide, and then Simpson left full-back Justin Miller in a spin with a bamboozling bit of trickery before his shot was parried by Anyon, and Alexander's follow-up was blocked.
Millwall had the ball in the back of the net 12 minutes after the restart courtesy of Alexander's close range header, but the effort was ruled out for a foul by Robinson on keeper Anyon.
Vale made a double substitution on the hour-mark, and should have reduced the arrears, but sub Marc Richards contrived to send his clear header from a Paul Harsley freekick over from eight yards.
Normal service was quickly resumed - and six minutes later it was Martin who stole the spotlight with as good a goal as he is ever likely to score to put the seal on an excellent display.
Lions boss Jackett brought on Andy Frampton, Ahmet Brkovic and Adrian Forbes in the final quarter of an hour, but by then the points were safe.
It was a job well done by The Lions and a result that lifts the team up to 18th spot, one point clear of the drop zone.

Millwall: Evans, Bignot (Frampton, 70mins), Senda, Fuseini, Robinson, Whitbread, Martin, Laird, Alexander (Forbes, 85mins), Grabban, Simpson (Brkovic, 76mins). Subs not used: Edwards, Smith.
Scorers: Grabban (17mins), Laird (44mins), Martin (68mins)

Port Vale: Anyon, Miller, Lowe, Pilkington, Slater, Whitaker (Richards, 60mins), Herd, Howland (Rocastle, 60mins), Harsley, Perry, Glover (Cardle, 75mins). Subs not used: Lawrie, Mulligan.

Ref: Carl Boyeson
Att: 7,775 (away 165)