Millwall

Marc Webber
BBC Final Score at The Den

Image source, Rex Features

"This is the first time this season I've been able to pick close to my settled starting 11," proclaimed Millwall manager Alex Neil in his press conference after their comprehensive 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

That is quite the statement after 12 games.

But it is a fair reflection of why the Lions' form has been so hit-and-miss so far.

Not having the luxury of choice from the squad they have has been frustrating for the manager and fans alike.

It perhaps explains why Millwall went from a 4-0 hammering by one Midlands side one day (Coventry on Wednesday), to a 3-0 domination of one just a few days later.

The side that won on Saturday seems far closer to where Neil wants them to be and where they can be.

The international break has come at the right time for Millwall to reset and deliver what is possible.

Nick Hart
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Saturday's decisive 3-0 win at John Berylson Way came as a massive tonic for Millwall fans everywhere.

The pressure of a sold-out Den, plus seven team changes from the midweek debacle versus Coventry and just one home goal from three home games prior to Saturday wasn't making me feel particularly hopeful as I walked to the match, I can tell you.

Especially as West Brom came into matters decently placed, with four league wins and sitting in fourth spot.

Privately, I'd have settled for a point - and a chance to regroup over the international break.

But forget all that. This proved to be the most complete, all-round performance of the Lions' season so far.

From the kick-off, Millwall pressed harder, tackled in more dangerous positions and altogether looked brighter in all departments.

We were a revelation compared with that sad showing just a few days beforehand.

Leading at half time from Jake Cooper's close-range finish on 18 minutes, little did we expect two goal of the season contenders from Femi Azeez on 56 and 'player of the match' Zak Sturge on 72.

Ka-boom.

Throw in quality performances from Billy Mitchell and Josh Coburn up front and this was a very satisfying result, indeed.

Hats off to Alex Neil and the squad for raising themselves off the floor in such fine style.

Hats off also to the many NFL weekend North American fans all around me at The Den on Saturday.

The Den might have been a bit of a culture shock for them, hopefully a pleasant one, but all seemed to enjoy the cracking atmosphere.

Millwall go from zeroes to heroes in three days. Football eh?

Find more from Nick Hart on Achtung! Millwall., external

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Alex Neil was pleased with how clinical his Millwall side were in their 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at The Den.

Goals from Jake Cooper, Femi Azeez and Zak Sturge helped the Lions bounce back from defeat by Coventry City last week.

"To score three goals and have a clean sheet was important for us," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"Today we were clinical, we looked ruthless in front of goal, we were defensively solid.

"We got the balance right between playing and turning the ball and going up to support. Goals change games, it is true. It gives you a lift and allowed us to win the game comfortably in the end."

Neil made seven changes from the Coventry defeat but heaped praise on his players for carrying out his instructions.

"All I think about is preparing the lads for the game, and I'm pleased with it and the lads delivered. That is the hard bit.

"[The international break] has come at a good time because we've got a couple of lads to come back. We are in a good spot, the mood in the camp is good, and hopefully the fans will be pleased."

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Hartlepool have signed Millwall goalkeeper George Evans on loan.

The 20-year-old joins after Pools' on-loan Hull City stopper Harvey Cartwright was ruled out with a "long-term" injury picked up in Tuesday's defeat at Carlisle.

Evans made four appearances for the Lions in the Championship last season and will go straight into the squad for Saturday's National League game at home to York City.

Pools have not stated the length of deal he has signed.

Image source, Opta

Millwall will seek to bounce back from their 4-0 mauling against Coventry on Wednesday as West Brom head to South London on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Though the Lions remain unbeaten in four games on the road, the defeat to the Sky Blues was a third in four on home soil, a run during which they have scored one goal and conceded nine.

They lie 12th ahead of the visit of the fourth-placed Baggies, three points ahead in a congested Championship table.

Albion ended an iffy run of one win in five with Wednesday's 1-0 victory at Norwich, which made it three wins from their four away games, only going down at table-topping Middlesbrough so far.

Ryan Mason's men have failed to score more than one goal in seven of their eight matches, though have conceded just seven goals, with three clean sheets, two of them on the road.

• Each of the past five league games between Millwall and West Brom have finished in draws, with the last two at The Den finishing 1-1.

• Since September 1987, West Brom have won just one of their 13 away league games against Millwall (D4 L8), a 2-0 victory in February 2020.

• The last five league meetings between Millwall and West Brom have seen a total of just four goals scored (two each), although all four of those have been scored in games at The Den.

• West Brom are unbeaten in their past five away games against London-based sides in the Championship (W2 D3), after losing five in a row beforehand.

• West Brom are the opponent that Alex Neil has faced the most times as a manager in the Championship without ever winning (seven games – D1 L6).

Millwall missed the chance to move into the Championship play-off places on Wednesday night, suffering a 4-0 home hammering at the hands of Coventry City.

"We missed too many chances and we conceded some soft goals," head coach Alex Neil told BBC Radio London.

A lapse of concentration from Millwall centre-back Tristan Crama gave the visitors the lead in the first half.

"Tristan Crama has been in my opinion our player of the season up to this point," Neil said.

"He's disappointed, I'm disappointed - but he's been terrific in all the matches for us [so far]."

The Lions went into half-time 1-0 down and came out for the second half with a fighting spirit, bringing the game to Coventry according to Neil.

"We built moves well, we worked into good areas but we just didn't have any sort of clinical[ity] in and around the final third," he said.

"When chances did come our way we didn't get it in the back of the net."

Millwall dominated possession with 63.4% and had 13 shots, the same amount as their opponents, but were unable to capitalise.

"The scoreline made the game look really, really horrible for us," Neil said.

The Lions have struggled at The Den this season, winning just three points compared with eight away from home.

"[On the road we're] being more effective, getting the first goal," said Neil.

"The resilience that we certainly had [away], we lacked [against Coventry], certainly towards the end in terms of defending our box."

Millwall will host fourth-placed West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (15:00 BST) looking to get a second home league win of the season.

"It's another chance to go and improve and make sure that we're certainly better and get another win at home," added Neil.

Listen to the full interview with Alex Neil and more Millwall on Sounds.

Millwall host Coventry City on Wednesday night (19:45 BST), with the home side occupying 10th in the Championship table and having not lost a league game since the end of August.

Frank Lampard's Coventry City come into this one off the back of a dominating 3-0 victory over Birmingham City at the weekend but will be without Jack Rudoni, who will be sidelined for a few weeks.

The Lions have already been triumphant over the Sky Blues this season after they recorded a 2-1 win in the League Cup back in August.

• Millwall are winless in five league meetings with Coventry (D1 L4), their longest winless run against them since April 1964 (6).

• Coventry have won away to Millwall in both of the past two league seasons – the only time they have ever enjoyed back-to-back league wins away to the Lions.

• Millwall have won six of their last eight Championship home games (L2), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W6 D4 L6).

• Coventry are looking to avoid defeat in each of their opening four away games of a league campaign in the top two tiers for the sixth time, and first since 1993-94 in the Premier League.

• Millwall's Alex Neil has only lost one of his five Championship managerial games against Coventry (W2 D2), a 0-2 defeat with Stoke in October 2022.

Millwall have had to change their approach to games while dealing with a number of injuries in the squad, says head coach Alex Neil.

The Lions picked up their first home win of the season in the Championship by beating Watford 1-0 on Monday but Neil feels if he had his full squad to choose from they would be higher in the table than their current 10th place.

"The only frustration is with a fuller squad we'd have even more points on the board - we'd certainly be more creative in the final third," he told BBC Radio London.

"Leading up to the Watford game you could sense a little bit of frustration and everything seemed a little down but since that game the training ground has felt a different place - but nothing has changed apart from getting those three points."

Midfielder Billy Mitchell and striker Mihailo Ivanovic are set to return to the squad for Saturday's trip to Swansea (12:30 BST) and Neil thinks having to make so many changes already this season has shown the Lions can be flexible in their approach.

"We've tinkered with some things in terms of changing shape so there have been little tweaks we've had to make to ensure, with the guys coming into the team, we play to their strengths," added Neil.

"The lads have been brilliant in terms of the ones that have been called into the team to play prominent roles and still get us results."

Swansea City will look to extend their undefeated home record to an eighth Championship game when they welcome Millwall on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Swans are enjoying a superb spell on home ground, last beating Premier League side Nottingham Forest there in the Carabao Cup before suffering the hangover of their mighty win by losing to Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

Though the Lions are faring well on the road this season and will be hoping that they will be the ones to put an end to Swansea's unblemished home record.

• Swansea have lost their last two home league games against Millwall – they've never lost three in a row against the Lions before.

• Millwall have won four of their last five league games against Swansea (L1), including each of the last three by a 1-0 scoreline.

• Swansea are unbeaten in their last seven home league games (W4 D3) since a 2-0 loss to Burnley in March. They last had a longer run between October 2020 and February 2021 (13).

• Millwall are unbeaten in their three away league games this season (W2 D1), last having a longer run from the start of a second-tier campaign in 1995-96 (9).

• Millwall's Mihailo Ivanovic has had more shots without scoring than any other player in the Championship this season (14). Last season he had the third-best conversion rate of any player with 50+ shots in the division (23.1%).

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

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Millwall boss Alex Neil spoke to BBC Radio London after his side's 1-0 win against Watford:

"I thought it was a big game for us because if we win it, it's deemed a good start for us.

"We're two points off second [place], we've still got a lot of players to come back to strengthen the squad even more and we've got a lot of young lads who have done great for us just to get on the pitch and show that they're capable. We're pleased."

On Camiel Neghli's goal and the potential penalty:

"It's easy to sit at the side and say he should have saved it. At the end of the day, I don't really care how it goes in, as long as it goes in.

"What I do think is we [should have] had a stonewall penalty in the second half – that was a ridiculous decision from my perspective.

"I need to see it back but if I'm wrong I'll be amazed. Clean through, it should have been a sending-off and a penalty for me.

"And at that stage the game's completely different and we run out probably comfortable winners."

Millwall will seek to pick up their first points of the season at The Den on Monday night when Watford visit (20:00 BST).

The Lions have picked up all seven of their points on the road so far and battled back to grab late levellers in their past two games, at Charlton last Saturday and at Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, only to bow out on penalties.

The Hornets have taken one point from their two games on the road in the league, scoring only once, but could leapfrog their hosts if they can pick up their first win on their travels this season.

• Millwall have won four of their past six league matches against Watford (D1 L1), twice as many as they'd won in their previous 18 against the Hornets (W2 D4 L12).

• Watford won 3-2 away at Millwall last season and are looking for consecutive away league wins at the Lions for the first time since January 2012.

• All seven points Millwall have earned this season have been in away games (W2 D1), losing both at the Den so far. The Lions last lost their first three home games in a season back in 2015-16.

• Watford have won just two points in their last eight away league matches (D2 L6) since a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough in February.

• Since making his first Championship start for Millwall on 23 August, only Norwich's Mirko Topic (25) has won possession more often than Massimo Luongo (22), with the Australian also ranking first for possession won in middle third (15) and second for fouls (9) in this timeframe.

Alex Neil hailed Millwall's grit and determination after a much-changed Lions side took Crystal Palace to penalties at Selhurst Park before exiting the EFL Cup in the third round.

Ryan Leonard's injury-time header sent the tie to spot-kicks but two Lions efforts were saved as their South London rivals went through to round four.

Boss Neil told BBC Radio London: "I thought we were terrific. I thought it was an unbelievable performance.

"We have got six or seven first team players missing which would obviously help contribute a lot, tonight we made eight changes, we lose the keeper in the warm-up and lose Dan Kelly after 20 minutes, it's certainly been challenging.

"We've got two young lads in the middle, we drilled them in a different shape in one day and for them to take all that on board and deliver the sort of performance they did against Premier League opposition speaks volumes of them in terms of grit and determination - all the things you'd expect of a Millwall team."

Palace made only four changes from the side which drew with Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday and Neil added: "They had a lot of first team players playing.

"We go to the last minute, regardless of who we are playing, we keep pushing and trying and I thought we deserved to take it to penalties.

"You're just hoping we can step up and it'll be our night but unfortunately it wasn't.

"It gives us confidence in ourselves of what we are capable of. There's not a lot wrong (so far this season). We've got seven or eight players missing, once we get them back we'll be a lot stronger and we'll win games."

Click here to listen to the full interview via BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Millwall head coach Alex Neil after his side's 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic:

"Half-time was probably the angriest I've been since I've been here – because we were rubbish in the first half. It was the basics we were short on.

"The sending off-helped but the turning point in our favour was when we went an extra man in the middle and took a striker off. We got a foothold in the game.

"It's a constant dilemma I've had to fight against. Last season playing a front two paid huge dividends for us. But having another midfielder out there made us look more dangerous.

"We deserved our goal. We know we can play better. If you're not playing at your best then the one thing is to make sure you don't lose.

"There is still a bit of frustration for me because we should've played better in the first half."

Charlton will be looking to break a winless run of nearly 30 years against London rivals Millwall on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Addicks are winless in their last four in all competitions whereas their visitors have won three of their last five games but are arriving at The Valley off the back of a 2-0 defeat by Wrexham.

• Charlton are winless in their last 12 league meetings with Millwall (D5 L7) since doing the double over them in the second tier in 1995-96.

• Millwall are unbeaten in each of their last six league visits to Charlton (W3 D3), keeping a clean sheet on each of the last five occasions.

• Having lost each of their last two league games, Charlton could lose three in a row for the first time since October last season.

• Millwall have won both of their away league games so far this season; they last won their first three of a league campaign in 1995-96 in the second tier.

• Coming into this weekend's games, only bottom side Sheffield United (2%) have a lower shot conversion rate than both Charlton (3.8%) and Millwall (4.7%)