Millwall

Millwall will look to end their four match winless streak as they host basement side Sheffield Wednesday in the midweek.

The Lions' past four league games have seen two draws and two losses to put them just outside the top six on goal difference.

On Wednesday (19:45 BST), the side may have the opportunity to return to the play-off spots and face an Owls side that have not claimed a win since September.

• Millwall have lost just one of their last nine league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W4 D4), keeping six clean sheets in that run.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost four of their last six away league games against Millwall, with the exceptions being a 0-0 draw in February 2019 and a 2-0 win in February 2024.

• Millwall lost three of their first four home league games this season (W1), scoring just once and conceding nine. The Lions are now unbeaten in their last four at home (W3 D1), scoring seven goals and conceding just once.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won just one of their last 11 away league games (D6 L4), beating Portsmouth 2-0 in September. However, the Owls have earned more points away from home (6) than they have at Hillsborough so far this season.

• Sheffield Wednesday's Jamal Lowe has scored three goals in his last five league starts against Millwall, with all of three of these coming at the Den.

Image source, Rex Features

Millwall boss Alex Neil described his side's defeat at Portsmouth as "a real disappointment" on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions managed to get a goal back after going two down but were ultimately well beaten by their opponents who scored once more late on.

Despite the loss Millwall remain seventh in the Championship table level on points with Hull City above them.

"Today's a real disappointment but we've had to overcome a lot of challenges," Neil told the media after the game.

"The nature of the goals, particularly the second and the third for me, were extremely frustrating because I thought we should have done better.

"I think it's very dubious for the sending-off but Joe should not give them the opportunity to do that. I think the reaction of the players, the reaction of the fans, it doesn't surprise me that the referee's got out the red card.

"I know it sounds like excuses but I've been at this level a long time and when you are depleted in so many different areas and you're missing your captain, it's really difficult to win games at this level and that was a hard day for us today."

Millwall will hope to bounce back to winning ways on Wednesday when they host Sheffield Wednesday at the Den.

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

Portsmouth will seek an end to their six match winless streak as they welcome sixth placed Millwall on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey currently find themselves in 20th on the Championship table, just four points ahead of Sheffield United in 22nd.

The Lions are having markedly better season but have not found all three points in any of their past three games and will be looking to restabilise in order to stay within the play-off spots.

• Portsmouth have lost their last four league matches against Millwall, with all four defeats coming via a one goal margin.

• Millwall are looking to win three consecutive away league games against Portsmouth for the first time, winning 1-0 on their last two visits in April 2012 and January 2025.

• Portsmouth have failed to score in each of their last two home league matches – they haven't gone three in a row without a goal at Fratton Park since March 2014 when they were a League Two side, failing to net against Cheltenham, Burton and York during that time.

• Since Alex Neil's first league game as Millwall manager on New Year's Day 2025, only Coventry (75) have won more points in the Championship than the Lions (62).

• Only Sheffield United (11) have scored fewer Championship goals this season than Portsmouth (12), with Pompey ranking second bottom for shot conversion (6.5%) ahead of only the Blades (5.9%).

Millwall boss Alex Neil hopes the return of some key players from injury will give his squad a timely boost.

The Lions are sixth in the Championship, four points out of the automatic promotion spots, ahead of Saturday's trip to Portsmouth (15:00 GMT), but collected only two points from three games as they limped into the international break as injuries took their toll.

"We've managed to work towards getting guys closer to being available," Neil told BBC Radio London.

Though the trip to Fratton Park is likely to come too soon for Femi Azeez and Steven Benda, Neil added: "Alfie Doughty and Danny McNamara are making good progress, they should be involved."

Neil has been forced into picking 27 different players in Millwall's opening 15 games and admitted: "Our biggest challenge this year is consistency in terms of personnel and style.

"Naturally when you have players missing it does affect how we try to play - every player's strength is different. It's more complex for us when we have players missing."

The trip to Portsmouth starts a run of 11 league games in 43 days and Neil added: "It's going to be a tough schedule, but it's the same for everybody.

"You want to try and avoid injuries and suspensions, you want everybody fit and available.

"Unfortunately we have more than a few long-term injuries - Massimo Luongo, Will Smallbone, Josh Coburn and Ryan Leonard - a whole list of guys that are not going to be able to help us."

Neil hailed the impact of 21-year-old Derek Mazou-Sacko who has started seven of the past 10 Championship games after arriving late in the transfer window from Ligue 2 side Rodez.

"He's shown us he can perform, we can rely on him and we can pick up points with him in the team" Neil said.

"Derek, Zak Sturge and Thierno Ballo in particular have really stepped up."

Click here to listen to the interview and for more Millwall content via BBC Sounds.

Nick Hart
Fan writer

Goalscoring continues to be Millwall's main problem this season, as illustrated by Saturday's strange home draw with Preston North End, where the absence of our talisman Femi Azeez was keenly felt.

Despite a series of decent chances created by the Lions, it took comedy goalkeeping by the Lilywhites' Daniel Iversen to gift the best present that Mihailo Ivanovic will get this side of Christmas for Millwall's equaliser.

Lady Luck smiled on us too in the late stages, as North End went very close themselves.

Post-match, gaffer Alex Neil is quoted as calling for a more ruthless streak from the Lions - certainly with just 17 goals to our name so far in 2025-26 any hopes of a sustained top-six challenge look to be tough, despite our sixth position.

Image source, Shutterstock

Thankfully, the international break now looms, which means a chance for a few recoveries from the current long injury list.

A fully-fit Millwall squad should be able to compete for the play-off places, but maintaining a healthy group has proven to be the key question for the Lions so far this campaign.

Quite why we seem so prone to injuries to key players remains the main point of debate around The Den.

My message to the Millwall squad ahead of the final international round of fixtures?

Get well soon boys…

Image source, Rex Features

Boss Alex Neil said Millwall lacked a ruthless streak in the 1-1 draw against Preston North End at The New Den.

Neil told BBC London: "I thought we were good in the first half and I was quite happy. The mistake is disappointing and it gives Preston a leg up. From there they are a hard team to break down.

"Defensively we didn't want any silly mistakes and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb, but in the main, I thought we were by far the better side in the first half.

"We had a few opportunities, got in good spaces and areas and we were hoping something would drop for us - and then they made a mistake.

"We started the second half well but the game flipped in their favour when their subs came on. They had more energy and impetus and we had to defend well and Max made a good save.

"We certainly didn't deserve to lose and over the 90 minutes we probably edged it but when it finishes like it did in the last 10-15 minutes we'll take the point.

"We had good moments but we missed the clinical edge, that moment of quality. We obviously want to get more of that."

Image source, Opta

Fifth hosts fourth on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT) as in-form Preston head to Millwall.

The Lilywhites battled to a 2-1 win over Swansea on Wednesday night to make it three straight wins and climb one point and one place above the Lions.

Alex Neil's men were humbled 4-0 at Birmingham on Tuesday and have now taken a single point from their past two games after a four-match winning run before that.

• Millwall are unbeaten in each of their past 12 league meetings with Preston North End (W7 D5), and are only currently on a longer active unbeaten streak against Charlton Athletic (13).

• Preston North End have only won one of their past nine away games against the Lions in league competition (D3 L5), winning 3-1 in February 2019 thanks to goals from Andrew Hughes, Tom Clarke and Sean Maguire inside the opening 30 minutes.

• Millwall were beaten 4-0 in midweek against Birmingham City; their second four-goal defeat of the season, having also lost 4-0 to Coventry last month – it is the first time the Lions have suffered multiple defeats by at least four goals in a league campaign since 2014-15: 1-5 v Middlesbrough and 1-6 vs Norwich.

• Preston North End have won each of their past three Championship matches, just one fewer victory than they had managed in their previous 19 league games (W4 D7 L8).

• Former North End and now Millwall boss Alex Neil is unbeaten in his three home games against Paul Heckingbottom in the Football League, with each of those games coming against a different team: Preston 1-1 Barnsley in September 2017, Preston 3-1 Leeds United in April 2018 and Stoke City 3-1 Sheffield United in October 2022.

Image source, Shutterstock

Millwall head coach Alex Neil admitted his side "didn't do enough" as they suffered their first away defeat in the Championship this season.

They went down 4-0 to Birmingham City and Neil told BBC London: "We just weren't good enough on the evening. We've been good across most of the season so far, but tonight was a real disappointment for us.

"Timings of goals are always important. Conceding in the 45th minute and in the 48th minute is just horrendous timing. Just before half time, and just after half time.

"Credit to Birmingham, they were the better side, they deserved to win, we just didn't do enough"

"When goals go in, they get their tails up, the crowd gets behind them, our lads are a bit deflated, and that point I just wanted to make sure we didn't concede any more stupid goals, and keep some fresh legs for the weekend."

The Lions are at home to Preston North End in their next league game on Saturday.

Birmingham City are back at St Andrew's on Tuesday as they look to stop high-flyers Millwall (19:45 GMT).

Blues will be full of confidence after their 4-0 demolition of Portsmouth on Saturday, knowing a win can move them within three points of the visitors.

The Lions come into this one with fresh injury concerns after Femi Azeez and Ryan Leonard suffered knocks in the draw at Oxford on Saturday but will be hoping to return to winning ways.

• Birmingham City have won just one of their past 11 league meetings with Millwall (D6 L4), winning 1-0 on the road in April 2023 through Lukas Jutkiewicz.

• Millwall are unbeaten in each of their past eight away league games against Birmingham City, though each of the past five have all ended level (W3) – the Lions have only ever gone on a longer run without loss on the road to Watford (10 between 1958 and 1991), but they have never drawn six in a row to the same side.

• Birmingham City won all seven of their midweek (Tue/Wed/Thu) home games in League One last season and conceded just once, before drawing 2-2 in their first this season to Sheffield Wednesday in September – their past such defeat in the league came to Cardiff City in April 2024 (0-1).

• Millwall won their most recent midweek (Tue/Wed/Thu) away league game against Sheffield United in April, last winning back-to-back such matches in October/December 2021, when the first game also came against the Blades, before then beating Coventry.

• Jay Stansfield's first ever league start for Birmingham City came at home to Millwall in September 2023, netting his first goal at St Andrew's for the club in a 1-1 draw.

Nick Hart
Achtung! Millwall Podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Saturday's last-gasp equaliser for Oxford and disappointing injuries to our talisman Femi Azeez and the experienced warhorse Ryan Leonard combine to send the Lions to St Andrew's tonight feeling slightly more deflated than might have otherwise been expected.

Unbeaten away from The Den, with four straight wins and sitting in fourth position, this is Millwall's best start to a season since the League One days of Kenny Jackett in 2008-09.

Alex Neil is a wily operator at Championship level and will take his depleted Lions to Birmingham with the same confidence that so nearly bagged a win at the Kassam Stadium.

'Nearly' is such a big word though, isn't it?

Injuries have bedevilled our season so far and Saturday's hard-fought grind of a game in the Oxfordshire rain hasn't helped on that front.

Brum will be on a high after their four-goal thumping of Portsmouth, so I'm expecting a 'backs to the wall' approach from Millwall tonight.

Team selection changes will be forced after a period of relative consistency so expect Wes Harding to start in place of Leonard on the right side of defence and possibly the pace of Aidomo Emakhu in Azeez's attacking midfield role.

The big question for me will be whether the enigmatic Camiel Neghli gets the creative 'number 10' role that many are calling for online.

I for one hope he does...

Find more from Nick Hart on Achtung! Millwall, external

Millwall head coach Alex Neil called his side's draw at Oxford "like a defeat" following a dramatic 2-2 stalemate.

The Lions were denied victory at the Kassam Stadium as the U's Przemyslaw Placheta struck a stoppage-time equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw right at the death.

The result keeps the Lions unbeaten away from home but drops them to fourth in the Championship as they bid for promotion.

"I don't think we deserved to lose any points – I thought we were the better team," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"We're still unbeaten away from home, it's another point, but because of the nature of the match and the fact we deserved to win, it feels like a defeat."

"I'm not thinking about the table, but there's no getting away from that today – it's a sore one."

Millwall boss Alex Neil said that the club's position in the table will not make a difference to his influence on recruitment come the January window.

The Lions are currently third after an impressive start to the season, but they have been hit with multiple injuries to their squad.

However, Neil said he is not interested in dictating what deals need to be made once the transfer window reopens.

"At times I need to stop [Millwall owner] Jimmy [Berylson] if he wants to put more money in - if I'm being honest," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"It's not like I'm trying to convince Jimmy or Steve [Gallen, Millwall's director of football] or anybody else for that matter in terms of strengthening hands. That's not how we work. We work as a collective.

"I don't have any views of trying to strengthen. The simple fact is that I work within the constraints of what the club is and where we are.

"If Jimmy and Steve feel like we can go and add some players, and Jimmy is happy to put the money in, which he has been at every turn, then great. If he isn't, we will just crack on."

Millwall visit Oxford United on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

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

Millwall will look to sustain their impressive run of form as they visit Oxford United on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Lions have won four successive games to place them just two points adrift of the top two, giving them their best ever start across their opening 12 games to a Championship campaign.

Hosts Oxford, however, will be seeking their first back-to-back win of the season to help them climb further away from the bottom three.

• Oxford United are unbeaten across their last three league games against Millwall (W2 D1), only once having a longer run against the Lions in EFL history – four matches between 1969 and 1970.

• Millwall remain unbeaten across their last five away league games against Oxford United, winning four of those matches and netting 2+ goals in each victory (D1).

• After beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 last time out, Oxford will be looking to win consecutive Championship matches for the first time since January earlier this year (30 matches played since).

• Millwall have won each of their last four league games and will be looking to win five in succession for the first time since their final five Championship fixtures of 2023-24.

• Millwall have won seven of their opening 12 Championship games this season (D2 L3), the most they've ever won at this stage of a second-tier campaign across club history.

Image source, Getty Images

Will injuries wreck the dream? Will Millwall make the play-offs or could they go one step further and seal a return to the top flight for the first time in the Premier League era?

On the back of four straight wins which have lifted Alex Neil's side to third in the Championship, we asked you the following key questions:

• Can Millwall keep the momentum going this season?

• What do you think is key to sustaining a promotion push?

• Are there any areas you think need to be strengthened when the transfer window opens on 1 January?

As always, you've come back with a whole load of interesting answers and insights from your experiences of watching the Lions this season. Here are a selection:

Ben: Yes, defensively we are sound, [Tristan] Crama is the Millwall Maldini, the midfield and attack are finding their form, the depth on the bench is quality. When your only worry is who's playing in goal, that speaks volumes on how good the team actually is.

Mark: As a lifelong Millwall fan, perish the thought of the Lions getting promoted to the Premier League, unless somehow they can add a huge amount of strength and depth to the squad over the coming months. The current run is of course fantastic. But without lots more heft, Millwall would be destroyed in the top flight.

Al: I'm 79, been going to watch Millwall since age six with my dad, his brothers and my grandad. Now on my own, from Cold Blow Lane to The New Den, it's been a rollercoaster ride. It's the disappointments that hurt but the hope that keeps you going. It's going well now so let's just enjoy the journey; win, lose or draw COYL.

Bill: I think we're ahead of ourselves somewhat. Definitely improving at rapid pace under Alex Neil and summer recruitment brought in some surprise hits. Injuries are hurting us but the biggest worry is our lack of goals. Third in the table with a goal difference of +1 demonstrates the need for more goals to sustain this position.

Wilder: We had three big challenges that seemed to limit our potential form: goalscoring, home performances and injuries. After selling [Japhet] Tanganga, we had a ridiculous spate of injuries and, for a while, we struggled. But as players have come back in, namely [Femi] Azeez, and new players like [Thierno] Ballo have proven themselves, a lot of these challenges have been answered.

We're starting to win at home, and we're scoring goals. We're controlling games and not just nicking wins. As a lifelong Millwall fan, I will never say our current form will definitely continue, nor will I grow entitled. But it's nice to finally be firmly in the mix, and it's been coming year on year. COYL

Dave: The [Josh] Coburn miss at Turf Moor and missing out on the play-offs after a great run was gut-wrenching last year. But we wouldn't have been ready for the potential of playing in the Premier League.

The same is true of 2023 after the Blackburn game. Our new recruitment model of picking up obscure names means we've got a depth and a quality in depth we haven't had for years. In other seasons the amount of injuries we have had this year would mean we would have to call up youth players. Not anymore.

After a few disappointing performances, we've switched to a system that suits our players as well as Alex Neil suits the football club. We're third in the table with a combined three goals from our three centre forwards, so we've got more players chipping in with goals rather than depending on one or two players as we have done before.

The last piece of the jigsaw would be a prolific forward (easier said than done) with Coburn out injured and [Mihailo] Ivanovic out of form. If any season presents a chance for us to get promoted, it is this one.

Image source, Getty Images

Kevin: Millwall are developing into a really balanced, skilful side. Azeez and Ivanovic are the key players going forward. If both are fit and on form there is a lot to look forward to.

Colin: To continue the momentum we need a striker who can get us 15 or more goals, Mihailo [Ivanovic] is low on confidence and Coburn is out for a while.

Otherwise, the squad is very decent. However, injuries are a concern with two very good midfielders out long term. Keeping Femi [Azeez] fit is a must, the guy is a Denzel Washington (man on fire!).

Elliott: I have been a Millwall fan all my life and I'm happy to say this season's squad is unbelievable, the way Alex Neil has changed our style of play is a godsend.

We now play sensible passing football, but this is still early days so we can't get ahead of ourselves because we're sitting in third. Let's take each game as it comes. I think we now look like a dangerous threatening team.

Philip: I have supported the Lions since 1967, and experienced many highs and even more lows. I cannot remember seeing a squad so confident and robust in those years.

Yes, we had the early '70s [Keith] Weller and possession era. We had the youthful and very talented side with [Tony] Cascarino and [Teddy] Sheringham. We have got to November and yet to have a fully fit squad with up to eight first-teamers out for a few weeks, however we have pulled together as one whilst playing some very good football at times.

I'm not one for getting over-confident but will say few will turn us over between now and May. That being the case, we can but dream of the outcome. Well done Alex Neil and our recruitment team.

Jim: Yes. I know we say it every year but this is our year to make a top six finish in the Championship. On the condition we don't get any more serious injuries.

Mark: We have the best chance in a long time to progress. I have supported Millwall since 1970, and seen some turbulent times.

We are more settled on and off the pitch, I'm loving it and my son is loving life as a Lions fan. If we can avoid any more injuries, I'm truly optimistic for promotion COYL.