Millwall

Nick Hart
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

After an opening week full of optimism and high hopes, Saturday's home loss to Middlesbrough was perhaps the most 'Millwall' of results.

Reminiscent of the old cartoon gag, whereby Tom would step on a garden rake and slap himself in the face, much to Jerry's amusement.

To borrow a cliche: at this level of the game, if you don't take your goalscoring chances, then you'll be punished.

Three excellent opportunities for Millwall went begging. First, Camiel Neghli's header - with a strong shout for a penalty waved away by the referee.

Then Casper De Norre's volley was cleared from the line.

All before a terrific second-half low header for former Teesider Josh Coburn somehow hit the crossbar, post and attending defender, before running away to safety.

How's your luck?

If any of those chances had gone in, then maybe the outcome might have been different.

Maybe.

As it was though, excellent finishing - mixed with some lax defending - put Middlesbrough ahead on 49 minutes, before the coup de grace was delivered in similar style in the 87th minute.

The third goal late in stoppage time was in reality the cherry placed on top of Boro's cake - nice to have, but the game was long over by then.

All very Millwall...

Millwall boss Alex Neil says his side needed to be 'brighter' and 'smarter' after slipping to a 3-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough, a result which ended a run of five straight victory at the The Den going back to last season.

Neil told BBC Radio London: "It is disappointing and frustrating to lose the game in the manner that we did because I didn't think there was much between the sides for 60 or 70 minutes.

"We should have scored in the first half, we got into some good areas with some good play in the final third, but we didn't put enough crosses in the box, and gave the ball away cheaply for their first and third goals.

"I think goals change games, after they scored the first they were happy to sit on the back five and hit us on the counter.

"Credit to Middlesbrough in that sense, but we have to be a bit brighter and smarter with how and where we want to play."

Middlesbrough will look to bounce back from a dispiriting home Carabao Cup loss to Doncaster Rovers when they visit Millwall on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Boro boss Rob Edwards called their 4-0 defeat on Tuesday "unacceptable" and will hope his side respond with something more to his liking this time around.

For Millwall, it's a different story. Head coach Alex Neil was "pleased" with his team's midweek cup win at Newport County and so he should - the Lions are yet to lose this season after also beating Norwich City in their Championship opener.

• Millwall have lost just one of their last five home league games against Middlesbrough (W3 D1), keeping four clean sheets in the process.

• Middlesbrough have won three of their last five league games against Millwall (L2), as many as in their prior 11 encounters (D5 L3).

• Following their 2-1 win at Norwich on MD1, Millwall will be looking to start a league campaign with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2014-15 in the Championship.

• Middlesbrough beat Swansea 2-1 at home on MD1, but haven't started a league campaign with consecutive wins since 1994-95 in the second tier.

• On his Millwall debut last weekend, Alfie Doughty played 18 passes into the opposition's penalty area – the most of any player on MD1 in the Championship.

Millwall boss Alex Neil says that the side's Carabao Cup game against Newport County was an opportunity for some players to "stake their claim" on a place in the starting XI.

Neil made nine changes to his line-up for Tuesday's victory from the winning side that faced Norwich City in the Championship on Saturday, with only Jake Cooper and Josh Coburn starting both games.

"We've always got headaches in that we've got a number of players who could easily find themselves in the starting XI," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"This was their chance to stake that claim and it won the game. [They were] certainly dangerous and parts going forward were good. I was pleased."

Listen to the full post-match interview with Neil and more on BBC Sounds.

Wycombe Wanderers have had second bid rejected by Millwall for their Republic of Ireland Under-21 forward Aidomo Emakhu, 21. (News At Den - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Wealdstone have signed midfielder Alfie Massey on loan from Championship club Millwall until early January.

The 19-year-old has made two appearances for the Lions in cup competitions and started his career in the youth setups at West Ham and Arsenal.

He made his Millwall debut last August and signed a "long-term" deal shortly after.

Nick Hart
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

Optimism levels have been turned up the 11 at The Den, for at least until 17:00 on Saturday anyway, all in the wake of a magnificent away win at Norwich City.

Over 2,000 travelling Lions were privileged to see an initially rusty first half transform into a very strong second half, indeed.

This year has seen some shrewd signings, improving experienced players and an emphasis on bringing through young talent at Millwall.

And this paid off handsomely after a first 45 minutes spent containing the expensive-looking Canaries who, despite having the bulk of the possession, were restricted to harmless long-range shots.

After the break, however, the Lions took matters up a gear and opened the scoring on 51 minutes via a fine right-sided cross from Tristan Crama, which was well finished by Camiel Neghli for 1-0.

Moments later we went from the sublime to the ridiculous when new keeper Steven Benda contrived to rebound a clearance off of Josh Sargent's back into an empty net.

"Oh gawd" was the collective view amongst the Lions following around me when that slapstick goal went in the net.

Thankfully however the Millwall heads didn't drop and, despite the normally reliable Femi Azeez missing a sitter on 60 minutes, an excellent through-ball from another new face Alfie Doughty finished matters.

A pass of beauty straight into the path of Macaulay Langstaff, who slotted it away like Bermondsey's answer to Erling Haaland for 2-1.

All in all, a beautiful day in East Anglia - particularly for Langstaff, who has struggled for form since signing from Notts County last season.

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

Millwall boss Alex Neil was delighted to see Macaulay Langstaff continue his pre-season form into the start of the new Championship campaign as the striker's late goal earned them a 2-1 win at Norwich.

Langstaff was a prolific scorer for previous club Notts County, but only found the net once in 36 appearances for the Lions last term.

He replaced Josh Coburn in the 80th minute at Carrow Road with the score 1-1 and only need three minutes to slot home Alfie Doughty's ball.

"Macca has been excellent for us in pre-season. He scored a very similar goal the other day. It was a great finish by him and I'm really pleased," said Neil.

"It was a great way to start the season for us. There has been a lot of talk this week externally about our record here, I think we hadn't won since 1968, which is a hell of a long time.

"So it's really nice to get that off our back and it's really nice to get the win. I thought we deserved the win and I thought in the second half we were much improved."

Millwall are away to Newport County in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

The Liam Manning era at Carrow Road begins with the visit of Millwall to face Norwich City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Alex Neil's Lions eventually finished five places and nine points ahead of the Canaries last season, though missed out on the play-off places on a dramatic final day.

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their last 21 home league games against Millwall since November 1968 (W14 D7), their longest ever run against an opponent.

• Millwall have won two of their last three league games against Norwich City (L1), as many victories as across their prior 15 meetings with the Canaries combined (D3 L10).

• Norwich have won just one of their last eight opening day league fixtures that have come on home soil (D3 L4), though that sole victory did come in their last with a 2-1 win over Hull City in August 2023.

• Millwall lost 3-2 against Watford in their opening league match last season, last losing on MD1 in consecutive campaigns in 2012-13/2013-14.

• Since 25 January (their first win under manager Alex Neil), only promoted sides Burnley (44) and Leeds (41) have earned more points in the Championship than Millwall (35 – W11 D2 L6).

Spurs midfielder Alfie Devine, 21, is tipped to go out on loan this season, with Millwall a potential destination for the former England youth international. (The72), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall defender Kamarl Grant has signed a new "long-term" contract with the Championship club.

The 22-year-old has signed a deal which Millwall say will keep Grant at the club for the "foreseeable future".

Grant has yet to play a first team game for the Lions but impressed in a pre-season game with Sutton United earlier this week.

He spent the last season on loan at Bromley in League Two, having helped the club reach the National League play-offs the season before.

"Kamarl deserves this deal," director of football Steve Gallen said.

"He has had a couple of really good loans over the last few years and we've been watching his development closely. I am really pleased with his progress."

Millwall are in talks to bring Luton Town's Alfie Doughty, 25, to The Den, where the versatile English left-back would be expected to play in a more attacking role. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.