Millwall

Image source, Rex Features

Assistant boss Adam Barrett has left Millwall in the wake of head coach Neil Harris' departure earlier this month.

Barrett had been part of the coaching team at The Den since 2017 and was twice placed in interim charge - in 2019 and again last year.

"We've experienced the joys of promotion from League One together to now being an established, competitive Championship side," he told the club website. , external

"I have learnt so much throughout, and now feel the time is right to pursue my aspiration of becoming a head coach or manager elsewhere."

David Livermore has been acting boss since Harris left the club, but former Norwich, Preston, Sunderland and Stoke manager Alex Neil has been tipped to take over on a permanent basis.

Phil Parry
BBC Radio London reporter

Image source, Rex Features

What do Millwall need?

Many fans may well say that some strengthening is needed in various departments. Goals have been at a premium and despite breaking the club's transfer record on a striker in the summer more firepower is needed.

They could also do with some help at the back as well with another central defender.

What sort of business are they likely to do?

Assessing what business will be done is difficult without knowing who the new head coach is. The season's start had put the Lions in a good position to look upwards but they can't be complacent.

Quite a bit of business was done in the summer eventually and a similar recruitment route of loan deals and gems may be on the cards.

How successful have they been in previous January windows?

They have no been big players in recent years in the January market although two seasons ago Duncan Watmore and Aidomo Emakhu both arrived mid-season and have subsequently shown that they have something to offer to the team.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

In terms of a potential higher-profile departure, young forward Romain Esse is said to be attracting attention from Premier League clubs.

There might be a move or two for players not seen as long-term options in order to free up space in the squad.

How key is the window?

It has the possibility to push the club on, but the biggest priority at the moment is to get a head coach in place.

Coventry City host Millwall in a mid-table Championship clash on Sunday.

The Sky Blues are 15th in the division but have picked up three wins in their past five fixtures, while the Lions are two places higher but have just a single victory from their past eight.

In their last head-to-head, Frank Lampard picked up his first win as Coventry boss courtesy of a 1-0 away day triumph.

• Coventry City have won their last four league games against Millwall, their best ever winning run against the Lions.

• Millwall have lost their last league visits to Coventry since a 1-0 win in December 2021 under manager Gary Rowett.

• Coventry City have not ended their calendar year with a win in any of the last four years (D2 L2) since a 4-1 win over Wycombe in 2019.

• Millwall are unbeaten in their final league game of the year in each of the last nine years (W7 D2) since losing 2-0 to Bournemouth in 2014.

• Coventry's Frank Lampard won against Millwall earlier this month at the Den but his only previous home league game against the Lions resulted in a 1-0 defeat in February 2019 when he was at Derby County.

Norwich welcome Millwall with a less than stellar record in the Championship of late.

The Canaries have lost three of their past four league games, drawing once during that period.

Milwall ended a winless run of their own in style on Saturday, sealing victory over Blackburn and ending Rovers' six-game winning streak.

• Norwich City are unbeaten in their last 20 home league matches against Millwall (W13 D7) since losing 3-0 back in 1968.

• Millwall are looking to win consecutive league games against Norwich for the first time since 2001 when they won at Carrow Road 4-0 during the second of two wins.

• Norwich City have lost their last five league games on Boxing Day, scoring just one goal in this run. Two of their last three wins on this day have come against Millwall, however – 2-0 in 2009 and 6-1 in 2014.

• Millwall are unbeaten in their last six Boxing Day matches (W4 D2) since losing 1-0 to Walsall in 2015.

• Josh Sargent has scored in each of his two home Championship appearances for Norwich against Millwall, scoring three goals in total.

Image source, Rex Features

Millwall's stand-in manager David Livermore speaking to BBC Radio London after the 1-0 win over Blackburn:

"Tough game against an opponent in form who are very good out of possession and made it very tough for us. I thought it was a scrappy game but territorially I think the ball was in their half more without us creating big chances.

"There is nothing better at The Den than scoring in the 90 plus whatever it was so fantastic result for us.

"At 0-0 I just wanted to be positive. They had two very experienced centre halves in Dom Hyam and Danny Batth, I felt the physical presence might help us win the game.

"This week we have kept it really consistent. Before the game we talked about being a team who always wants to try and score the next goal whether we are winning, losing or drawing.

On Millwall's search for a new head coach: "At the minute I will be taking the game on Thursday [against Norwich] but I'm taking it day by day and if that changes, no problem at all."

Former Coventry boss Mark Robins has turned down the opportunity to speak to fellow Championship club Millwall about their managerial vacancy. (South London Press), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Millwall begin life after Neil Harris at the helm with David Livermore leading the Lions as they welcome Blackburn to The Den on Saturday.

Rovers are seeking a seventh straight win and have kept clean sheets in their past five matches.

• Millwall have failed to win any of their past eight league games against Blackburn Rovers (D3 L5), with this fixture last season finishing in a 2-1 loss.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost just one of their 17 league games against Millwall (W10 D6).

• Millwall have lost each of their past three league games 1-0; the Lions haven't lost more matches in succession without scoring since August 2013 (four in a row).

• This season in the Championship, 15 different players have scored for Blackburn – the most of any side in the competition (excluding own goals).

• Across their Championship matches so far this season, Millwall have averaged just 39.4% possession – the lowest tally in the competition.

Image source, Rex Features

Saturday's defeat at Middlesbrough brought an end to the latest chapter in the long-running story of Neil Harris' Millwall career - but it would be no surprise to see the club's record goalscorer return to The Den in the future.

That's the view of BBC Radio London sport editor and commentator Phil Parry, who has followed Harris' career since he began reporting on Millwall in 2000, two years after the striker had joined the club as a 20-year-old.

Since arriving in 1998, Harris has devoted 17 years to the club as a player and a coach.

Despite leaving The Den a number of times, he has always found his way back home.

"Millwall got under Neil's skin. He went away as a player, he came back. He went away as a manager, he came back," Parry said.

"This is so long but I don't think it's goodbye. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Millwall find themselves in a difficult situation in the future and (if) Neil was available they would turn to him to come and do something – it's his football club."

Image source, PA Media

Neil Harris says he has no immediate plans after ending his reign at Millwall other than enjoying a family Christmas - and watching Southend United.

The Lions legend ended his second spell as manager with a defeat at Middlesbrough after announcing on Tuesday that he was leaving.

That led to speculation about what comes next for Harris, but he told BBC Radio London: "I'll have Christmas with the family and it's an opportunity to get out and see some friends in football and seeing training and matches at different levels.

"I'll be watching my local team Southend so just look forward to that period and then the future – who knows?"

Harris said he felt he was leaving the club in a better position then when he took over in February when they were in the bottom three.

"We've had a successful 10 months and I feel we leave the club in really good hands and safe position, so I'm disappointed today but still extremely proud," he added.

"It's been difficult for the lads because they're losing their leader and it's difficult for them to understand why, and where they're going next. We've tried to bridge that gap with humility, honesty and love as I care about the players, they're really good lads."

Image source, PRESSBOX GRAPHICS

With Middlesbrough having won four of their past seven games and scored 20 goals in that period, this is a daunting task for Millwall.

Neil Harris will bid farewell as Millwall boss after the match hoping to have avoided a third successive defeat.

• Middlesbrough have won two of their past three league games against Millwall (L1), as many as across their prior nine matches combined against them (D5 L2).

• Millwall have won just one of their past eight away league games against Middlesbrough (D3 L4), though it did come in their most recent trip on the opening day of last season (1-0); they could win successive such games for the first time since April 2014.

• Middlesbrough have alternated between victory (4) and defeat (3) in their past seven home league games, winning 3-1 over Hull City in their most recent such game.

• Five of Millwall's past seven away league games have been drawn (W1 L1), last drawing three in a row on the road in the league in April 2022.

• Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has been involved in five goals in his past four home league appearances (three goals, two assists), one more involvement than in his first 15 such games for the club (four assists).

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has been named the EFL's Championship manager of the month for November.

The Blades were unbeaten last month, taking 16 points from their six matches and climbing to the top of the table.

It is the second time this season Wilder has won the award having also been named the division's top manager in September.

"This award is recognition for a lot of hard work from the players and the staff in the opening months of the season," Wilder told the EFL website., external

"The rebuild of the squad has been talked about numerous times, what needs to be taken into consideration is that this is a new group, providing a new dynamic, which includes the lads who were here last season. There's still a lot of work to do but the signs are good."

Sheffield United have taken four points from their opening two games of December and host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, Burnley's Scott Parker and outgoing Millwall head coach were also nominated for the award.

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall's Neil Harris is among four bosses nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award for November, even though he will leave the club after Saturday's match at Middlesbrough.

Harris led the Lions on a five-match unbeaten run last month from which they took nine points and conceded only three goals.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United collected 16 points from six unbeaten games in November during which time they went top of the Championship and beat rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby.

Although they lost two of their six league games last month, Middlesbrough went goal crazy under Michael Carrick as they recorded four wins by scorelines of 4-1, 5-1, 6-2 and 3-1.

Scott Parker watched his Burnley side pick up four wins and suffer just one defeat from their six games in November.

The Clarets also only conceded one goal.

The winner of the Championship's Manager of the Month award will be announced on Friday morning.