Millwall

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace are interested in Millwall winger Romain Esse.

The 19-year-old is being tracked by the Eagles this window along with Liverpool loanee Ben Doak.

Sources around Millwall believe there is interest from multiple clubs in Esse, who signed a new deal with the Lions in August.

According to one source, Esse has a release clause in his contract and it will take that to be triggered for the attacker to make a move this month.

The England Under-20 international has five goals and one assist in 25 games for Millwall this season.

Palace are looking to sign a left wing-back and an attacker during this transfer window to bolster the options available to manager Oliver Glasner.

Crystal Palace have made Millwall winger Romain Esse a priority signing target after the 19-year-old attracted the attention of Eagles sporting director Dougie Freedman. (South London Press, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column.

Millwall and Hull City are interested in Nottingham Forest defender Willy Boly, who appears to be out of favour with Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo after only making four Premier League appearances for the top tier side this season. (AfricaFoot - in French, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column.

Image source, Rex Features

Millwall boss Alex Neil said his side's response to being outplayed in the first half of the 2-2 draw agaimst Sheffield Wednesday was "brilliant".

The Lions trailed 1-0 at Hillsborough to Yan Valery's early strike and the Owls missed several great chances to increase their lead, notably when Ike Ugbo missed a penalty.

Goals from George Honeyman and Ryan Wintle saw Millwall lead 2-1, but Gabriel Otegbayo's strike earned the hosts a point.

"Based on the game, it's a great point," Neil said. "In the first half we didn't do well enough; we were fortunate it was only 1-0.

"We had a chat at half-time and responded brilliantly. We scored two goals and made it much more difficult for Sheffield Wednesday - albeit they did have their chances.

"Once you go 2-1 up, you are naturally disappointed that you don't see the game out, because defensively we are particularly strong.

"The goals are disappointing, particularly from a set-play because we should spot the ball slipped down the side and, if we do that, we can defend our box and go on and get three points."

Millwall head to Hillsborough on Saturday for their first away match under new boss Alex Neil (15:00 GMT).

Neil began his reign with a 1-0 home defeat by Oxford United on New Year's Day and will be hoping for a brighter outcome against Sheffield Wednesday as the Lions look over their shoulder at the drop zone.

However the Owls are in fine form, with forward Josh Windass' stunning goal from inside his own half helping them to a thrilling 4-2 win over Derby County on 1 January.

The victory took them up into ninth on the Championship table, just three points short of a play-off spot.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost three of their last four league meetings with Millwall (W1), having only lost two of the previous 14 (W6 D6).

• Following a 3-0 home win in August this season, Millwall will be looking to record a league double over Sheffield Wednesday for the first time since the 2002-03 season under Mark McGhee.

• This is the first time both of Sheffield Wednesday's first two league games of a calendar year have come at home since 2017, when they drew 0-0 with Wolves before beating Huddersfield 2-0.

• Millwall have won just one of their 11 away league games this season (D6 L4), scoring just five goals across their last 10 on the road, since losing 3-4 to Bristol City on MD2.

• Millwall manager Alex Neil has won just one of his last eight league games as a manager away to Yorkshire opposition, beating Hull 3-0 with Stoke in September 2022. That run includes a 1-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday with Preston in January 2021.

Image source, Getty Images

New Millwall boss Alex Neil believes there were encouraging signs from his first match in the dugout despite losing to Oxford United.

Neil, who took over on Monday, insisted he had learned plenty from the defeat, which leaves the Lions with just one win in their past 11 matches.

"I learned a lot from the fact we've not been the type of team who dominates the ball, and you can see that, and you can hear that," he said.

"The minute we were maybe making two or three passes along the back, there was a little bit of agitation in the crowd.

"I think for all the volume, our opportunities we had in wide areas, I looked at the stats and we had double the amount of final-third entries, we had double the amount of touches in the box, but we just didn't have that killer instinct to get the goal when we needed it."

He added: "You could see the disappointment in the lads after the game, where we've lost a match. I didn't think it was a poor performance, I thought there were some really good bits to like about it, but there's certainly stuff for us to work on."

Millwall are next in action with an away game at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

There will be no immediate changes at Millwall, says new head coach Alex Neil.

The former Norwich and Sunderland boss has been appointed on a "long-term contract" at The Den, replacing Neil Harris who left the club earlier this month.

"It's as thorough a recruitment process as I've ever been through," Neil told the Millwall website., external

"It was about me trying to paint my vision for the club and also where I see it at the moment and the things I think I can develop and help with."

Neil has won promotions when in charge of Hamilton Academical, Norwich and Sunderland and says Millwall is more of a long-term project.

"It's going to be a gradual process - there won't be wholesale changes overnight - there's a lot of good players here and a good group of younger players emerging so it's getting the balance right.

"I'm a big believer in developing young players but you need good quality senior players around that to make it work, so that will be key."

Millwall are currently 13th in the Championship table, eight points short of the play-offs and eight clear of the relegation zone.

"You want to always set your bar as high as possible - I'm not saying our aim right now is to get promoted this season but if we can hit a good run then there's no reason why we can't be competing for the play-offs," Neil said.

His first game in charge will be at home to Oxford United on New Year's Day.

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."