Millwall

Nick Hart
Achtung! Millwall Podcast

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Four successive victories over decent level Championship opponents have propelled Millwall into serious top-six contenders.

Blimey, where did that come from?

After the injury-hit season we've had so far, this is some achievement by Alex Neil's squad.

Saturday's hard-fought win over Leicester City was typical of the Lions' 'tough team to play against' style, but it must also be said that we're able to play some very attractive, flowing football too.

The big question on all the pundits' lips is, how far can these Lions go?

Much will depend on keeping key players fit and healthy, not least our current talisman Femi 'Goal A Game' Azeez - who is on fire right now.

All I will say is that the ingredients are there for something special.

Special mention has to go to the defensive back-line, which was as solid as Fort Knox against the Foxes at the weekend.

Jake Cooper, Tristan Crama, Ryan Leonard and Zak Sturge largely restricted the visitors to long-range efforts or spectaculars - making a terrific platform for the attacking midfield to build on.

Perhaps the only off-key note was struck by Serbian striker Mihailo Ivanovic, who couldn't make that penalty count early in the second-half, giving us all in The Den an itchy and scratchy last 20 minutes.

But form is temporary and I'm sure 'Miha' will come good before too much longer.

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Happy with your start to the season, Lions fans? Thought you might be.

Four straight wins, unbeaten on the road and just one defeat in the past eight games means Alex Neil's side sit third in the Championship after a dozen games, two points outside the automatic promotion places and four clear of the play-off chasing pack.

But 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?

We want to know everything...

Click here to have your say.

Come back to this page on Tuesday to find a selection of your replies.

Millwall boss Alex Neil was delighted with his side's performance after they sealed their fourth consecutive Championship victory with a 1-0 win against struggling Leicester City.

The Lions boss told BBC Radio London post-match: "I think we deserved to win the game. I thought over the piece, we carried the bigger threat.

"They're naturally going to have their moments; they are a good side, they have good players.

"I think once the first goal went in - we spoke about it half-time - it was always going to be about the next one.

"We had that opportunity with the penalty, it doesn't go in and it makes that next 20 to 25 minutes really tough because you need to dig in.

"The lads have been brilliant, right across pre-season and building into this. Even when we've had a set-back or two, they always respond, they always react, they're an unbelievable group to work with so, yeah, I feel very privileged at the moment."

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Millwall are only at the starting point of their season and are not looking too far ahead, says head coach Alex Neil.

The Lions have won their past three games to move up to third in the Championship table and host promotion favourites Leicester on Saturday (15:00 BST).

"We've given ourselves a really good starting point and can we go and build on that and win as many games as we can?," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"We certainly won't be getting carried away."

Millwall suffered a blow this week with midfielder Massimo Luongo ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during last Saturday's 2-1 win at QPR.

They still have 35 league games remaining this season and Neil is remaining realistic about their chances.

"I've been in the Championship long enough and you can easily go a few weeks where you don't pick up any points so it's nice we've made a good start but that's all it is at this stage."

Millwall will look for a fourth successive league win as they welcome Leicester City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

A strong start to the season for the Lions sees them in the third spot on the table and while they wouldn't be able to break into the top two, they will certainly be looking to apply some pressure on those above.

Whereas Leicester City have had an underwhelming season so far, falling out of the top six following their loss to Hull City in the week, and will be aiming not to fall further behind.

• Millwall have won four of their last five home league games against Leicester City (L1), keeping three clean sheets across that run.

• Leicester City have won three of their last four league games against Millwall (L1), though did lose the most recent encounter 1-0 in April 2024.

• Millwall have won each of their last three league games and will be looking to win four in succession for the first time since November 2024 (run of four 1-0 wins).

• Leicester have won just four of their 11 league games so far this season (D5 L2); their last campaign in the Championship in 2023-24 saw them win 10 of their opening 11 matches en route to winning the title.

• Millwall have 20 points from their opening 11 league games this season (W6 D2 L3); it's the earliest they've reached that total in the second tier since 1995-96 (also 11 games).

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall midfielder Massimo Luongo will miss the rest of the season after injuring knee ligaments.

The 33-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Saturday's 2-1 Championship win at Queens Park Rangers.

Luongo was forced off 15 minutes into the win - which was his 11th appearance of the season since his summer move from Ipswich Town on a one-year deal.

Millwall say the Australian will undergo surgery in the coming weeks before a period of rehabilitation.

Millwall boss Alex Neil, speaking to BBC Radio London after Tuesday's 2-0 win against Stoke:

"I thought it [the performance] was really strong. We played against a good side. They've conceded the least goals in the Championship, we scored two and could have scored more.

"I thought defensively we were really strong, I thought we carried a threat throughout the match.

"There's nothing not to like for us tonight.

"Femi [Azeez] has been brilliant in the last three years. He has been fundamental to our three wins in the last three games but I thought Thierno [Ballo] - the work that he got through, his quality in the final third - he was excellent. He was the best player on the pitch for me."

Nick Hart
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Are the Lions the real deal?

Or are they just passing through on a good roll of form?

Certainly on the basis of Millwall's trip along the Central Line to Loftus Road on Saturday, we are very much the classic 'hard team to beat' - away from home anyway.

First-half goals from the in-form Femi Azeez and the 'seeking form' Mihailo Ivanovic defeated a decent looking QPR side.

Despite a late flurry by the Hoops, this was very much a controlled and disciplined performance by the boys from Bermondsey.

One that has turned the excitement levels up to 11 as Millwall find themselves in the top six, this despite a season where the gaffer has rarely had a full-strength squad to choose from.

The QPR game saw pre-match knocks for goalkeeper Stephen Benda and striker Josh Coburn, both of whom exited the starting XI.

The industrious Massimo Luongo also joined the injury list after just 10 minutes of this hard fought London derby.

Much depends on the Lions keeping a healthy squad.

If we can do that, then Saturday's fine win in Shepherd's Bush hints at a very special season indeed for Millwall...

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Stoke City head to South London with the best defensive record in the Championship having conceded only six goals in their 10 matches so far

Millwall are looking to record three league wins in a row for the first time since April.

• Millwall have only lost one of their past 13 league meetings with Stoke City (W7 D5), going down 2-0 in March 2022.

• Stoke have lost each of their past four league visits to Millwall and could lose five in a row for the first time.

• Millwall have won seven of their past 10 home league games, although have lost three of their past five such matches.

• Since losing 6-0 at Leeds in April, Stoke have shipped just three goals across their past six away league outings.

• Millwall's Alex Neil has won five of his past six league matches against former side Stoke, losing the other 1-0 with Preston in September 2020.

Millwall boss Alex Neil was delighted with his side's character after they beat QPR at Loftus Road 2-1 despite not playing well.

Femi Azeez scored the opener before he set up Mihailo Ivanovic for the second to lift Millwall into the play-off places and the Lions remain unbeaten on the road.

"I do think we'll get better and we've been playing well in games," Neil told BBC Radio London. "Today was not one of them, but I think we're a difficult team to play against.

"You have to win when you're not playing well in this league to be effective and that's what we've done today.

"The most important thing to do is to win your games. Then you look at the performance and we know we can play better.

"Today we found ourselves 2-0 up without playing really well, but from our perspective, it's about getting points on the board and making sure we put ourselves in a strong position."

Millwall manager Alex Neil expects his team to get better as the season progresses and more players return to the squad.

The international break has meant key members of the Lions depleted squad have been able to return from injury with Alfie Doughty, Danny McNamara, Daniel Kelly and Casper De Norre back in training.

"We have made good progress in terms of getting some bodies back," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"I think the only thing we need to be conscious of is when we say they are back, they are not back to play three 90 minutes, back-to-back-to-back.

"But they are certainly back to being involved in the squad and to contribute - that will certainly make us stronger."

Millwall bounced back from their 4-0 loss to Coventry, with a convincing 3-0 win over play-off rivals West Bromwich Albion prior to the international break.

The Lions are eighth and one point outside the top six but are up against an in-form QPR side in Saturday's London derby (12:30 BST), with the Rs unbeaten in their last six matches.

"I would probably say so," Neil added, when asked whether Millwall are yet to show their full potential.

"I would expect that if we can try and keep everybody fit we will get better as time goes on, we should hopefully try and build our way into the season.

"I think we have had some really good results already, but I'm hoping for more consistency in terms of team selection, and more consistency in performance."

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

Image source, Opta

The international break is finally over and QPR and Millwall get back to business with a London derby at Loftus Road on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

After a slow start the R's look to have turned the corner under Julien Stephan, sitting sixth in the Championship after taking 14 points from their past six games and looking to make it seven unbeaten for the first time in nearly a year.

They lie one point and two places ahead of Alex Neil's Lions, who are unbeaten in their four away games in the league this year and are seeking to make it their best start on the road in a decade.

• Queens Park Rangers have only won two of their past eight league games against Millwall (D2 L4), though they have only lost one of their previous 13 against them at home (W5 D7).

• Millwall have picked up five points on their past four league visits to Queens Park Rangers (W1 D2 L1), as many as in their previous nine trips (D5 L4).

• After failing to win any of their first three league games this season (D1 L2), QPR are unbeaten in their past six (W4 D2); it's their longest run since December 2024 (7 games).

• Millwall are unbeaten away from home in the Championship this season (W2 D2), last going their first five away games of a season unbeaten in 2015-16 in League One.

• Richard Kone has scored in four of his past seven Championship appearances for QPR – since the date of his first goal, only three players have more Championship goals than his four.

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?

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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."