Former Stoke City manager Alex Neil watched as Millwall reclaimed a place in the Championship's top two and locked in a play‑off spot with a 3-1 triumph at the bet365 Stadium. The London side surged ahead early when Camiel Neghli found the net, giving Millwall a first‑half lead. Their advantage grew further when Femi Azeez, who has already struck nine times this campaign, added his ninth goal of the season to make it 2-0 after 55 minutes of play.
Stoke's hopes were briefly revived when Caleb Taylor inadvertently turned the ball into his own net at the hour mark, forcing Neil and his coaching staff into a tense moment. However, the visitors sealed the three points when Josh Coburn fired home a 69th‑minute strike, exploiting a lapse in the home side's defensive organization.
The win propelled Millwall three points clear of third‑placed Ipswich Town, who are set to travel to Charlton Athletic on Wednesday. For Stoke, a season that began with promise is now rapidly unraveling; they have managed only two victories in their last ten fixtures.
In this match, the Potters handed first‑team debuts to academy prospects Pijus Otegbayo and 18‑year‑old defender Syd Agina, hoping fresh legs might spark a turnaround. Stoke almost took the lead in the 12th minute when Anthony Patterson, making his first start since the start of the year, saved a well‑placed shot from Robert Bozenik.
Millwall responded quickly, and although Josh Coburn missed an early chance after a tempting cross from Tristan Crama, the Lions kept the pressure on. Neghli demonstrated his finishing prowess twenty minutes in, scoring his second consecutive goal. The opportunity came from a clever left‑side centre by Zak Sturge; when Millwall defender Eric Bocat failed to clear the ball cleanly, Neghli curled a rising left‑foot drive into the net. Four minutes later, Neghli again created a chance, this time setting up Coburn, who unfortunately blasted over the bar from seven yards out.
Just before the break, a misplaced pass from Crama produced a surprising chance for Lewis Baker. The on‑loan Sunderland goalkeeper Patterson rose to the occasion, denying the City skipper with a spectacular save from 25 yards. Patterson was later tested at the 48‑minute mark when Tatsuki Seko volleyed, but his right‑hand upright kept the ball out after Millwall failed to clear a corner delivered by Baker.
Stoke continued to press, and Patterson again intervened to deny a strike from Million Manhoef. The tension eased for the 1,302 travelling Millwall supporters when Azeez doubled the lead.
The winger, a highly valued asset, collected a pass just outside the penalty area and unleashed a ferocious left‑foot shot that proved too powerful for Stoke keeper Gavin Bazunu. Stoke replied immediately, benefitting from a slice of luck. Substitute Lamine Cissé, on his first touch, flicked the ball into the six‑yard box, and Taylor's inadvertent touch wrong‑footed Patterson, creating a scramble. Nevertheless, Coburn eventually restored his confidence, scoring his third goal of the night after Bocat's errant clearance fell to Neghli, who tapped in his tenth goal of the season.
After the match, Neil expressed frustration at the inconsistency of teams that come to the bet365 Stadium and take points without showing quality. He highlighted the club's ambition for automatic promotion, noting that the season has been a roller‑coaster and that a summer break cannot come soon enough. He lamented the lack of commitment from some players and stressed the need for change in both attitude and tactics.
Neil admitted the campaign had started with high expectations but had failed to deliver the desired results, making it difficult to stay enthusiastic. He concluded that, despite decent performances, the overall season had not met the club's standards. Speaking for Millwall, Alex Neil (not to be confused with the Stoke manager) said, "We will fight to the end and see where it takes us.
This is the biggest achievement the club has enjoyed in the last 24 or 25 years, and we still have two games left. We have our eyes on the next two fixtures; we need to try and win those and then see what happens elsewhere. The fact that we are in the battle for automatic promotion is an incredible achievement for this team, this club, and everyone connected with it. If we end up in the play‑offs we will give it our best shot.
There is so much to like about this team and I'm privileged to have this opportunity to coach them. Being on 79 points – Millwall's second‑highest tally in the second tier – with two games remaining has been a dream season compared to our original expectations." The match also featured a promotional element: a £250,000 prize pool is available through the Super 6 competition, which remains free to enter, with entries closing at 3 pm on Saturday. This added an extra layer of excitement for fans following the drama of the Championship race.