Former Stoke City manager Alex Neil watched as Millwall reclaimed a spot among the Championship's top two and secured a place in the play‑offs after a convincing 3‑1 triumph at the bet365 Stadium. The match unfolded with an early burst of energy from the London side, as Camiel Neghli opened the scoring in the first half, giving Millwall the initial lead. The advantage was quickly doubled when Femi Azeez, who was on a fine scoring run with nine goals for the season, found the net in the 55th minute to make it 2‑0.
Stoke City, however, were not finished. A defensive mishap by Caleb Taylor resulted in an own goal at the hour mark, momentarily unsettling Neil's side and prompting a flurry of activity in the final third. The visitors responded swiftly: Josh Coburn, who had missed an early chance, capitalised on a defensive lapse and struck in the 69th minute to restore a two‑goal cushion and effectively seal the three points for Millwall. The win propelled Millwall three points clear of third‑placed Ipswich Town, who are scheduled to travel to Charlton Athletic on Wednesday.
For Stoke, the result underscored a season that had started with promise but was now slipping away, as they have managed only two victories in their last ten fixtures. The match also marked the first senior appearances for academy prospects Pijus Otegbayo and 18‑year‑old defender Syd Agina, both of whom were handed their debuts by Neil.
Stoke began the encounter with an early chance in the 12th minute when Anthony Patterson, making his first start since the beginning of the year, produced a reflex save to deny Robert Bozenik. Millwall responded with a quick counter‑attack, but Coburn’s initial effort was saved after a well‑timed cross from Tristan Crama. The Sky Sports app later promoted the game, encouraging fans to watch the EFL on Sky NOW. Neghli, however, demonstrated his finishing prowess just 20 minutes in, netting his second consecutive goal.
The opportunity arose when Zak Sturge delivered a teasing centre from the left flank, and Eric Bocat, unable to clear the ball cleanly, left Neghli with a perfect chance. The striker curled a left‑footed drive that rose over the goalkeeper, showcasing his composure inside the box. Four minutes later, Neghli almost added a third, this time acting as the provider.
He set up Coburn, who struck from seven yards but blasted the ball over the bar. Just before half‑time, a mis‑placed pass from Crama created a surprising chance for Lewis Baker. Sunderland’s loan keeper Patterson rose to the occasion, making a crucial save from a 25‑yard effort. The second half saw Stoke press forward, with Patterson again in the thick of the action.
After 48 minutes, he denied Tatsuki Seko’s volley with a right‑handed upright after Millwall failed to clear a corner taken by Baker. The Potters continued to apply pressure, and Patterson intervened to stop a close‑range attempt from Million Manhoef.
The travelling contingent of 1,302 Millwall supporters breathed a sigh of relief when Azeez doubled the Lions’ lead. The winger, a highly‑rated talent, collected the ball just outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful left‑footed strike that left Stoke keeper Gavin Bazunu with no chance. Stoke responded immediately, benefitting from a slice of luck. Substitute Lamine Cissé, after his first touch, delicately floated the ball into the six‑yard box.
Taylor’s inadvertent touch then wrong‑footed Patterson, creating a chaotic moment. Nevertheless, Coburn seized the moment, scoring his third of the night after Bocat’s errant clearance fell to Neghli, who tapped in his tenth goal of the campaign.
After the match, Alex Neil expressed his frustration with the team’s recent performances, stating, "I am sick of teams who come here and look ordinary and take the points. This is a team going for automatic promotion so it gives me loads of food for thought.
It has been poor for a while. Summer can't come soon enough, that's for sure. There are too many at the moment choosing not to give everything.
I have got plenty to do. It was not good enough so you have to change things and change the way you go about it. It is a season that promised so much at the start and has delivered nothing.
It is really difficult to get excited about. In the interim we have had decent performances in a season that hasn't panned out to the level we wanted it to." Neil also highlighted the significance of the achievement, noting, "We will fight to the end and see where it takes us. It is the biggest achievement the club has had in the last 24 or 25 years and we still have two games to play. We have our eye on what the next two games look like.
We need to try and win those games and let's see what happens elsewhere. The fact we are in the fight 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 I have this opportunity to coach them. For us to be on 79 points (Millwall's second highest second‑tier tally) with two games remaining has been a dream season for us in terms of what our expectations would have been." The match also featured a promotional element, with a £250,000 prize up for grabs in the Super 6 competition, which remains free to enter until the deadline of 3 pm on Saturday. Overall, the game illustrated Millwall's determination, tactical discipline, and the individual brilliance of players like Neghli, Azeez, and Coburn, while underscoring Stoke City's ongoing struggle to find consistency in a challenging campaign.