Former Stoke City manager Alex Neil watched as Millwall surged back into the Championship's top‑two positions, clinching a vital play‑off spot with a 3‑1 triumph at the bet365 Stadium. The London side took the initiative early, with Camiel Neghli delivering a first‑half strike that put the Lions ahead. Femi Azeez, who has already found the net nine times this campaign, doubled the lead midway through the second half, making it 2‑0 after 55 minutes.
A moment of misfortune for the home side arrived when Caleb Taylor inadvertently turned the ball into his own net at the hour mark, further unsettling Stoke and prompting a nervous reaction from Neil's squad. However, it was Josh Coburn who sealed the three points for Millwall, firing home a decisive goal in the 69th minute after exploiting a lapse in Stoke'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 in what promises to be another crucial fixture. For Stoke, the result underscored a season that began with promise but has now stalled dramatically; the Potters have managed just two victories in their last ten league outings.
In an attempt to inject fresh energy, Neil handed his debut to academy prospects Pijus Otegbayo and 18‑year‑old defender Syd Agina, both of whom started the match. Stoke came close to taking an early lead when a 12th‑minute attempt from Robert Bozenik was expertly denied by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who was making his first start since the start of the year. Millwall responded swiftly, and although Josh Coburn missed an early chance after a well‑timed cross from Tristan Crama, the Lions continued to press. After a brief pause in the action, Neghli showcased his finishing prowess at the 20‑minute mark, scoring his second consecutive goal.
The opportunity came from a clever left‑flank pass by Zak Sturge, and when Eric Bocat failed to clear the ball cleanly, Neghli curled a powerful left‑foot drive into the top corner. Just four minutes later, Neghli found himself in a scoring position again, but his effort from seven yards sailed over the bar. The half‑hour mark saw a mis‑directed pass from Crama grant Lewis Baker a chance, yet Patterson once more proved his worth, smothering a 25‑yard strike from the on‑loan Sunderland midfielder. The second half began with Stoke pressing for a response.
At 48 minutes, Patterson was beaten by a well‑placed volley from Tatsuki Seko, but his reflexes saved the day as the ball struck the upright. Millwall's corner, delivered by Baker, was not cleared effectively, allowing Seko another attempt that Patterson again denied with a right‑handed block. Stoke continued to apply pressure, and Patterson made a crucial save to keep out a powerful shot from Million Manhoef. The breakthrough finally arrived for Millwall when Azeez capitalised on a loose ball just outside the penalty area.
His left‑foot strike was ferocious, leaving Stoke keeper Gavin Bazunu with little chance of a save and extending the Lions' lead to 2‑0. Stoke attempted to respond immediately; substitute Lamine Cissé, on his first touch, delicately flicked the ball into the six‑yard box. An unfortunate touch by Taylor inadvertently wrong‑footed Patterson, but the moment was short‑lived as Coburn seized the opportunity, firing home his own goal to make it 3‑1. After the match, Alex Neil expressed his frustration with his 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." Reflecting on the victory, Neil added, "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 result not only boosts Millwall's confidence but also puts them in a strong position to challenge for automatic promotion, a goal that has seemed increasingly realistic after a series of impressive performances.
With only two fixtures remaining, the Lions will aim to maintain momentum, while Stoke must regroup quickly to avoid slipping further down the table. The match also highlighted the importance of youth development at Stoke, as the academy players gained valuable experience despite the loss.
Overall, the game provided a thrilling spectacle for the 1,302 travelling Millwall supporters and underscored the unpredictable nature of the Championship race.