Former Stoke City manager Alex Neil watched as Millwall reclaimed a spot in the Championship's top two and secured a place in the play‑offs with a 3‑1 triumph at the bet365 Stadium. The London side surged ahead early when Camiel Neghli scored, giving them a first‑half lead.
Later, Femi Azeez, who has already found the net nine times this season, doubled the advantage in the 55th minute, making it 2‑0. Stoke's hopes were briefly revived when Caleb Taylor inadvertently put the ball into his own net at the hour mark, prompting nervousness among Neil's coaching staff.
However, Josh Coburn restored order for Millwall with a decisive strike in the 69th minute, exploiting a lapse in the home side's defensive discipline. That goal effectively sealed the three points for the visitors. The win propelled Millwall three points clear of third‑placed Ipswich Town, who are set to travel to Charlton Athletic on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Stoke City, whose promising start to the campaign has rapidly faded – they have managed only two victories in their last ten matches – gave debut starts to academy prospects Pijus Otegbayo and 18‑year‑old defender Syd Agina. Stoke almost took the lead in the 12th minute when goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, making his first start since the start of the year, denied Robert Bozenik with a smart save. Millwall responded quickly, and although Josh Coburn missed an early chance after a tempting cross from Tristan Crama, the visitors soon found the back of the net.
Neghli, who had already scored in the previous game, demonstrated his finishing ability after 20 minutes. A clever left‑foot pass from Zak Sturge created space, and when Eric Bocat failed to clear the ball cleanly, Neghli curled a superb rising shot into the top corner, giving Millwall a 1‑0 lead.
Four minutes later, Neghli set up a chance for Coburn, who struck the ball from seven yards but saw it sail over the bar. Just before halftime, a misplaced pass from Crama allowed Lewis Baker a clear opportunity, but Patterson again showed his composure, parrying the 25‑yard effort. In the second half, Patterson was tested again in the 48th minute when Tatsuki Seko unleashed a volley; the goalkeeper's right‑hand upright saved the effort after Millwall failed to clear a corner taken by Baker. Stoke continued to press, and Patterson denied a powerful strike from Million Manhoef.
The atmosphere among the 1,302 travelling Millwall supporters eased when Azeez added his second goal, extending the lead to 2‑0. The winger collected a pass just outside the penalty area and unleashed a fierce left‑foot shot that left Stoke keeper Gavin Bazunu with no chance. Stoke replied almost immediately. Substitute Lamine Cissé, on his first touch, delicately chipped the ball into the six‑yard box.
An inadvertent touch by Taylor wrong‑footed Patterson, creating a scramble, but Coburn capitalised, scoring his third of the night after Bocat inadvertently set the ball up for Neghli, who then netted his tenth of the season. After the match, Neil expressed his frustration with the team's recent performances: "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: "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 also has broader implications for the Championship table. Millwall's resurgence puts pressure on other promotion contenders, while Stoke's continued slump underscores the challenges they face in avoiding relegation. The match showcased the importance of clinical finishing, defensive organization, and the impact of young talent stepping up on a big stage.
Beyond the on‑field action, the game was accompanied by promotional activities, including a reminder that a £250,000 prize is available through the Super 6 competition, which remains free to enter until the deadline of 3 pm on Saturday. Fans were also encouraged to download the Sky Sports app and watch EFL matches on Sky with NOW, highlighting the growing integration of digital platforms with live football coverage. Overall, Millwall's 3‑1 victory at Stoke not only cemented their position in the automatic promotion race but also provided a morale boost for a squad eager to finish the season on a high note, while Stoke City must regroup quickly if they hope to salvage their campaign before the final fixtures.