Former Stoke City manager Alex Neil watched as Millwall reclaimed a place among the Championship's top two and secured a play‑off berth with a 3‑1 triumph at the bet365 Stadium. The match unfolded with Camiel Neghli giving the London side an early advantage, and Femi Azeez extending the lead to 2‑0 after just 55 minutes, marking his ninth goal of the campaign. A defensive mishap from Caleb Taylor, who inadvertently put the ball into his own net at the hour mark, gave Stoke a brief respite and forced Neil to tighten his team's focus.
However, Josh Coburn restored the two‑goal cushion in the 69th minute, capitalising on a lapse in the home side's defence and sealing the points for Millwall. 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 early‑season promise is now fading, have managed only two victories in their last ten fixtures. In an effort to inject fresh energy, Neil handed first‑team debuts to academy prospects Pijus Otegbayo and 18‑year‑old defender Syd Agina. Stoke came close to taking an early lead when goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, making his first start since the start of the year, expertly saved a low drive from Robert Bozenik in the 12th minute. Millwall responded quickly, with Josh Coburn missing an early chance after a well‑timed cross from Tristan Crama.
The Sky Sports app offers live coverage, and fans can also watch the EFL on Sky NOW. Neghli broke the deadlock after 20 minutes, scoring his second consecutive match‑winning goal.
The opportunity arose from a clever left‑side pass by Zak Sturge, and when defender Eric Bocat failed to clear the ball cleanly, Neghli curled a powerful left‑foot drive into the top corner. 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 the half‑time whistle, a misplaced pass from Crama created an unexpected opening for Lewis Baker.
The on‑loan Sunderland keeper Patterson rose to the occasion, denying the City skipper with a spectacular save from 25 yards out. After the break, Patterson again proved vital, denying a powerful volley from Tatsuki Seko after Millwall failed to clear a corner delivered by Baker. The Potters continued to press, and Patterson intervened to stop a close‑range attempt from Millwall forward Million Manhoef.
The travelling contingent of 1,302 supporters breathed a sigh of relief when Azeez doubled Millwall's lead. The winger, highly regarded for his pace and finishing, received the ball just outside the penalty area and unleashed a fierce left‑foot shot that left Stoke goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu with no chance. Stoke responded immediately, benefitting from a slice of luck.
Substitute Lamine Cissé flicked the ball into the six‑yard box, and an inadvertent touch by Taylor wrong‑footed Patterson, creating a scramble. Nevertheless, Coburn seized the moment, scoring his third goal of the match after Bocat's mis‑clearance fell to Neghli, who then netted his tenth of the season. After the game, 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." Reflecting on Millwall's achievements, 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." Millwall's resurgence has sparked optimism among supporters, who see the club edging closer to a historic promotion. The team's disciplined defence, combined with the attacking flair of Neghli, Azeez and Coburn, has created a balanced side capable of challenging for the top spot. As the season draws to a close, the final two fixtures will be crucial in determining whether Millwall can clinch automatic promotion or must settle for the play‑offs.
The £250,000 Super 6 prize remains up for grabs, and entries are open until 3 pm on Saturday, offering fans a chance to engage further with the excitement surrounding the Championship race.