Former Stoke City manager Alex Neil watched as Millwall surged back into the Championship's top two, securing a vital play‑off berth with a 3‑1 victory at the bet365 Stadium. The London side took the initiative early, with Camiel Neghli finding the net to give them a first‑half lead. His strike set the tone for a dominant display, and midway through the second half Femi Azeez, who was on a rich vein of form, added his ninth goal of the campaign to make it 2‑0 after 55 minutes. Stoke's hopes were briefly revived when Caleb Taylor inadvertently turned the ball into his own net at the hour mark, prompting nervous glances from Neil and his coaching staff.
However, any momentum the Potters tried to build was swiftly extinguished when Josh Coburn capped the scoring in the 69th minute, exploiting a lapse in the home defence and sealing the three points for Millwall. The win propelled Millwall three points clear of third‑placed Ipswich Town, who will travel to Charlton Athletic on Wednesday in a match that could keep their own promotion aspirations alive. For Stoke, the result highlighted a worrying decline; after a promising start to the season they have managed only two victories in their last ten fixtures. The club also handed first‑team debuts to academy prospects Pijus Otegbayo and 18‑year‑old defender Syd Agina, hoping fresh talent might spark a turnaround.
Stoke came close to taking an early lead when a 12th‑minute shot from Robert Bozenik was expertly saved by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who was making his first start since the first day of the year. Millwall responded quickly, but Coburn missed a promising opportunity after a well‑timed cross from Tristan Crama. Later, Neghli demonstrated his clinical finishing, scoring his second consecutive goal after 20 minutes.
A clever left‑foot pass from Zak Sturge split the defence, and with Eric Bocat unable to clear the ball cleanly, Neghli curled a rising shot into the top corner. Four minutes later he provided the assist for Coburn, who struck from seven yards but saw his effort sail over the bar. Just before half‑time, a mis‑directed pass from Crama gave Lewis Baker a chance to test Patterson from 25 yards, but the on‑loan Sunderland keeper was equal to the task, making a comfortable save.
After the break, Patterson again kept Millwall at bay, denying a powerful volley from Tatsuki Seko after a corner was poorly cleared by Baker. Stoke continued to press, and Patterson made another crucial intervention to stop a dangerous run by Millwall forward Million Manhoef. The visiting fans, numbering 1,302, breathed a sigh of relief when Azeez doubled the lead. The winger collected a pass just outside the box and unleashed a ferocious left‑foot strike that left Millwall’s keeper, Gavin Bazunu, with no chance.
Stoke answered immediately, benefitting from a slice of luck. Substitute Lamine Cissé, on his first touch, flicked the ball into the six‑yard area where Taylor’s inadvertent touch forced Patterson off his line. Yet Coburn, ever the opportunist, struck again after Bocat’s errant clearance fell to Neghli, who slotted his tenth goal of the season. After the match, Alex Neil expressed his frustration with the team's recent performances, saying, "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 reflected on the significance of the achievement, stating, "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 financial implications for fans, as a £250,000 prize pool is available through the Super 6 competition, which remains free to enter until the deadline of 3 pm on Saturday. This adds an extra layer of excitement for supporters following the promotion race, as they can potentially win a substantial sum while cheering on their clubs.
Overall, Millwall's comprehensive win not only re‑established them in the automatic promotion spots but also underscored the growing gap between them and a struggling Stoke side. With only two fixtures left in the campaign, the Lions will aim to maintain momentum and secure a top‑two finish, while Stoke must regroup quickly to salvage any remaining pride from a season that has rapidly slipped from promise to disappointment.