Millwall

Nick Hart
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Bermondsey will be abuzz with anticipation on Saturday, as the Lions enter the final day of the EFL season still with an outside chance of achieving automatic promotion to the Premier League.

After an incredible 2025-26 season, full of ups and downs, this is an amazing situation to be in.

Of course matters don't lie entirely in our own hands, but all that Millwall can do is hopefully despatch Oxford United - fingers crossed - and hope for the best from West London neighbours QPR at Ipswich.

The worst case scenario is that the Lions will be taking part in the post season play-offs for the first time in 25 years at Championship level.

Both on and off the pitch, this has been a campaign of real advancement for Millwall FC.

The squad has demonstrated a grit and resolve in the face of some key injuries, in the best traditions of the club.

This has been vociferously backed by the Lions' fanatical support, both home and away.

Such are the levels of optimism around SE16, that over 12,000 season tickets have been bought for next season.

Of course the potential allure of the top flight will be driving these record sales, but these are terrific times to have the privilege of calling yourself a Millwall supporter.

Let's see what drama tomorrow brings…

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Casper De Norre says playing even one Premier League game for Millwall would be the highlight of his career, and "there's a chance that might happen".

The 29-year-old midfielder has played more than 100 Championship games for the Lions across the past three seasons, narrowly missing out on the play-offs in previous years.

Alex Neil's side have already secured a top-six spot this season and could snatch automatic promotion on the final day on Saturday should they beat Oxford United at The Den and second-placed Ipswich fail to beat QPR at home.

The Belgian told BBC Radio London: "It's been like (this) for a few weeks because Ipswich always had the games in hand. It was about us trying to put as much pressure on them as we can.

"Obviously when you have it in your own hands it's always better, now it's just about applying pressure to them.

"Hopefully we can have the mindset going into Saturday - if we win they have to win as well."

Even if they miss out on second spot, the Lions will have the chance to reach the Premier League for the first time via the play-offs.

De Norre added: "When I joined (in 2023) we'd missed out on the last day against Blackburn. It's always been the goal, getting into the top six, especially since (Alex Neil) came in. We really took a step forwards.

"How we ended last season was already a big step forward in terms of believing we could do it, I think. It was a little bit of a miracle that we put ourselves in that position last year.

"That gave us the confidence to keep building and try to do the same or even better this year. That's what we've done.

"It's really nice to finally get into the play-offs and hopefully maybe even more."

The former Belgium Under-21 international played in the Champions League and Europa League for previous club Genk, but he said: "When I came to Millwall it was always in the back of my mind it was probably my only chance of playing in the Premier League in my career. I am now 29. it was always my goal to achieve it through Millwall.

"If you have that opportunity, even if I play one game in the Premier League, it would be something amazing and would be the highlight of my career.

"Four or five years ago I never thought I would have the chance. Now, we still have a lot of work to do still, but there's a chance that might happen and obviously that excites you."

Image source, Opta

Millwall's promotion destiny will be decided when they welcome already-relegated Oxford United to The Den for the Championship season finale on Saturday (12:30 BST).

After being held at Leicester last Friday, the Lions now lie a point behind Ipswich, who occupy the second automatic promotion place.

Alex Neil's men need a win, coupled with Town failing to beat QPR at Portman Road, to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

If Ipswich win, three points for the Lions would still seal third place and home advantage in the play-offs.

Oxford's return to League One after two seasons in the Championship was sealed last Saturday, despite a home win over Sheffield Wednesday.

• Millwall are winless in four league meetings with Oxford United (D2 L2), this after winning six in a row beforehand.

• Oxford United have won both of their past two league visits to Millwall – the only time they have ever won twice in a row away to the Lions.

• Millwall have lost their final league game in four of the past five seasons, winning the other 1-0 at Swansea in 2023-24.

• Oxford United have won their final league game in five of their past seven second-tier seasons (D1 L1), although drew 3-3 with Swansea on the final day last season.

• Millwall have won 23 Championship games this season – it's their most at this level since they won 25 games in 1987-88 en route to winning the title.

And so, after 45 Championship games, it all comes down to the final day...

Tell us, Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough fans, how are you feeling?

The Tractor Boys have the advantage going into Saturday's home game with QPR, knowing a win would seal automatic promotion.

But the Lions, one point behind in third place, will seek to keep the pressure on as they host Oxford United while fourth-placed Boro, two points back, head to Wrexham aiming for a win and hoping other results go their way to sneak back over the dotted line where they spent most of the season.

Do you think your side will reach the Premier League by 15:00 BST on Saturday? If not, how hard would it be for them to pick themselves up and go again in the play-offs?

Click here to have your say.

It is set to be an "absolutely brilliant" final day of the Championship promotion race on which "anything can happen", according to the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast team.

Tuesday's dramatic 2-2 draw between Southampton and Ipswich has left Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough to fight it out for the second automatic promotion place in the 46th and final round of games on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Ipswich are in pole position, a point ahead of Millwall, with a goal difference advantage of +17 on the Lions, but with Boro a point further back. Town know they must beat QPR at Portman Road to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Middlesbrough are at Wrexham, who need to secure a play-off spot, while Millwall host already-relegated Oxford United.

"It was a brilliant game," said EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff.

"We have spoken all season about how open the Championship has been. Coventry have been by far and away the best team, worthy winners, but for it to go into the last Saturday [is fantastic].

"Millwall, the team that just won't go away, they're still hanging in there, Middlesbrough, the team off the back of really poor form but with a couple of good results of late, anything can happen, it's going to be absolutely brilliant on Saturday."

Despite extending their unbeaten league run to 18 games, Saints bowed out of the race, sitting four points behind Ipswich, and will need to win the play-offs if they are to secure their own top-flight return.

"It's been a fantastic run. Everyone from afar was hoping they'd get in there, It's Roy of the Rovers stuff," said Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans.

"In fairness, probably the teams that have been more consistent and better over the course of the season, they're the ones who are going to fight the final day shootout."

Even though he believes Ipswich have been "underwhelming" this season, McAnuff said he expects the Tractor Boys to prevail.

He said: "I expect them to go and finish the job now at home. They have got through what was a tricky run of away games ,which has really been their Achilles heel.

"Big win at Charlton, [point at] West Brom on Saturday and follow up by getting a point at the form team [Southampton].

"I think Kieran McKenna would have taken that before - make sure they're going into the last game of the season very much in control.

"We associate McKenna and Ipswich with that all-out attacking free-flowing football, they haven't found that rhythm this season, they have been a bit underwhelming, I have to say, with the quality they have in their squad.

"I believe they will get over the line but with this squad that's the bare minimum they should be doing this season."

Evans fears for McKenna's future if he is unable to guide Ipswich back to the Premier League.

"If Ipswich turn up and play as they can at Portman Road they'll be in the Premier League," he said.

"If they drop to the play-offs and lose and Kieran McKenna doesn't lead them to the Premier League then he might not lead them anywhere, that's how ruthless football is."

Millwall boss Alex Neil spoke to BBC Sport following their 1-1 draw at Leicester.

"There is disappointment [in the changing room] because we've not won the game, and that is always the overriding emotion whether it is the second last game or if it's the second game," he said.

"It doesn't make any difference because we set out to win and we tried to win. There will always be frustration for the fact that I think when you get a point and haven't played well, you can be quite content, but we feel we played well and had enough opportunities to make a difference and to score, and we didn't take them.

"Depending on what happens in the next couple of games will determine how important or not important that point will be.

"We just need to try and finish with as many points as we can. We were never thought to be in contention for the top two at any point, not with anybody, and we are still here with one game to play. For that to be the case, this group of players has done magnificently well.

Leicester City play their final home game in the Championship this season, after relegation to League One was confirmed with their 2-2 draw against Hull City on Tuesday.

Millwall visit on Friday (20:00 BST) and will need at least a point to move back into second position, above Ipswich who visit West Bromwich Albion on Saturday lunchtime.

• Leicester City have won both of their past two home league games against Millwall, scoring three goals in each: a 3-0 win in November 2013, and 3-2 in December 2023.

• Millwall have won both of their past two Championship matches against Leicester City (both 1-0), and are looking to complete their fourth league double over the Foxes, after 1990-91, 2011-12, and 2012-13.

• Leicester City have been relegated to League One, 10 years after they were crowned Premier League champions. It is the second-shortest gap between a side being English champions and then being relegated to the third tier, after Derby County's nine years from 1975 to 1984.

• Leicester have lost their final home game in five of their past eight Championship seasons (W3), including three of their past four.

• Millwall have won 40 points from 22 Championship away games this season (W11 D7 L4); it is the Lions' joint-most away points (assuming 3 points for a win) in a league campaign, along with the 2000-01 campaign.

Nick Hart
Fan writer

Not only did Tuesday night's convincing 3-1 win at Stoke City put the Lions into the end-of-season promotion play-offs for the first time at Championship level in 25 years, it also keeps us in the hunt for the glittering prize of automatic promotion via second place.

What an achievement by Alex Neil and this hugely resilient squad.

The rise of young players like Derek Mazou-Sacko, Camiel Neghli and Josh Coburn is in the best traditions of Millwall FC.

Add in the experience of Jake Cooper, Tristan Crama and the talent of Femi Azeez, this is a heady mix for Millwall fans to enjoy.

If there is one factor beyond all else that has got us into this wonderful position, I would say that there is a sense of unity throughout the players, management and fans.

A unity that may yet generate more stories from what has already been a tremendous season.

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Millwall boss Alex Neil spoke to BBC Radio London after his side's 3-1 win at Stoke City:

"I thought it was a great performance. I thought we set our stall out early in the first half, with a couple of the best chances. I thought we took the lead deservedly so, I thought it was a brilliant goal from Camiel Neghli.

"We should have scored the second, the cutback for Josh [Coburn] with Femi [Azeez] right behind him as well. We had one for Josh across the face, Femi had a couple on his left foot rolling in.

"When they get a goal back to 2-1, the reaction's important at that point. If they go on and get on top, then it's a nervous 20 minutes.

"I thought our reaction was brilliant, in terms of going and getting the next goal.

"And then I thought we saw the game out quite comfortably and there was only one team who deserved to win."

Image source, Opta

Millwall will seek to keep up the pace in the automatic promotion race as they head to Stoke on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

The Lions returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over QPR on Saturday and could return to second place, three points ahead of Ipswich, if Alex Neil can continue his fine winning record against his former club.

The Tractor Boys, who visit Charlton on Wednesday, would however have two games in hand on Millwall and a vastly superior goal difference.

The Potters are already safe and though they have picked up just a point from their past three games, Mark Robins' side are unbeaten in six at the Bet365, earning 12 points and scoring 13 goals.

• Stoke have won just one of their past 14 league games against Millwall (D5 L8), a 2-0 home win in March 2022. The Potters have failed to score in 10 of these 14 games.

• Millwall have won five of their past seven league games against Stoke (D2), conceding just one goal in these seven matches.

• Stoke are unbeaten in home league games since the start of February (W3 D3); they last recorded a longer unbeaten run in their final seven home league matches in 2018-19 (W1 D6).

• Millwall are unbeaten in their past seven away league games (W5 D2), their longest run since April 2018 (run of nine), while their 37 points on the road this season is their most since 2015-16 in the third tier (39).

• Former Stoke manager Alex Neil has won six of his past seven league games against the Potters (L1), including both while in charge of Millwall.

Millwall boss Alex Neil spoke to BBC Radio London after his side's 2-0 win against Queens Park Rangers:

"We made a fast start. We needed to get the fans behind us, we needed to play on the front foot, try and create chances and pressure.

"To score so early and to back that up with a few chances and another goal set us up really nicely for the remainder of the game."

"[I'm] Delighted with the lads' performance."

Millwall manager Alex Neil says their recent run of results is "not a fair reflection" of what the club has achieved in the Championship this season.

The Lions have won one of their past five games (D2 L2) and suffered back-to-back home league defeats for the first time since August in losses to Blackburn and Norwich.

But Millwall are just two points behind second-placed Ipswich - who have a game in hand - in the race for automatic promotion and are one win away from all but securing a second-tier play-off spot for the first time since 2002.

"The fact that we are where we are with four games to go, I think is a bigger reflection on how well the lads have done," Neil told BBC Radio London before welcoming QPR to The Den on Saturday.

"Do we want to be in really good form getting into these [final] four games? Absolutely. But I think as the Championship shows everyone, games are unpredictable."

Neil said there was "nothing to be negative about" and pointed to the fact Millwall have won 21 of their 42 league games this season, as well as recording their best points tally since their run to the play-offs 24 years ago.

"I think it's overwhelmingly positive for where we're sitting and how we're looking at the remaining matches," he said.

"The only team in the league that's won more games than us this year is the team that's going to win the title.

"So this whole 'who would you rather play? Are we in a bad spot? Do we need to fix home form?' I don't want to hear any of that. As far as we're concerned, we're in a really good spot."

Should Millwall fall short of the top two, Neil said competing in the play-offs would still be "a brilliant thing".

"There might be elation at the end of it, there might be disappointment, but that's why we're all involved," he added.

"Would you rather sit 12th and bore yourself to death in the remaining fixtures? No.

"So let's enjoy it, let's look forward to it, let's live in the moment, stop worrying about what might happen and let's get on with it and support each other."