Millwall are enjoying a great start to the 2025-26 Championship, having only been in the top tier from 1988-1990.
The Lions have established themselves as a top-10 Championship team after winning promotion from League One in 2016-17.
They finished 8th in four different seasons – including the last one after a good run of results following Alex Neil’s appointment as manager. That’s the highest they have finished since returning to the second tier (also in 2022-23, 2019-20 and 2017-18).
And now things are looking much better for them, with the current season seeing them pick up the most points after 18 matches (31) since 2008-09 (36 in the third tier).
How do Millwall play?
Millwall being Millwall
Somehow Millwall are 3rd in the table with a negative goal difference (-3). Seven of their nine wins have been by one goal, while each of their five losses have come been by two or more.
They aren’t exactly easy on the eyes, averaging the most fouls per game (13.2) this season. Their 22 goals scored in 18 games is good enough only to rank 15th in the league.
However, the Lions are much more efficient at the back. Despite ranking 12th in touches allowed inside their own box and 11th in shots faced, they are 7th in expected goals against, 4th in clean sheets and 2nd in fewest big chances conceded.
Their centre-backs also have a lot of work to do, seeing as they are 5th in clearances. Millwall don’t exactly stop opponents from getting near their goal or taking shots, but do a great job limiting decent goalscoring opportunities.
Direct and hard-working football
As you would expect, this isn’t a team that likes to keep possession and pass the ball around patiently trying to break opponents down. Their 46.7% ball possession tally proves this, but it goes way beyond that.
In fact, Alex Neil’s Millwall have the second lowest percentage of accurate passes in the Championship (71.5%). They attempt the third most long balls (64.8 per game) and average the longest goal-kicks (59 metres).
The Lions are also grafters. Advanced Opta metrics have them third in fewest passes allowed per defensive action (11.2 PPDA) and fifth in pressed sequences (also 11.2). They rank third in tackles made per game, proving that pressing high and getting stuck is not only not a problem, but something Alex Neil welcomes.
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Striker Mihailo Ivanovic has been struggling in front of goal, scoring three times in 17 games and missing five big chances. But his contribution to the team is massive. At 6’3”, he has contested the fourth most aerial duels of any forwards (178).
Winning or just battling for first balls is integral to how Millwall want to establish themselves in the attacking half. After all, they do have the third highest percentage of aerial duels won in the final third. This is important at the back as well, ranking second in this exact metric but in the defending third. The Lions are a physical and imposing side in the air.
Ivanovic also leads the team in big chances created (alongside Femi Azeez), looking to bring teammates into play, acting as a target man and laying passes off to them.
Femi Azeez’s attacking impact
Speaking of Azeez, he is definitely the brighest spark of talent at The Den. The 24-year-old picked up an ankle injury early on in the season and missed around a month and a half of action.
This period sidelined didn’t stop him though. He came back and in his first start, immediately scored and assisted during Millwall’s 3-0 win over West Brom. The left-footed winger then carried his goalscoring form to the following three matches, finding the net at least once in each of them.
A hamstring issue then took him out for another three weeks as he left the Oxford United game in the first half. But, just like the previous time, he returned scoring against Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton. Azeez is Millwall’s top scorer in the Championship with six goals.
Alex Neil at it again?
Alex Neil looks to be building yet another solid job in the second tier. The Scotsman took over at The Den in December 2024 with the Lions in 12th place with an even record (W8 D8 L8).
He then led them to a run of 10 wins, four draws and six losses, improving the percentage of points won and finishing 8th. Now they are third, just two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough – who have had a turbulent few weeks since Rob Edwards’ exit.
Neil had already gotten Norwich City promoted to the Premier League in 2014-15 and taken Sunderland out of League One in 2021-22. He was also responsible for Preston North End’s best Championship finish (7th in 2017-18) since 2009.
The only exception was at Stoke City, but it was during a tough time for the club. Only now are they getting back on track under Mark Robins.
It remains to be seen whether Millwall can maintain their superb results throughout the rest of the campaign. Though it’s hard to imagine them having much success conceding more goals than scoring, the ‘Lions way’ is definitely making for one the most interesting Championship stories this season.