Millwall: Five factors behind Lions’ unlikely push for promotion to the Premier League with Championship play-off place already assured | Football News

Millwall have a first-ever promotion to the Premier League of their sights.

A Championship play-off spot is already secured and an computerized promotion place stays inside their grasp.

They will go second with a win or draw at Leicester on Friday night time, reside on sky sports activitiesplacing the stress again on promotion rivals Ipswich, who at present maintain that place on objective distinction and with a recreation in hand over the Lions. The Tractor Boys, although, face a trickier run-in – on paper.

So how have Millwall – with their decrease mid-table funds and wage invoice – obtained themselves into this lofty place? We select 5 factors driving them upwards…

Friday twenty fourth April 7:30pm

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Neil is aware of

Any evaluation of Millwall’s progress should begin with the supervisor. There has been monetary assist from chairman James Berylson, whereas director of soccer Steve Gallen has led a profitable recruitment marketing campaign in latest home windows. But Neil has pulled all of it collectively and created a staff to be reckoned with.

At the enterprise finish of this season, his expertise has been key. With three profitable play-off campaigns beneath his belt (in Scotland, League One and the Championship), he has been in a position to handle the mentality of a bunch of gamers largely unfamiliar with what it takes to make this subsequent step.

“YO never encourage the players to read and listen to what people say. We only focus on what’s in front of us. We don’t get carried away with anything,” he says about conserving the staff grounded. But their success isn’t any shock to him.

“I understand how important it is to the club, I understand how important it is to the fans, it’s certainly important to me, it’s important to the players. But when you work every single day, every single minute to get somewhere, you don’t sit there as if you’ve won the lottery, because it’s not fortune, it’s hard graft every single day for every single person at the club.”

Neil has additionally inspired his gamers to reveal themselves in the alternative they’ve created. “Embrace it, really enjoy it, don’t let it pass you by.”

For a membership that has completed in the prime half of the Championship six occasions in the previous eight seasons with out making the play-offs, Neil’s know-how – technically and tactically on the area and in managing the scenario – has been essential for Millwall.

Captain Cooper and robust bonds

Millwall had been final in the Championship play-offs 24 years in the past. Speaking to the man who took them there, Mark McGhee, this week, his lasting reminiscence was not simply the high quality of that 2001/02 staff however the spirit they shared and the friendships between them, which nonetheless final till at this time.

This present Millwall crop have comparable bonds. “They fight for each other, they care for each other, they support each other,” says Neil.

Captain Jake Cooper units the tone. The longest-serving participant however nonetheless the first at the coaching floor every day. Ten years into his time at Millwall, the towering centre-back is main his team-mates to new heights.

There have been jokes about his mullet haircut – however it epitomizes the relaxed temper in the camp, midfielder Massimo Luongo stated this month. There is expertise on this squad however, united behind Cooper, they’re value greater than the sum of their components.

A imply protection

Cooper can also be exceptionally good at what he does on the pitch, rating second in the Championship for aerial duels received and fifth for clearances. He carries vital attacking menace from set-pieces but in addition marshals a backline that has the joint-best defensive file in the division.

With Caleb Taylor his common centre-back companion, and Zak Sturge and Tristan Crama impressing at full-back, Millwall have stored the most clear sheets (17) in the league.

They are properly protected by the relentless operating of midfielder Casper De Norre and the mixture is a basis upon which the promotion problem has been constructed.

Away-day file breakers

Those defensive numbers are much more spectacular on the highway – simply 23 targets conceded in 22 video games.

The lazy cliché is to say “Millwall: tough place to go”. But it is confirmed even more durable for opposition sides when Millwall have come to city.

They prime the desk when outcomes away from dwelling are ranked, with a club-record 11 wins achieved past the Den.

Away video games go well with their strengths: a decent protection, a set-piece menace and counter-attack choices. Consecutive video games at Ipswich and Middlesbrough both aspect of the March worldwide break, during which Millwall took 4 factors off their promotion rivals, underlined their capacity to carry out wherever they’re.

Azeez and the attacking difference-makers

Of course, all of that onerous work, staff unity and defensive combat solely takes you up to now. You want some magic, too.

Femi Azeez has been the chief conjurer. Named in the EFL Championship staff of the yr (alongside with Crama), Azeez has 9 targets and 7 assists up to now this season. Whether he is reducing in from the proper to shoot with his favored left foot or going round the exterior to cross, Azeez has been a handful for opposition defenses all season.

More not too long ago, No 10 Camiel Neghli has come to the social gathering, too, producing 4 objective involvements in his final six appearances, superbly displaying off the technical skills which caught the eye in the Eredivisie.

The pair provide creativity and craft round the tireless strikers Josh Coburn and Mihailo Ivanovic, who’ve 18 targets between them and plenty of, many kilometers beneath their ft.

The verdict: Underrated Neil should assist Lions keep away from a late slip-up

Sky Sports’ Gary Weaver on the Essential EFL podcast:

“Millwall’s away form has been excellent, the best in the Championship, 40 points this season. They’ve won 23 of their 43 games, only Coventry have won more.

“Alex Neil is so underrated. Tactically magnificent. He switched issues round in opposition to Middlesbrough and obtained to grips with their form.

“Millwall will try to set up a massive final day at home to Oxford.

“It’s a wierd scenario, and Leicester boss Gary Rowett might land a blow on his former membership. Millwall are going to a membership in a large number, however it’s the Championship, you get unusual outcomes right now of the season.”