It might seem like a long shot, but Millwall`s chances of getting promoted from the Championship are still alive with a few games and playoffs remaining. This club is unlike almost any other in English football. Their fans revel in the dislike others have for them. Imagine them in the Premier League! It would definitely make the 2025-26 season stand out.
Promotion is still unlikely, but the possibility became more real after Easter Monday. Coventry City and Bristol City, who were in playoff spots, both lost to teams fighting relegation. Middlesbrough, hoping to break into the playoffs, also lost their game. Meanwhile, Millwall won convincingly 3-1 against Norwich, bouncing back from a defeat to Blackburn.
They still need some luck. With only two games left, they are three points outside the playoff zone and have a worse goal difference. They need either Coventry or Bristol City to lose points in both of their remaining matches. If Middlesbrough wins their remaining games, Millwall would need both fifth and sixth place teams to falter. And Millwall themselves need to win against Swansea and Burnley in their last two games.
Impressive Victory Over Norwich
Based on Monday`s game, winning against tough opponents is possible for Millwall. They`ve won five of their last seven games at a crucial point in the season where momentum is key in the Championship. Their performance against Norwich makes you wonder what could happen if they reach the playoffs and win at Wembley.
`Their playing style is like grassroots football in the professional arena,` says CBS Sports analyst Nigel Reo-Coker, who knows how challenging it is to play away at Millwall. `They would bring an electrifying atmosphere and an underdog spirit. As their famous chant says, “No one likes us, we don`t care.” They are a club from a less privileged background and are proud of it.`
`They thrive on being underdogs, facing challenges, and feeling like they are against the world. The atmosphere at every Premier League game would be incredibly electric, beyond words – you`d have to experience it in the stadium.`
In terms of football, Millwall would be a fascinating contrast to many other Premier League teams. While many teams focus on tactics like inverting full-backs, ball-playing center-backs, and prioritizing possession, Millwall reminds us that a team`s identity can be about more than just fancy passing and coordinated plays.
They might be able to play possession-based football, but it wouldn`t feel like Millwall. Their style on the pitch reflects their club`s identity off it. The old stereotypes of hooliganism are outdated, but Millwall still takes pride in being unconventional, going against the norm, and getting under the opposition`s skin.
When everything clicks, The Den stadium roars with energy.
Norwich had the second-highest average possession in the Championship before this game. Millwall`s response was straightforward: `You want the ball? Keep it. We won`t need it for long.` They focused on getting the ball to their forwards, out to the wings, and winning individual battles. When it works as well as it did against Norwich, Millwall`s football is exciting to watch and a nightmare to play against.
Their high-pressing forwards forced a mistake from Norwich within the first eight minutes, a sloppy pass that you wouldn`t expect from Millwall`s training. Then, crosses rained down on the Norwich goal, with Femi Azeez`s cross hitting Mihailo Ivanovic, who seemed surprised. The Den didn`t care and cheered for their `big Serbian` player. They know what they appreciate. And it wasn`t the last time they showed their love for the 20-year-old from Novi Sad.
Despite Norwich having possession, they struggled to break through Millwall`s defense, only getting their first shot off after half an hour. A header from Shane Duffy from a set piece gave Norwich some hope before halftime, but they were unlikely to win a set-piece battle against Millwall. Ultimately, that was their only shot on target. Azeez scored a clever goal from a corner in the first half, and Ivanovic, who is 6ft 2in tall, scored a second for himself and Millwall in the second half.
As news of other match results came in, the excitement at The Den was obvious. Two more wins and who knows, maybe a return to the top flight for the first time since their brief spell between 1988 and 1990.
What Would They Bring to the Premier League?
Millwall`s traveling fans have a reputation that might worry some in the Premier League. However, the club has worked hard to distance itself from the worst elements of its fanbase and to connect with the communities in South London who might have avoided The Den in the past. Their community trust is award-winning, promoting inclusion in Southwark. The club has changed as its Bermondsey neighborhood has; the approach to The Den might seem intimidating, but outside the ground, you`ll find craft beer spots, burger places, and mainstream music playing.
Still, some of the old edge remains. As Jean-Phillipe Mateta, who was not only kicked in the head by goalkeeper Liam Roberts but also subjected to harsh chants afterward, can confirm, Millwall`s humor can be cruel. On Monday, every Norwich throw-in was met with boos, and a misplaced pass was celebrated almost like a goal. Few stadiums revel in others` misfortune like The Den.
In the Premier League, this could become even more intense, especially when West Ham visits. Their rivalry with Millwall is one of the fiercest in English football, dating back to dockworkers competing for jobs and bragging rights. At its worst, like in the 2009 riots where 20 people were injured, the football itself seems unimportant. But those who have played in this derby know the intensity.
`I remember a lot of police, a raw, electric atmosphere, a deep and passionate rivalry, one of the greatest in English football,` says Reo-Coker, whose West Ham team lost 1-0 at The Den in 2004. `It`s a game of pride, even hatred. Both clubs would probably say they don`t care about the rest of the season as long as they win this one game. The pressure to perform was always on the players, we knew it.`
`Of course, it`s heavily policed and segregated because of the intense hatred.`
`The noise was constant, non-stop singing. It was like grassroots football at a professional level, pure passion. Every tackle, every throw-in mattered. It was emotional, an electric atmosphere for 90 minutes where you desperately didn`t want to lose.`
The police might not have such fond memories of this derby, nor would they be happy about another season with Millwall playing Leeds, a fixture known for fan trouble since the 1980s. The last Chelsea vs. Millwall game in 1995 required mounted police intervention. Crystal Palace`s next visit after the Mateta incident would also be highly charged.
Millwall in the top flight would definitely bring complications, and for now, it`s still an unlikely outcome for the 2024-25 season. But if it happens, the Premier League will experience something completely unique with Millwall.
