Meet the opposition: Millwall
As Swansea City get set for a trip to Millwall on Saturday, we take a look at the men from The Den.
What’s their story?
Millwall are in their second season back in the Championship having won promotion from League One via the play-offs in 2016-17.
They have been operating in the second and third tiers since their one stint in the top flight – the days of Teddy Sheringham and Tony Cascarino – came to an end in 1990.
Having enjoyed the play-offs in the previous campaign, Millwall almost sent their season into overtime once more last spring, eventually missing out on the top six by just three points as they finished in eighth.
They were beaten at home just four times in the league last season, a record bettered only by the Championship’s top four clubs in 2017-18.
How’s their form?
It has been a mixed start to the new season for 16th-placed Millwall, who avoided defeat in their first four games but have since lost back-to-back league matches, at Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham.
Their good home league form has continued, with a 2-2 opening-day draw with Middlesbrough being followed by a 2-1 win over Derby.
They also claimed a creditable goalless draw at Blackburn, and have enjoyed League Cup successes against Gillingham and Plymouth.
Who’s their boss?
Former striker Neil Harris, who is the Championship’s longest-serving manager having been at the helm since summer 2015. He was a legend as a Lions player, having scored more goals for the club than anyone else across 10 years and two stints in South London.
Harris once had a brief loan spell at Cardiff, while he also played for Nottingham Forest, Gillingham and Southend.
He led Millwall to the League One play-off final in his first full season in charge, 2015-16, but they lost out to Barnsley at Wembley.
A year later they returned to the same stage and this time triumphed over Bradford to climb into the second tier.
Who are the key men?
Former Tottenham youngster Jordan Archer (above) is well established as Millwall’s keeper, while Jake Cooper is a regular at the heart of defence.
However, fellow defender Shaun Hutchinson, last season’s player of the year, is likely to miss out this weekend after picking up an injury.
The likes of Shaun Williams, Aiden O’Brien and Jed Wallace were all midfield regulars in a settled Millwall side last season along with George Saville, although the latter may not feature against the Swans.
Saville finished as last term as 10-goal joint-top scorer along with striker Lee Gregory.
Gregory, former Welsh international Steve Morison and another powerfully built forward, Tom Elliott, are all options up front along with recent signing Tom Bradshaw.
The Welsh international arrived from Barnsley in a club-record deal worth a reported £1 million.
