Meet the opposition | Millwall
As Swansea City prepare to round off the 2023-24 campaign against Millwall, we take a closer look at the Lions.
What's their story?
Millwall have spent the last five seasons in the Championship, and now have a sixth one to look forward to.
They have been mainstays of the second tier, having spent just two of the last 11 campaigns in League One.
The Lions haven’t been in the top-flight of English football since the 1989-90 season; the closest they have come to a return was when finishing just outside the play-offs in 2018, 2020 and 2023.
They famously reached the 2004 FA Cup final, but were beaten 3-0 at the Millennium Stadium by Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
How's their form?
Very good. The Lions have won their last four matches to end any relegation concerns.
They have also kept three clean sheets in that time, including in a 1-0 win at home to recently-promoted Leicester City.
The Lions currently find themselves in 16th place in the table, with only one point separating them and the Swans, who are in 13th place.
They have struggled in front of goal throughout the season however, with only Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday scoring fewer goals than the Lions.
Since club legend Neil Harris returned for his second permanent stint in charge of the club in February, Millwall have only lost three of 12 games, winning seven.
Who's the gaffer?
All time-record Lions goal scorer Neil Harris returned to the Den, replacing Joe Edwards as head coach in February 2024.
Harris started his coaching career in 2013 at the Lions, working his way up through their academy and having several spells as caretaker manager.
He was given the job on a permanent basis in 2015, and twice took Millwall to the play-offs, securing promotion at the second time of asking.
Harris resigned in 2019, joining fellow Championship side Cardiff City one month later. He took the Bluebirds to the play-offs that season, where whey were defeated by Fulham.
Harris was sacked by the Bluebirds in January 2021 and had a year out of management before being appointed by League One side Gillingham the following January.
Harris suffered relegation to League Two with the Gills and was dismissed in October 2023.
His next job came two months later, joining Cambridge United in December 2023, however the chance to return to The Den proved too good to turn down when the role came up in February this year.
Who's the captain?
Shaun Hutchinson is Millwall's club captain. The Newcastle-born defender started his career in Scotland, graduating from Motherwell's academy to make over 140 appearances for the Wells, while also being part of the side that reached the Scottish Cup final in 2011.
He went on to join Fulham on a free transfer, making over 40 appearances for the Cottagers over two years before moving to the Den in 2016.
He has played for the Lions ever since, making over 250 appearances for the club, he was part of the side that secured promotion to the Championship in 2017.
Hutchinson has suffered injury problems this season, only making 11 league appearances, with fellow defender Jake Cooper taking the armband for the majority of the season.
Ones to watch
Dutch midfielder Zian Flemming is the Lions top goal scorer in the league this season with eight goals in all competitions, while he has also chipped in with six assists.
Flemming has also played the most minutes this season for the Lions, appearing in every league game so far.
Starting his career at PEC Zwolle, Flemming has had spells at NEC Nijmegen and Fortuna Sittard - where he scored 29 goals in 58 games over his two years at the club - before moving to south-east London in 2022.
The Dutchman scored 15 league goals in his first season with the Lions, while also winning the club's player of the season award.
January loan signing Japhet Tanganga has been vital in the Lions much-improved defensive showings during the second half of the season, making 15 league appearances so far and scoring two goals.
The defender has been at Spurs for 15 years, joining the academy set up at the age of 10. He has made more than 25 league appearances for Spurs in that time, but has struggled with injuries in recent seasons.
Tanganga also had a loan spell in Germany at Augsburg during the second half of last season, although he did not play any minutes for the side.
He has represented England at youth level, while also being eligible to represent DR Congo.
Midfielder George Saville has played over 170 times for the Lions over four spells at the club.
Having come through Chelsea's academy, Saville has had spells at Brentford, Wolves, Bristol City and Middlesbrough.
Those four stints with the Lions - made up of two loans and two permanent deals - included their promotion back to the Championship in 2017. He also helped Brentford reach the second tier during his time at Griffin Park.
Saville is known for his high-energy performances, and has picked up two goals and four assists this season.
The midfielder has been capped 50 times at international level by Northern Ireland, making his debut in a World Cup qualifier against Germany in 2017.