Can Millwall keep their winning streak up against Stoke City tomorrow?

At the beginning of the season, Millwall FC prepared themselves for an eighth consecutive year in the second tier, meaning that the Lions would now have played in 13 of the last 15 EFL Championship seasons. After almost a decade of finishing either just outside the second tier playoffs, mid-table or towards the bottom it is safe to Millwall had become yet another side that seemed destined to be stuck in the league for the foreseeable future. But now after four straight 1-0 wins, the South East London-based side has been propelled into the playoff picture.

Millwall 1-0 Leeds
Millwall 1-0 Burnley
Swansea 0-1 Millwall
Millwall 1-0 Plymouth

Millwall's last 4 results in the league and are sitting 5th in the @SkyBetChamp ✅✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/7tiIqVpgwC

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 7, 2024

The inability to concede

The unique pattern of Millwall’s win streak cannot be a mere coincidence, Neil Harris has overseen a complete upturn in form, after conceding seven goals in the opening two games. The Lions are now one of the most in-form teams in the country, no other side in the top four divisions has conceded less than three goals in their past six games, Millwall have conceded just once in six, the same amount of matches they’re unbeaten in. Perhaps the biggest signifier that it’s all begun to click at the New Den is an average number of goals conceded per game of 0.38 in the last 8 league matches, which is 55.8% lower than their current season's average.

Winning 1-0 can be one of the most satisfying victories, but mastering the ability to do it so consistently is no easy task. Whilst Millwall do not have a squad full of goals (17 goals scored in 14 EFL Championship games, five scored in the last six) they have turned their weakness into an advantage by having a watertight defence.

Clinical finishers

The Lions have not amassed an xG of over one goal on three occasions in their last four, with the xG figure dropping as low as 0.36 against Leeds and 0.37 against Swansea. They also sit bottom of the EFL Championship average possession chart, proving that they don’t need a lot of chances or time on the ball but are simply clinical instead.

Who is responsible and what's next?

Key defenders who have contributed to their past four clean sheets are defensive stalwart Jake Cooper with over 300 Millwall appearances to his name, former Spurs player Japhet Tanganga, as well as the experience of Ryan Leonard, Joe Bryan and Dan McNamara. Many of those names on the list have played multiple seasons together, at this level or higher. Harris’ side also has the highest number of tackles and interceptions combined, truly emphasising their defensive capabilities.

🛡️ Japhet Tanganga's game by numbers against Leeds United:

90 minutes played
100% aerial duels won
7 clearances
2 tackles
2 blocked shots

1 goal

A monstrous performance by the Millwall defender.#Millwall | @ThatMillwallPod pic.twitter.com/Fq2gknnp46

— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) November 6, 2024

After four top ten appearances in the last seven seasons incredibly without a single playoff appearance, Millwall fans have become accustomed to never quite getting the job done. Although with the start they have made, is this finally the year that fortune changes at the Den?