It might seem like a distant possibility, but with the season nearing its end and playoff contention still within reach, Millwall`s potential promotion from the Championship is a real topic of discussion. This club, unlike almost any other in English football, boasts a fanbase that thrives on the disapproval they provoke. Imagine them in the Premier League – the 2025-26 season would be truly exceptional.
While still an uphill battle, the prospect became more tangible after Easter Monday`s results. Playoff contenders Coventry City and Bristol City both suffered defeats against teams fighting relegation. Middlesbrough also failed to capitalize, losing to Sheffield Wednesday. Meanwhile, Millwall exceeded expectations, recovering from a tough loss to Blackburn with a dominant 3-1 victory over Norwich.
To secure a playoff spot, Millwall needs favorable outcomes. Currently three points outside the top six with a weaker goal difference, they need Coventry or Bristol City to falter in their remaining matches. Even if Middlesbrough stumbles, Millwall likely needs both fifth and sixth place teams to collapse. All this while needing to win against Swansea and Burnley in their final games.
Impressive Victory Over Norwich
Monday`s performance against Norwich demonstrated Millwall`s capabilities. They`ve won five of their last seven games, gaining crucial momentum as the Championship season climaxes. Their performance raises the exciting question: what if they reach the playoffs and triumph at Wembley?
`Their playing style is reminiscent of grassroots football on a professional stage,` notes CBS Sports analyst Nigel Reo-Coker, who understands the daunting challenge of playing away at Millwall. `They would inject an electric atmosphere and an underdog spirit. As their anthem suggests, `nobody likes us, we don`t care.` They are a club that embraces its outsider status and wears it with pride.`
`They revel in being the underdog, facing adversity, and defying the world. The atmosphere at every Premier League game would be unbelievably intense. Words can`t fully capture it; you`d have to experience it firsthand in the stadium.`
From a purely football perspective, Millwall would offer a compelling contrast to many Premier League teams. In a league often characterized by inverted full-backs, ball-playing center-backs, and an obsession with possession, Millwall reminds us that a club`s identity can be built on more than just intricate passing and coordinated plays.
While they might be capable of possession-based football, it wouldn`t truly represent Millwall`s essence. Their on-field approach mirrors their off-field persona. The outdated stereotypes of hooliganism are just that, stereotypes. However, The Lions take pride in their unconventionality, their rebellious spirit, and their ability to get under opponents` skin.
When everything clicks, The Den erupts.
Norwich entered the game with the second-highest possession average in the Championship. Millwall’s strategy was straightforward: `You want the ball? Keep it. We won’t need it for long.` Their approach involves targeting tall forwards, utilizing wing play, and winning individual battles. When executed effectively, as it was against Norwich, Millwall’s style of football is both thrilling to watch and incredibly difficult to play against.
Millwall`s high-pressing frontline forced an early error from Norwich within eight minutes. A misplaced pass gifted Millwall an opportunity. A series of crosses followed, and Femi Azeez`s cross struck Mihailo Ivanovic. The Den celebrated wildly, chanting their appreciation for their `big Serbian.` They know what they admire in these parts, and this wouldn`t be the last display of affection for the 20-year-old from Novi Sad.
Despite Norwich’s possession, they struggled to penetrate Millwall’s defense, failing to register a shot until Josh Sargent’s wide attempt after half an hour. Shane Duffy`s header from a set piece offered Norwich hope before halftime, but Millwall are notoriously strong defending set plays. Ultimately, that was Norwich`s only shot on target. Azeez had earlier scored from a corner in the first half, and Ivanovic, at 6ft 2in, added another from a corner, securing Millwall’s third goal in the second half.
As news of other match results filtered through The Den, the anticipation grew palpable. Two more wins, and perhaps 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?
Considering the reputation of Millwall’s away fans, some in the Premier League might be apprehensive. However, it`s important to acknowledge the club`s significant efforts to distance itself from the negative aspects of its fanbase and to engage with the communities in South London that once felt excluded from The Den in the 70s and 80s. Their community trust is award-winning, dedicated to promoting inclusion in Southwark. The club has evolved alongside its Bermondsey neighborhood; the approach to The Den might still feel gritty, but the surrounding area now features craft breweries, burger joints, and mainstream music.
Yet, the raw edges haven`t completely disappeared. Jean-Phillipe Mateta, who was not only kicked in the head by goalkeeper Liam Roberts but also subjected to relentless chants afterward, can attest to Millwall`s sometimes harsh humor. On Monday, every Norwich throw-in was met with jeers, and a misplaced pass drew almost as much joy as an own goal. Few stadiums revel in schadenfreude quite like The Den.
In the Premier League, this intensity could escalate, especially when West Ham visits. Their rivalry with Millwall is among the fiercest in English football, rooted in the historical competition between dockworkers. At its worst, such as the 2009 riots where 20 were injured, on-field events seem secondary. However, those who have played in this derby understand its unique intensity.
`I recall a heavy police presence, a raw, electric atmosphere, and a deep, passionate rivalry – one of the greatest in English football,` recalls 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 likely prioritize winning this match above all else in the season. The pressure on the players to perform was immense; everyone knew it.`
`Naturally, it`s heavily policed and segregated because of the intense animosity.`
The noise was constant, non-stop singing. It felt like grassroots football on a professional scale, pure passion. Every tackle, every throw-in mattered. It was emotionally charged, an electric energy for 90 minutes where losing was unthinkable.`
The Metropolitan Police might not share such fond memories of this derby, nor would they welcome another season with Millwall facing Leeds, a fixture marked by hostility dating back to clashes between hooligan firms in the 1980s. The last Chelsea vs. Millwall match in 1995 required mounted police intervention. Crystal Palace’s subsequent visit after the Mateta incident would also be highly charged.
Millwall in the top flight would be complex and, for now, still an improbable conclusion to the 2024-25 season. However, if it happens, the Premier League will experience something truly unique in Millwall.
