Four takeaways from Millwall’s 2-0 win over Stoke – Cresswell has a Den dream and O’Neill’s post-match verdict was questionable

Millwall started their Championship season with a 2-0 win over Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

Here are Richard Cawley’s four takeaways from the match in SE16.

DREAM DEBUT FOR CHARLIE CRESSWELL

The Leeds United youngster would probably have started yesterday’s match on the bench if Shaun Hutchinson had been fit. But instead Cresswell came in on the right of the Lions’ back three and scored his first goals at senior level.
It was absolutely no surprise that Millwall’s first goal of the campaign came from a set-piece and the England U21 international attacked George Honeyman’s corner brilliantly with Stoke keeper Joe Bursik motionless as the ball hit the back of the net.
Cresswell’s second was taken with real aplomb, lashing home on the volley from a Scott Malone corner, just seconds after Bursik had tipped over his header.
Millwall are going to carry a huge threat from any deadball deliveries in and around the opposition box with Jake Cooper, Murray Wallace and Cresswell all looking to attack them.

THE LIONS WERE WORTHY WINNERS

Stoke manager Michael O’Neill claimed afterwards that only set-pieces settled the Championship opener and that he did not feel “there was a huge amount in the game”.
But that could just be a boss who is already under pressure trying to ease criticism.
About the only moment of concern for the Lions was when Tyrese Campbell’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area threatened to squirm under Bartosz Bialkowski. Referee Keith Stroud indicated instantly to the visiting players that the goal-line technology indicated the ball had not fully crossed over.
But, aside from that, Millwall’s back five all won their battles. New Stoke signing Dwight Gayle was hooked before the hour mark in a low-key debut.
Millwall created significantly more after the restart. Benik Afobe produced a deft turn to go past Ben Wilmot and send a fizzing curler over the bar while Bursik also just about did enough to parry Tom Bradshaw’s shot. Bradshaw also converted a screamer, only for the assistant ref’s flag to curtail his celebrations.

TOP OF THE LEAGUE

Okay, there are 45 games left to go and 135 points left to play for but you have got to get your enjoyment where you can and plenty of Millwall fans were taking delight from the fact that their side are top at this most embryonic of stages.
There is expectation this season that the Lions can be even more in the promotion chase and you could even tell that from the noise generated at The Den on Saturday, both just before kick off and during the match.
Lions boss Gary Rowett admitted afterwards that the atmosphere helped his team start with real energy and pep – also aided by the fact that he had three terriers in Billy Mitchell, Jamies Shackleton and George Honeyman in the middle of the park.

NEW SEASON BUT SAME IMPRESSIVE HOME FORM

Only Fulham and Bournemouth, last season’s top two, collected more points at home than Millwall in the 2021-22 campaign.
The Lions have won eight of their last 10 matches in SE16 – with only one loss – and, including the end of last season, have won four on the spin at The Den. Fortress.