Four takeaways from Millwall’s 3-0 win over Rotherham – Lions have best defensive home record in the Championship

Millwall kicked off 2023 with a 3-0 victory over Rotherham United yesterday.

Here are Richard Cawley’s takeaways from the match.

LIONS LOOK THERE FOR THE LONG HAUL

Millwall are fourth in the table – at least until today’s matches are completed – and they look like a side who are in the chase for the play-offs for the long haul.

Unlike in previous campaigns, they don’t need that strong surge in the second half of the season to make up ground on the top six. They already have 39 points on the board – six more than they had after 25 matches back in January 2022.

If they can make a couple of additions in the transfer window – as well as holding on to star performers like Zian Flemming and Billy Mitchell – then they look extremely well set.

Gary Rowett told our paper last week that he expected to have an empty injury room very soon. Another promising sight was seeing Ryan Leonard doing some training drills in the warm down on the Den pitch after the win over Rotherham United.

ROWETT’S CHANGES PAY OFF

The Millwall boss made three switches from the side that drew 0-0 with Bristol City last time out, with Callum Styles coming into central midfield in place of George Saville and George Honeyman replacing Tyler Burey. The other move was enforced. Goalkeeper George Long missed out for what the club called “family reasons”, Bart Bialkowski returning.

Honeyman put in the best performance in the Millwall matches that I’ve attended this season. His energy and running caused problems all afternoon for the Millers and he was fouled on the edge of the box a couple of times, including for the early free-kick which Tom Bradshaw headed past Viktor Johansson.

Saville and Billy Mitchell have been an excellent combination in the Lions midfield but Styles seamlessly came into the side and also delivered the goods.

A bit like Zian Flemming, the Barnsley loanee is happy to let loose with shots if he gets a sight of the goal and Bradshaw should have added to his haul with a great chance in the first half. Johansson parried Styles’ initial strike and his second attempt turned into a close-range opportunity which the Lions number nine touched over the bar.

Styles also provided the fourth-minute free-kick which Bradshaw adeptly headed home.

Bialkowski had a relatively easy shift with only one effort on target – something his overworked opposite number could not say. The greatest danger to him keeping a clean sheet came just before the interval, but Conor Washington fired over after initially gliding past Bialkowski.

FORTRESS DEN

Since the start of last season the Lions are averaging exactly two points per game at home.

Their record from the 36 matches over that period is won 21, drawn nine and lost six – scoring 52 and conceding 24.

They have the best home defensive record in the Championship this season, conceding just eight times, two fewer than closest rival Coventry (10).

Millwall have kept three shutouts on the bounce.

IN SAYING THAT…A WIN IN SE16 WAS OVERDUE

The Lions had not won at The Den since October 22, a timespan that sounds more dramatic because of the domestic break that coincided with the start of the World Cup in Qatar.

Home fixtures against Hull City, Wigan and Bristol City had all been drawn, so it was important that Millwall ended their wait for a maximum haul there.

The Lions were totally dominant against Rotherham and had 27 efforts – 11 on target – along with an 11-1 corner count. If this had been a boxing match then the referee would have stepped in long before the end. It was a one-sided battering.