Millwall beat Stoke 3-1, climb to second for automatic promotion

Former Stoke boss Alex Neil see im Millwall side move back into Championship top two and guarantee play-off place with 3-1 win at bet365 Stadium.

Camiel Neghli fire the Londoners into first-half lead before Femi Azeez ninth goal of season make am 2-0 after 55 minutes.

A Caleb Taylor own goal on the hour make Neil and im team sweat before Josh Coburn wrap up the points with 69th-minute strike, punishing some sloppy home defending.

Millwall win lift dem three points above third-placed Ipswich, wey go travel to Charlton on Wednesday.

Stoke, wey dem season of promise dey fade rapidly with only two wins now from last 10 games, hand first starts to academy duo Pijus Otegbayo and fellow 18-year-old defender Syd Agina.

The Potters almost take 12th-minute lead but Anthony Patterson smartly turn away shot from Robert Bozenik, making im first start since January 1.

Millwall quickly counter and Coburn miss im first chance of night after inviting cross from Tristan Crama.

Neghli, however, show am how to finish after 20 minutes, netting for second successive match.

Zak Sturge provide opportunity with teasing centre from left and when Eric Bocat no fit sort out im feet to clear, Neghli curl in superb rising left-foot drive.

E suppose be two four minutes later. This time Neghli turn provider but Coburn contrive to blaze over from seven yards.

Four minutes from half-time, Crama misplaced pass provide unexpected chance for Lewis Baker but on-loan Sunderland keeper Patterson equal to City skipper 25-yarder.

Patterson beat after 48 minutes but im right-hand upright keep out Tatsuki Seko volley after Millwall fail to clear Baker corner.

Stoke keep up pressure and Patterson intervene to deny Million Manhoef.

There be relief among 1,302 travelling fans when Azeez double the Lions advantage.

There look little danger when highly-prized winger pick up pass just outside penalty area but im fiercely-struck left-foot shot prove too hot to handle for keeper Gavin Bazunu.

Stoke hit back immediately with aid of slice of luck. With im first touch, substitute Lamine Cisse dink ball into six-yard box and Taylor unintentional touch wrong-foot Patterson.

But Coburn make am third time lucky after Bocat gift ball to Neghli to claim im 10th goal of season.

Stoke Mark Robins: “I dey sick of teams wey come here and look ordinary and take points. This na team wey dey go for automatic promotion so e give me plenty food for thought. E don dey poor for a while. Summer no fit come soon enough, dat one sure. Too many dey choose not to give everything. I get plenty to do. E no good enough so you must change things and change way you go about am. Na season wey promise so much at start and don deliver nothing. E really difficult to get excited about. In interim we don get decent performances for season wey no pan out to level we want.”

Millwall Alex Neil: “We go fight to end and see where e take us. Na biggest achievement club don get for last 24 or 25 years and we still get two games to play. We get our eye on wetin next two games look like. We need to try and win those games and make we see wetin happen elsewhere. Fact we dey for fight for automatic promotion na incredible achievement for this team, this club and everyone wey dem connect with am. If we end up for play-offs we go give am our best shot. Plenty things to like about this team and I dey privileged I get this opportunity to coach dem. For us to dey on 79 points (Millwall second highest second-tier tally) with two games remaining don be dream season for us for terms of wetin our expectations suppose be.”