A quick turnaround in fixtures sees City head to the capital for the first time this season as they make the trip to The Den to face Millwall on Saturday 17 October (12.30pm KO).
Read the key stats and information as well as the pre-match thoughts of Imps’ head coach, Chris Cohen, ahead of clash with the Lions.
Opposition Information
Alex Neil’s side find themselves 11th in the division after 10 games, managing to collect 14 points over that period with four wins, two draws and four defeats. In their four most recent fixtures they have drawn 2-2 with Middlesbrough as well as sharing the points with their fiercest rivals, West Ham, by the same scoreline. Following their point against the Hammers they travelled to Deepdale and emerged with all three points from a struggling Preston North End side courtesy of Camiel Neghli before most recently hosting the league leaders, Swansea City and falling narrowly to a 1-0 defeat with Ronald scoring the decisive goal for the Swans.
The aforementioned Camiel Neghli has been a standout performer for the Lions throughout the duration of the current campaign, featuring in all 10 of his side’s games and netting three goals and providing a further two. The Algerian midfielder is heading into his third campaign in the English capital, playing in every game last season as Millwall made it all the way to the play-off semi-final before falling to Hull City who eventually earnt promotion to the topflight with success over Middlesbrough. He joined from Dutch outfit, Sparta Rotterdam, where he spent two years of his career and managed 11 goals and three assists over a span of 51 games.
Lyndon Dykes have also had a fast start to the season scoring four goals over the opening 10 games including a brace against Bolton Wanderers as well as goals against both Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough. He is one of the new faces at The Den this season have made the short journey from Charlton Athletic where he played his football last season, netting just three times. Prior to his time in London, Dykes also spent two seasons playing for Birmingham City after leaving Queens Park Rangers where he spent a large portion of his career, making 165 appearances for the R’s and scoring 37 goals over the four years. His most fruitful campaign came in the 2020/21 season where he contributed to 17 goals throughout the course of the season.
Chris Cohen said: “Away at Millwall is a really difficult football match but as always, we know if we can hopefully but the right game plan together and if we can implement what we know our players are capable of doing then we back ourselves to get a result against anyone, of course we know how difficult it’s going to be down there but it’s the same process as always.”
Incredible support
Despite a duo of tough results, the way the fans have stuck behind the lads have been exceptional especially in the final minutes against West Ham, it was the Imps fans you could hear loudest of all and Chris Cohen spoke on both his and the whole club’s appreciation for the support of the fans on a weekly basis.
He said: “It was an incredible experience, the number of fans that stayed because up and down the country when a scoreline goes against a team, droves of fans leave but I thought the amount of fans that stayed and the reception they gave the players and staff at the end of the game was magnificent.
“We’re incredibly appreciative of the fans all the time and in the moments where both us and the players need them the most, they were there for them which is really important.”
H2H
The last time the Imps travelled down south to face Millwall and emerged victorious was May 1984 when City won by a scoreline of 2-0. The first goal came after 50 minutes when John Fashanu scored, Fashanu spent one season with the Imps where he featured 34 times and netted 11 goals before moving on to go and play for the Lions for two seasons. The second goal was scored late in the game by attacker, Gordon Hobson a man who featured 333 times in red and white strips spread over two stints where he scored 96 goals.
The only other time these two sides have met in London, and it has been the Imps who came out on top was when City advanced to round two of the FA Cup in the first meeting between the two sides in 1921. City then went onto to suffer a 1-0 defeat against Fulham after forcing as replay in the leg played at home. However, City did hold the Lions to a point in 1982 when in the capital as a George Shipley goal for the Imps cancelled out an early own goal from Trevor Peake.
Match information
City will once again sport their gaming-inspired third kit as they face off with Millwall - - you can get yours HERE.
Ruebyn Ricardo will be the man in charge for Saturday afternoon’s game with his assistants being Edward Smart and Callum Gough and rounding out the officiating team is fourth official, Thomas Parsons.
Legendary broadcaster, John Helm, will be joined by Sam Habergham as they provide the commentary for Imps+ - check out your streaming options HERE.
