Millwall Vs Birmingham — Performance shift sends Lions back to third as Femi Azeez inspires dominant win

Millwall Vs Birmingham produced a clear market move in the Championship table: a 3-0 home win that pushed Millwall back to third and re-energised their push to gatecrash the Premier League. Femi Azeez opened the scoring with a stunning volley — his eighth of the season — and then created both of the remaining goals as the Lions recovered from a recent home defeat to Portsmouth.

Millwall Vs Birmingham — what the table ripple looks like

The result moved Millwall back up to third, and one account places them just four points behind second-placed Middlesbrough. The victory also ended the Blues' eight-match unbeaten run in the league; other coverage noted Birmingham had arrived at The Den undefeated in nine and on the back of three successive away wins. The club-level implication is straightforward: Millwall responded quickly to a weekend loss and tightened their chase, while Birmingham leave south London with momentum disrupted and a numerical disadvantage after a sending-off.

How the three goals unfolded (embedded detail)

The opener arrived in the 25th minute when Zak Sturge punted the ball forward from halfway, Tristan Crama headed it back to the feet of Femi Azeez and Azeez pinged a sweet half-volley beyond James Beadle into the top corner. Millwall struck twice inside a six-minute spell before half-time: Azeez then curled a fierce 30-yard free kick which Beadle pushed onto the post and the rebound was finished by Crama.

Four minutes after the restart another Azeez free kick caused chaos. His floated delivery struck the back of Jhon Solis as Solis tried to duck under it, Crama kept the move alive on the byline and Jake Cooper turned the cut-back into a third goal for the Lions. The match ended 3-0, with Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson also notable for a full-length save to turn Jay Stansfield's shot around the post earlier in the game.

Disciplinary and near-miss incidents that shaped the night

• Colombian midfielder Jhon Solis was shown a second yellow card and sent off after a late challenge on Casper De Norre; the second booking followed the free-kick sequence that led to the third goal.
• Macaulay Langstaff was involved in a contentious moment when he appeared to be hauled down by Tomoki Iwata as he chased a long throw; referee Dean Whitestone did not award a penalty and Millwall players protested.
• Josh Coburn, back in the side after missing out through illness, headed over from close range while Camiel Neghli and Langstaff later went close to increasing the margin.

Manager perspective and the remaining run-in

After the match the manager warned that the squad had sometimes looked "a bit too far ahead" after the previous home game, urging the team to keep their feet on the ground and stay focused. He said that on their day they are a match for anyone and that there is "no ceiling on expectations" if they continue to win. He listed a challenging upcoming sequence with Ipswich away, Middlesbrough away, Hull away and Preston away as one of the club's toughest run-ins.

• Key takeaways: Millwall regained third and tightened the gap to second; Azeez was the clear match catalyst with a goal and two goal-creating moments; Birmingham's momentum was halted by the red card and a rare lacklustre performance away from home.
• Stakeholders affected include Millwall players and staff breathing new life into the promotion push, and Birmingham’s manager Chris Davies, who must reset after a stoppage in their run without defeat.
• Signals that will confirm the next turn: sustained wins from Millwall in the coming fixtures and whether Birmingham can arrest the slide with positive away results.

What’s easy to miss is how much of the scoreboard swing hinged on set-piece deliveries: two free-kick situations directly led to goals, underlining a tactical advantage Millwall exploited. The real question now is whether that momentum holds through the tough sequence the manager outlined.

Notable asides from the night: Teddy Sheringham was in the stand, linked in the coverage to Millwall's history by noting his presence in the team the last time the club were in the top flight, which was described as two years before the Premier League was formed. Details cut off in one match account leave a fragment about Jake Cooper's performance described only as "bri" — unclear in the provided context — rather than a completed appraisal.

Match location: The Den. Final score: Millwall 3-0 Birmingham City.