In a thrilling encounter at The Den, Millwall secured a decisive 3-1 victory over Norwich City on April 21, 2025, marking a significant turnaround for the Lions after a challenging period. The match saw the return of Japhet Tanganga to the starting lineup, his first appearance since suffering a hand injury against Portsmouth earlier this month. Partnering him in central defense was Jake Cooper, while Tristan Crama shifted to right-back, and Zak Sturge made his first start since joining on loan from Chelsea.
Millwall's academy goalkeeper George Evans took the place of Lukas Jensen, who is sidelined with an Achilles injury, and Liam Roberts, who is still recovering from a knock. The Lions were without key midfielders George Honeyman and Billy Mitchell, both missing due to injuries, which opened the door for George Saville to start alongside Luke Cundle in midfield.
From the outset, Millwall looked determined to make an impact. They struck early, with Mihailo Ivanovic finding the back of the net in the 8th minute. The goal came about after a defensive error from Norwich's Jose Cordoba, whose careless flick allowed Millwall to launch a counterattack. Femi Azeez delivered a low cross that inadvertently deflected off Ivanovic's shins, putting the home side ahead.
Norwich, who were seeking redemption after a disheartening 5-3 defeat to Portsmouth, struggled to find their rhythm. They had a brief moment of hope when Josh Sargent, returning from injury, made a promising run but ultimately shot wide. Their first real chance came in the 32nd minute when Jacob Wright's brilliant pass set up Borja Sainz, who laid it off for Sargent, but the American’s curling shot missed the target.
Just before the half-time whistle, Millwall doubled their lead. Azeez scored with a simple header from a George Saville free-kick in the 39th minute, leaving the Canaries trailing 2-0 at the break. However, Norwich managed to pull one back in stoppage time, with Shane Duffy scoring from a corner delivered by Wright, making it 2-1 just before half-time.
As the second half began, Millwall quickly regained control. Despite Norwich's attempts to push forward, Millwall's defense held firm, and the Lions created several chances. Azeez and Saville both came close to extending the lead before Ivanovic scored his second goal of the match in the 69th minute, again from a Saville delivery. This time, Ivanovic flicked the ball into the far corner, sealing a comfortable victory for Millwall.
With this win, Millwall aimed to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, while Norwich City found themselves languishing in 14th place in the Championship. The Canaries' struggles continued, as they have now failed to win any of their last four away league games against London teams, a stark contrast to their previous success against Millwall.
In terms of match statistics, Millwall dominated the game with 16 shots to Norwich's 3, and they had 5 shots on target compared to Norwich's solitary effort. The attendance at The Den was recorded at 16,426, with 2,766 Norwich fans making the trip.
After the match, Millwall's head coach Alex Neil expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, particularly praising the resilience shown by his players amidst injury challenges. Meanwhile, Norwich's head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup faced questions about his squad's motivation and ability to bounce back after several disappointing results.
Millwall's lineup featured Evans in goal, with a back four of Crama, Tanganga, Cooper, and Sturge. The midfield comprised Cundle, Saville, and Azeez, while Coburn and Ivanovic led the attack. On the bench were Przewozny, Connolly, Wintle, Kelly, Langstaff, Leonard, Emakhu, Harding, and Matthews.
Norwich City, meanwhile, fielded Reyes in goal, supported by a defense of Stacey, Duffy, Cordoba, and McLean. Their midfield included Wright, Nunez, and Marcondes, while Schwartau, Sainz, and Sargent formed the attacking trio. The substitutes for the Canaries were Long, Doyle, McConville, Sorensen, Gibbs, Forson, Slimane, Hernandez, and Jones.
As the season winds down, both teams will be looking to build on this performance for their remaining matches. Millwall's victory today not only boosts their confidence but also serves as a reminder of their potential as they chase a playoff spot, while Norwich City must regroup and find a way to halt their troubling form.
