Meet the opposition | Millwall
As Swansea City prepare to host Millwall at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday (3pm), we take a closer look at the Lions.
What's their story?
A top-flight side in the late 1980s - with the likes of Teddy Sheringham and Tony Cascarino in their side - Millwall were relegated in 1990 and have been floating around the second and third divisions of English football ever since.
They have played in the Championship or League One since their days in the top-tier, most recently being in the third tier between 2015 and 2017.
Neil Harris guided them back to the Championship in 2017, following the disappointment of play-off defeat to Barnsley at Wembley 12 months earlier.
The Lions had a respectable first season back in the second-tier, securing an eighth-place finish, and finished just above the drop zone last term.
They are currently 15th in the standings this season.
How’s their form?
Recovering. Millwall made an encouraging start with two wins and a draw from their first three games.
However, they then endured a run of eight games with victory in all competitions, a sequence which led Harris to resign.
Since Gary Rowett took over they have taken three wins in six games, including successes against Leeds and Charlton.
Those wins game at home, and the Lions are yet to win on their travels in the Championship this season.
Who’s the boss?
Gary Rowett. The former Burton, Birmingham and Derby manager left Stoke halfway through last season as the club struggling to deal with the fall-out of relegation from the Premier League, but has returned to management with Millwall following the resignation of Neil Harris.
Ex-defender Rowett played for the likes of Everton, Derby, Birmingham and Leicester across a 16-year career as a professional.
He finished his playing career at Burton before moving into the dugout at the Pirelli Stadium, initially as Paul Peschisolido’s assistant and then as the main man.
He twice led the Brewers to the League Two play-off final before leaving for Birmingham, where he appeared to be doing a fine job before being surprisingly axed.
Rowett then steered Derby to the Championship play-offs before making the ultimately ill-fated move to the Potteries, which ended after eight months with the club having taken just eight wins from 26 league games.
Who are the key men?
Wales international striker Tom Bradshaw has enjoyed an excellent season so far after making his loan move from Barnsley permanent back in January.
He has seven goals from 17 appearances in all competitions and is the Lions top scorer, while ex-QPR man Matt Smith has been bringing a physical presence off the bench.
Midfielder Jed Wallace has also shown himself adept at getting among the goals having netted six this term, already surpassing his tally from the 2018-19 campaign.
In goal, the London club acquired Bartosz Bialkowski on loan from relegated Ipswich, while Shaun Hutchinson has proved a reliable operator at the back since being brought into the side at the end of September.
