It has been a case of one step forward, two steps back for Millwall this season. Following three consecutive losses in all competitions in August, the Lions thought they might be starting to turn a corner with victory over Stoke City. However, since then, they have been unable to really get going in the league.
It was such an indifferent start that led to the departure of Gary Rowett, who left by mutual consent during the recent international break. Millwall had cemented themselves as a top mid-table side under Rowett, finishing no lower than 11th in Englands second tier.
The stumbling block in Rowetts tenure was Millwalls inability to finish inside the playoff spots. They had looked dead certs to do so last season, occupying a position in the top six for the majority of the campaign, only to falter towards the tail end of the season. The Lions ultimately finished eighth.
Prior to the start of this 2023/24 campaign, expectations at The Den were to go one step further and improve on last seasons finishing. However, at the time of writing, Millwall sit 14th in the EFL Championship and are the divisions third-lowest scorers.
In this tactical analysis, we will assess Millwalls inconsistent start to the season and compare it with previous campaigns. We will also provide analysis of the tactics imposed by Rowett to determine why the London side has struggled at home this season, as well as its impact on team performances.
An underwhelming start
Rowett arrived at The Den in October 2019 and, until his departure, had been the second longest-serving manager in the Championship, behind Coventry Citys Mark Robins. Rowetts Millwall often struggled for goals, but their strengths lay in their defensive play, as they were a hard team to beat.
Millwalls strong defensive performances during Rowetts time are shown in the above table. It is noticeable, however, that Millwalls goals against per match rate had increased marginally this season. This, coupled with low scoring rates – at lower levels than in previous seasons – has contributed to a slow start for the East London side.
The plot above evaluates the performance of clubs in the EFL C
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