With the hosts failing to pick up any points since their opening day win against Middlesbrough, Millwall would look to return to winning ways against a high-flying Stoke City side that have won two of their first three games this term.
MIL: Sarkic; Cooper, Hutchinson, Leonard; Bryan, Saville, Mitchell, Norton-Cuffy; Flemming; Nisbet, Bradshaw
STO: Travers; Stevens, Wilmot, McNally; Tymon, Johnson, Laurent, Thompson, Hoever; Vidigal, Wesley
It took 25 minutes or so for the first real chance to appear at The Den, with Flemming’s low free-kick saved well by Travers – but the following clearance was poor, and the visitors’ blushes were spared when Saville’s shot deflected wide of the woodwork.
With just seven minutes remaining before the half-time interval, it was the hosts that took the lead through Nisbet. A long throw-in fell courteously for the forward, who slotted a simple effort into the bottom-right corner.
But a quadruple change was made at half-time, allowing Stoke to grow back into the game – though Vidigal’s tame effort at the goalkeeper was a disappointing culmination for a promising attacking move. It would ultimately be the only moment of note in a subpar second half, allowing the hosts to claim all three points.
Having been comprehensively defeated by Reading in the last round of the Carabao Cup, there’ll be no midweek action for Millwall – so their attention turns to next Saturday’s clash against Birmingham City. Stoke City must ready themselves for a Tuesday night clash with Rotherham United at the bet365 Stadium.
