Alex Neil hails ‘excellent’ display from promotion-chasing Millwall

Alex Neil felt Millwall put in one of their best performances of the season after thumping in-form Birmingham 3-0.

Goals from Femi Azeez, Tristan Crama and Jake Cooper lifted the promotion-chasing Lions back up to third, just four points behind second-placed Middlesbrough.

Birmingham arrived in south London undefeated in nine and with three successive away wins, but they were swept aside at The Den as Millwall bounced back from Saturday’s shock home defeat by lowly Portsmouth.

The Blues also had Colombian midfielder Jhon Solis sent off early in the second half on an evening to forget.

“I’ve watched a lot of Birmingham and player for player they are one of the best teams in the league,” said Millwall boss Neil.

“So we had to be absolutely on it tonight to get a result – and I thought we were. We were excellent. The lads took every instruction and did it brilliantly.

“It’s entertaining to watch, high octane going forward, lots of tackles. That’s what Millwall at The Den should be.

“I thought we put in one of our best performances. We had a difficult day on Saturday, tonight was an excellent one.”

Millwall took the lead after 15 minutes when Zak Sturge punted the ball forward from halfway and Crama headed it back to the feet of Azeez, who pinged a sweet volley beyond James Beadle and into the top corner.

It was a strike Teddy Sheringham, in the stand watching the club where he began his career, would have been proud of.

Sheringham was in the team the last time Millwall were in the top flight, which was two years before the Premier League was formed, but on this evidence they have a genuine chance of getting back among the big boys.

They surged two in front five minutes later when Beadle touched Azeez’s 30-yard free-kick onto his left-hand post and Crama snaffled the rebound.

The Lions roared three ahead four minutes after half-time from another Azeez free-kick.

This one was floated deep to Crama, who kept the ball alive on the byline before cutting it back for captain Cooper to sweep home.

Things went from bad to worse for Birmingham when Solis was shown a second yellow card for a bad foul on Casper De Norre.

Blues boss Chris Davies said: “It was a disappointing evening for us. We didn’t do enough to get something from the match.

“What we didn’t withstand was the direct style of their play; the long balls, free-kicks, throw-ins, we were second best and if you are second best here you are not going to get anything.

“Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. It was timely reminder of what this league is.”