The Local Lowdown: Millwall

Millwall have consistently challenged for a place in the play-offs in recent years. How was last season viewed, having just missed out on the final day?

I think the bitter ending to last season, with the final day collapse against Blackburn Rovers, has ultimately soured the memory of what was otherwise a solid campaign.

Millwall dug out plenty of results when they weren't playing well, ran all over some teams at The Den and picked up a few decent away results.

It was no small feat to be just 45 minutes away from the play-offs given the teams the Lions were competing against.

How surprising was it to see Gary Rowett lose his job last month, and what was the fans’ reaction to the news?

The timing was more surprising than anything with Rowett departing with just a few days left of an international break – and just days before he was set to hit the date of his fourth year in charge at The Den.

The club have insisted the decision was mutual and the fact Rowett was giving interviews the day after he departed suggested that both sides genuinely thought it was for the best after such a long spell in charge. 

The reaction from fans was almost unanimous from those that I have spoken to and what I've seen on social media.

They almost all agreed that Rowett had moved the club forward and deserved credit for turning them into a solid, mid-table Championship team, and many also believed it was the right time to go in a different direction. 

Gary Rowett departed just days before his fourth anniversary in charge, and is yet to be replaced by a permanent manager

Saints fans will have been interested to see Nathan Jones linked with the vacancy. What’s the latest on Millwall’s search for a new manager?

It's not been a quiet week in Millwall's hunt for a new boss and several stories – some even contradicting each other – have emerged. Nathan Jones's candidacy coming to the forefront is particularly interesting given he was not really seen as among the frontrunners initially. 

His profile as a former Premier League manager – however briefly – at Southampton and the sterling work he did with Luton Town will be in his favour but some fans are wary of appointing the straight-talking 50-year-old.

Millwall are continuing to interview plenty of candidates and leaving no stone unturned in their search to get the right manager. It's the first appointment under chairman James Berylson too, following the tragic death of his father John in July, so the club's diligence is unsurprising. 

It's worth noting that Millwall don't generally bounce between managers like other Championship clubs, with Rowett and his predecessor Neil Harris both in charge for four years each, so the lengthy recruitment process will all be to hopefully find a long-term successor.

How would you describe the team’s performances this season?

It's been a real mixed bag of a season so far. The best performance was the 3-0 win over Rotherham United in September, but the Millers were dreadful that evening at The Den. 

The worst performance was probably the 3-1 defeat at Norwich City, but the Canaries were fantastic at pulling Millwall apart during that sunny afternoon in August. 

This is a team capable of scrapping for points and being clinical in games where they don't have loads of chances, and Millwall's impressive away record is testament to that. 

But at home, there's been this uncomfortable theme of Millwall being outplayed and out-passed by more technical teams and not being able to deal with it. Southampton, therefore, is probably not the opponent they would want to face next. 

Dutchman Zian Flemming was influential in Millwall's play-off push last season, and has an eye for goal from long range

Which players have stood out, and who should Saints be wary of?

Zian Flemming is beginning to hit the marvellous form we saw for much of last season and now has four goals in his last eight games. If Southampton can take him out of the game, you get the feeling half the job is done. 

Striker Tom Bradshaw will happily spend all afternoon chasing down players in possession and loose balls, so Southampton will have to be sharp playing out from the back on Saturday.

Meanwhile, holding midfielder Casper De Norre has been a fantastic signing so far and is a joy to watch, while Arsenal loanee wing-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy can be difficult to stop when he gets going. 

A special mention to the young 20-year-old forward Aidomo Emakhu as well. He has started two games under caretaker boss Adam Barrett and offers the side something different with his pace and how direct he is.

He may be in the starting line-up on Saturday purely because of how effective he will be on the counter-attack. 

How will Millwall approach Saturday’s game, and what sort of atmosphere should the travelling Saints fans expect? 

Expect Millwall to sit in, bide their time and let Southampton have the ball in areas they don't deem as dangerous. 

The Lions will of course use set-pieces and a few long balls to try and unsettle their opponents but it's unfair to characterise the style of play as just that.

Players like De Norre can spot the smallest gaps and Millwall, to their credit, are good at sniffing blood and overloading the box in a way that can destabilise opposition teams. 

The atmosphere at The Den has not, in truth, been at its usual bullish temperature this season but you can hardly blame the fans. Millwall have lost seven of their last 10 home games going back to April, a devastating statistic for a club that prides itself on making away teams suffer.

You can now actively feel the anxiety and tension in the stadium whenever things aren't going Millwall's way and it's up to the players to deal with that pressure.