Millwall's 2-2 draw with West Ham has left them 11th in the Championship, six points off the pace in a remarkably tight early-season title race. The result at The Den on Saturday 19 September means Millwall have 11 points from eight games, with a goal difference of zero after scoring and conceding 15 times. Their total of 15 goals scored equates to a rate of one goal every 48 minutes of play.
Only 17 points have been enough for Swansea to lead the division after eight matches, a figure that has historically been a weak foundation for promotion. Since the Championship adopted its current name in 2004, a team has topped the table with fewer than 17 points only once. That was Brighton in 2012, who finished fourth and lost in the play-offs. Of the six other sides that have led with 17 points, only Leeds in 2019-20 and Sheffield United in 2022-23 went on to win promotion, with three of the others failing to finish in the top ten.
This context shows how little separates the contenders, with just seven points between the top 15 sides. The league has seen a surge in goals, with 277 scored so far, the second-highest total at this stage since 2004 and 36 more than at the same point last season, despite one fewer match being played.
A significant number of those goals are coming from crosses. Forty-seven goals have originated from crosses this campaign, a rate only exceeded once in the past nine seasons. Forty-four of those have been headers, the most at this stage in five years. Throw-ins have also been unusually productive, yielding nine goals, the second-highest total in 14 seasons.
West Ham, the opponents Millwall held, have been a major part of the goal rush. Their four straight wins, including a 6-0 demolition of Wrexham, helped them score 22 goals across their opening eight league games, their highest tally in 93 years. They remain second despite being held by Millwall, for whom Caleb Taylor and Camiel Neghli scored. Lyndon Dykes, Millwall's top scorer with four goals this season, provided the assist for Neghli's effort.
Millwall's recent form shows one win, two draws and two defeats from their last five outings, a sequence that includes a 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough and a 3-1 loss at Blackburn. Their next fixture is an away trip to face Preston on 10 October. Preston currently sit 23rd in the table, making it a key opportunity for Millwall to build momentum. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
The early evidence suggests this Championship season could be one of the most unpredictable and high-scoring in recent memory, with Millwall firmly in the mid-table pack. Their ability to take points from promotion contenders like West Ham will be vital as they look ahead to their meeting with struggling Preston.
