Portsmouth get a huge survival boost with first win at Millwall since 2010

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Millwall missed the chance to close the gap on the automatic promotion places after falling to a 3-1 defeat at home to Portsmouth.

Alex Neil made three changes to the side that came from behind to beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Hillsborough last weekend. The biggest news was the change between the sticks, with loanee Anthony Patterson coming in for Max Crocombe. It was the first time since October 2025, in a 3-0 win over West Brom, that Crocombe had not started for Millwall; it had been a run of 23 consecutive matches. The other two changes were Tom Watson and Mihailo Ivanovic in for Barry Bannan and Josh Coburn.

Millwall starting 11:

Anthony Patterson; Tristian Crama (82) , Jake Cooper, Caleb Taylor, Alfie Doughty (81); Billy Mitchell, Camiel Neghli, Caspar De Norre (82); Femi Azeez (82) Mihalio Ivanovic, Tom Watson (61)

Max Crocombe; Ryan Leonard (82), Zak Sturge (81); Barry Bannan (82), Derek-Mazou Sacko, Luke Cundle, Macaulay Langstaff (61), Raees Bangura-Williams; Thierno Ballo (82).

After getting a vital 3-1 win at relegation rivals, Charlton Athletic, last Tuesday, John Mousinho named the same eleven that won at the Valley.

Portsmouth starting 11:

Nicolas Schmid; Terry Devlin, Regan Poole, Connor Oglivie; Marlon Pack, Ebou Adams; John Swift (70), Gustavo Caballero (86), Millenic Alli; Colby Bishop.

Josef Bursik; Ibane Bowat, Jordan Williams, Madiodio Dia; Luke Le Roux, Adrian Segecic (70); Harvey Blair, Jacob Brown (86).

The Lions have lost just one of their last 10 matches in the Championship (1-2 to Coventry City), though Pompey won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in November , and they are looking to complete the double over them for the first time since 2002/03 when Harry Redknapp was in the dugout.

The opening five minutes had a fast intensity; neither side was willing to give the other an inch of space to work in.

Portsmouth had the first effort on target in the game, Gustavo Caballero's shot from outside the box forcing Anthony Patterson to tip the ball over.

Millwall's first big chance fell to the man you would want it to, Femi Azeez. His powerful effort took a deflection and was caught by Nicolas Schmid.

The hosts began to take control of the game, and a foul from Millenic Alli forced a free kick in a dangerous area, as well as a yellow card. However, Alfie Doughty smashed the free-kick high and wide.

Having soaked up all the pressure in the first 22 minutes, Pompey had a chance to attack themselves through Alli, the Irishman fired it across the six-yard box, but no white shirt was there to connect with it.

Millwall put a lot of crosses into the box in the first 35 minutes, but pretty much all of them had come to nothing so far.

A wonderful cross from Camiel Neghli was met by the head of Millwall's skipper, Jake Cooper, but he could only direct it straight into Schmid's hands.

John Swift's effort flying high into the stands summed up the play in the final third during the first half. There was good build-up play, but a clear lack of quality.

Portsmouth came out of the break flying and took the lead within seconds of the restart, Gustavo Caballero dashing through, and despite having the initial effort stopped by Patterson, he fired the rebound into the roof of the net. It was a big goal for Mousinho's side in their survival push.

Pompey doubled their lead ten minutes later to the shock of everyone in the home end; the away end could not believe it.

Alli had been brilliant throughout the game, and he drove once more at the backline before smashing the ball across the goal. It was only cleared as far as the penalty spot, where John Swift was waiting to fire the visitors into a 2-0 lead.

Considering Millwall spent most of the first half controlling the game, the opening ten minutes of the second were certainly eye-opening for everyone.

The hosts pulled one back in the 63rd minute, Caspar De Norre bending one into the left corner. They had been masking mistakes since going 2-0 down, so this goal was exactly what they needed.

Portsmouth nearly made it 3-1 immediately when a header from ... was tipped over brilliantly by Patterson.

They did make it 3-1 from the following corner when it bounced around and fell to the skipper, Marlon Pack, who, like Swift, smashed home from just a few yards out. Once more, the home end was silenced.

Millwall had offered nothing in an attacking sense since the goal, and looked set for defeat at home for the first time since December, and just the second time since the beginning of October.

Zak Sturge fired a first-time volley wide in added time; it pretty much summed up Millwall's second-half performance.

Middlesbrough drew 0-0 at home to Oxford United, meaning that Millwall missed the opportunity to close the gap to three points.

Pompey moved 6 points clear of Leicester City in 22nd following the Foxes' 0-0 draw with Stoke at lunchtime.

Next up for Alex Neil's side was a midweek home fixture against Birmingham City.