Football League World
·7 November 2024
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·7 November 2024
The Lions striker was full of praise for Millwall fans after the club's 1-0 victory over Leeds at The Den on Wednesday night.
Macualay Langstaff took to his Instagram account to praise Millwall supporters after the Lion's ran out 1-0 winners over Leeds United at The Den on Wednesday evening.
Japhet Tanganga's 40th minute volley was enough to secure the three points in midweek, in a game where Langstaff was replaced by Middlesbrough loanee Josh Coburn just after the hour mark.
That victory over Daniel Farke's side stretched Millwall's Championship unbeaten run to six games, and meant that Neil Harris' team recorded their fourth win on the bounce.
Langstaff, who is enjoying life in his first season as a Millwall player so far this term, took to his social media to praise the atmosphere created at The Den on Wednesday night.
It's fair to say that there aren't many more hostile and tough environments to walk into as the opposition side in the Championship than under the lights, at The Den.
Millwall supporters play a huge role in making it one of the toughest places for side to pick up points from in the division, and that was on full display once again on Wednesday night.
The place was rocking, especially during the second half, as Lion's fans willed their team on to a huge three points, as it was an atmosphere that their players clearly responded to.
Posting via his Instagram after the win, Millwall striker Langstaff said: "What a win, atmosphere was incredible! Four on the bounce."
Langstaff completed his move to Millwall from League Two side Notts County in July, penning a long-term contract with the football club. The 27-year-old bagged an amazing 71 goals in 96 appearances for the Magpies, and before that, he'd been firing them in for non-league side Gateshead.
Those goals earned him three consecutive golden boot awards across both League Two and non-league level, and earned him the nickname the 'non-league Haaland', at a time when he was matching the Manchester City star's goal-record playing for Notts County.
It's been a steadier start to his Millwall career on that front, with just one goal from his opening 16 appearances in all competitions, but he has contributed two assists in the league, and making the leap from League Two to the Championship was always going to take some adjusting to.
Over the last few years, whilst Millwall may yet to have registered a play-off finish since their return to the Championship in 2017, few clubs have been more consistently challenging in the top-half of the table than the Lions have.
Despite one dance with danger in 2018/19 which saw them finish 21st, over the last seven seasons the club have finished eighth three times, ninth, 11th and 13th respectively.
Operating on a smaller transfer budget than the majority of the division, Millwall may not have the flashiest squad of players, but they work and battle for one another, they're physical, well-organised, and as such, very tough to beat.
Harris' side aren't conceding goals, which has instilled a confidence and belief among the players that if they can get that first goal in a match, then they can defend that one-goal lead if needs be.
We've seen sides like this secure promotion in the past, Aitor Karanka's Middlesbrough side that won automatic promotion with a second place finish in 2015/16 being one example.
That Boro team scored just 63 goals that season, a tally that was less than every single one of the other clubs that finished in the top-six that season, but Karanka's side conceded just 31 times - that was less than any team in the Premier League conceded in that same season too.
As their fans sing, they won't care if their side aren't the most exciting and pulsating to watch from an attacking perspective, they'll happily keep frustrating sides and totting up 1-0 wins all the way until May if they could.
Strength in depth and injuries may well have something to say yet, but the early signs are extremely positive for Millwall, and they look to be a team to write off at one's own peril.