Norwich City travelled to The Den this weekend still searching for their first Championship points of the season, while Millwall looked to back up an opening 2-0 win at Bristol City.
The match arrived at an important early stage for both clubs. Norwich were trying to steady themselves after a controversial loss to West Brom last weekend, and Millwall came in with a little more confidence after making a strong start under Alex Neil.
Norwich looking to reset quickly
For Norwich City, the timing of the trip to Millwall made it a useful test of recovery. The Canaries were still without a Championship point, and the game offered a chance to put an early setback behind them before the season moved on.
The build-up was not straightforward, though. Norwich have been dealing with multiple injury and fitness issues, including ACL and ankle problems, which has made selection more difficult. Earlier in the week, Anthony Musaba completed a loan move from Fenerbahce, while Papa Amadou Diallo returned from injury last weekend.
That combination of new arrivals and returning players meant Norwich had reasons to think their squad picture could improve, but the underlying challenge remained the same: they needed points, and they needed them quickly.
Millwall’s strong start and history with Norwich
Millwall entered the game after a 2-0 win at Bristol City last weekend, a result that helped set the tone for their home campaign. Alex Neil’s side also had recent belief from the bigger picture, having narrowly missed automatic promotion last season before losing in the play-offs to Hull.
There was also a notable historical angle to the fixture. Between 2002 and 2023, Millwall won the same number of league games against Norwich City across 22 attempts as they did in their past five meetings. That backdrop underlined how competitive this matchup has often been, even when the league table suggests one side should have the edge.
Norwich’s last visit to the fixture also offered a reminder that the teams have not been easy to separate. In April, Norwich City beat Millwall 2-1, which gave the visitors some recent encouragement even if the current circumstances were different.
Whether Norwich could leave The Den with a first Championship point depended on how well they handled Millwall’s early momentum and their own fitness concerns. For Millwall, the task was simpler: keep the strong start going and use home advantage to build another positive result.
