Millwall's opening weekend gave the club exactly what it needed. A 2-0 win away at Bristol City, with Josh Coburn scoring twice, provided a convincing answer to the question that had been hanging over The Den all summer: how do you shake off the heartbreak of falling so close to promotion?

According to BBC Radio London's Phil Parry, head coach Alex Neil has handled the psychological reset with calm authority. "With a little bit of freshening up and the experience Alex has got, I think he has just dealt with it and they've got back on the horse," Parry observed. That is not nothing. Play-off near-misses have broken squads before; a composed, professional response in the opening fixture at least suggests the dressing room is pointed in the right direction.

The Den test

Saturday's home match against Norwich City raises the stakes considerably. Norwich, tipped by many as genuine contenders this season, finished last campaign strongly under Philippe Clement. They arrive in south London with momentum of their own and with expectations firmly attached. Millwall's supporters will be ready for it; a first home game of the season against a direct rival for the top places is exactly the kind of fixture that stirs The Den into something formidable.

Parry's assessment is straightforward: six points from the opening two games would genuinely shift the mood around the club. "I think, genuinely, excitement will start to build," he said. That is a fair claim. A winning start removes doubt and gives a squad confidence that no pre-season friendly can manufacture. The caveat, of course, is that one good result does not a season make, and Norwich represent a significantly sterner examination than last weekend's opponents.

Injuries and the transfer picture

Context matters here. Neil is working with a squad that is not yet at full strength; the source notes that Millwall have some injuries at present. Getting three points at Ashton Gate under those conditions is an encouraging signal, but it also means the Norwich match may still be contested without everyone available. The margin for error at Championship level is thin enough even with a full complement.

The transfer window adds another layer of uncertainty. Femi Azeez has been linked with moves away, with Brighton and Hull City mentioned in reports, but Parry's reading of the situation is that Millwall will not sell unless a bid meets their valuation. If a sale did happen, the club would look to reinvest. That is a reasonable approach; protecting your key assets while remaining open to an upgrade elsewhere is sensible business. Supporters will understandably want the window closed with the squad strengthened rather than depleted, and the outcome of that particular subplot could shape how Neil's side look in a few weeks' time.

The bigger picture

It is worth keeping a sense of proportion. The play-offs expand to eight clubs this season, which broadens the path to Wembley for sides who can string together consistent runs rather than dominating from wire to wire. Millwall, on Parry's reading, should be fine for a top-half finish at minimum. The ambition, though, is clearly higher than that after last season's heartbreak.

Neil knows the territory. He has managed clubs at this level before, and he understands that early results carry weight in a division where confidence and table position interact constantly. A win over Norwich would not guarantee anything, but it would establish a credible early statement of intent. A defeat would not be a crisis, but it would invite exactly the kind of questions about momentum that a second-season-syndrome narrative thrives on.

The honest position is this: Saturday is one game in a 46-match slog. But it is the kind of one game that supporters remember in April, when six points can be the difference between a top-six place and an anxious run-in. Millwall have answered the first question of the season. The second arrives at The Den on Saturday morning.

Frequently asked

When do Millwall play Norwich City this season?
Millwall host Norwich City at The Den on Saturday in what is Millwall's first home game of the 2026-27 Championship season, scheduled as an early kick-off.
Is Femi Azeez leaving Millwall?
According to reports, Femi Azeez has been linked with moves to Brighton and Hull City, but Millwall are said to be holding firm unless a bid meets their valuation. No deal has been confirmed.
How did Millwall start the 2026-27 Championship season?
Millwall began with a 2-0 away win at Bristol City, with Josh Coburn scoring twice, giving them three points from their opening fixture.