Having defeated Middlesbrough in the North-East on the opening weekend, Gary Rowett would have felt that his Millwall squad were perfectly placed to maintain a promotion push this season.
However, the 4-0 EFL Cup defeat to Reading that followed has shaken the Lions, who have since suffered back-to-back league losses versus Bristol City and Norwich City.
Three defeats on the spin have left Rowett to contemplate ways that he can strengthen his crop of players before the end of the summer transfer window, yet focus must remain on the current members to end their ongoing dismal streak.
A total of eight goals have been conceded in the aforementioned three fixtures, those being shipped in succession before a last-minute consolation at Carrow Road.
At a time when Millwall are having to go back to the drawing board, Stoke – one of Rowett’s former clubs – appear to be in a good place after an array of arrivals over the summer.
Losing tamely to current leaders Ipswich Town would have concerned Alex Neil, even though there was an acknowledgement that he had got his tactics wrong in East Anglia.
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That remains the solitary blip, though, with Stoke winning three fixtures in a row at the bet365 Stadium, their league victories coming against Rotherham Unied and Watford.
The Hornets had not conceded a goal in the Championship before Andre Vidigal netted the only strike in the latter encounter last weekend.
Neil must now learn from the mistakes made at Portman Road to show that Stoke are adaptable on their travels with this squad looking strong enough in quality and depth to last the pace in 2023-24.
