Southampton's winless run stretched to five matches as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Millwall at St Mary's to begin 2026. The hosts enjoyed long spells of possession but mustered only two shots on target and relied largely on set-pieces for their threat. Millwall, without a recognised striker after Mihailo Ivanovic's injury earlier in the week, grew into the contest on the counter and created some of the game's clearest openings, yet they too lacked the composure to finish. A combination of errant finishing and strong goalkeeping from Gavin Bazunu and Max Crocombe ensured both sides had to settle for a point.
The stalemate leaves Alex Neil's Lions with just one win in six games and sitting seventh, outside the play-off places only on goal difference, while Tonda Eckert's Southampton are winless in five and stuck in mid-table with a seven-point deficit to make up on the top six. Both managers spoke of mixed feelings at full-time: Eckert balanced frustration at late chances spurned with satisfaction over another clean sheet and the impact of his rotated squad during a hectic run of fixtures, while Neil hailed a "great performance" from an injury-hit group that he felt had carved out the better opportunities.
Millwall's bright start tests Southampton's resolve
Millwall made the sharper start and almost stunned the hosts inside two minutes when Femi Azeez burst down the right and fizzed a low cross right through the six-yard box, with no team-mate able to apply the decisive touch. The visitors, who had altered their shape once more under Neil and were operating without a recognised striker, pressed aggressively from the front and had another opening in the sixth minute when Macauley Langstaff's deep cross found Ryan Leonard, only for Leonard's header to drift tamely across goal.