Alex Neil hails ‘incredible effort’ as injury-hit Millwall go third

Alex Neil hailed his “incredible” Millwall side after they moved up to third in the Championship despite a relentless injury crisis.

The patched-up Lions secured a third straight win, 2-0 against fellow high-flyers Stoke at The Den.

Flying winger Femi Azeez grabbed his third goal in three matches before French defender Tristan Crama hit his first for the club in a sweet victory for boss Neil against his former club.

But the injuries are still piling up. Will Smallbone became the latest victim when the Southampton loanee pulled up clutching his hamstring in the first half.

Massimo Luongo was added to the casualty list against Wrexham at the weekend – Neil revealed the Australian is out for the season with an ACL injury – while Billy Mitchell was ruled out against the Potters by illness and Macaulay Langstaff due to concussion.

“We nearly had a full squad a few days ago but since then about five players have fallen over,” said Neil.

“It’s an incredible effort from the players to be where we are considering how many injuries we have had.

“Will’s hurt his hamstring which is a blow. I don’t know how serious it is yet.

“We beat a good side tonight. They were third before tonight and we deserved to win.

“It’s a good start but that’s all it is. We certainly won’t get carried away.”

Stoke arrived in south London unbeaten in four matches and with the Championship’s meanest defence.

But it was breached in the 10th minute when Ballo crossed from the left and Azeez arrived at the far post to head into an empty net.

Potters defender Junior Tchamadeu was on the deck claiming he had suffered a head injury in the build-up, but the goal stood.

It was a landmark goal for the Lions as well, their 6,000th in the league.

Ten minutes later the hosts doubled their lead from down the same flank, Ballo chasing a long ball to the byline and cutting it back for Crama to lash home.

Stoke wilted badly in the second half and the Lions could have had more.

Mihailo Ivanovic pounced on Ben Wilmott’s short back-pass to tee up a glorious chance for Ballo, but he blazed his shot over the crossbar.

Potters boss Mark Robins said: “It was a tough night. Really poor.

“The first goal there was a high foot on Junior – but if you don’t get the foul you have to deal with it and we didn’t.

“We’ve got to get those details right. After the second goal we were trying to chase it.”