The Will Scott Column: Depleted Millwall impress at Boro &#8211; with West Ham clash looming

LAST night's performance was exactly what Millwall needed to get back on course after a tricky few weeks.

A ridiculous injury crisis, difficult schedule and more late transfer drama had all conspired to derail the Lions' brilliant four-wins-in-four start to the season.

The lengthy injury list has already been discussed ad infinitum, but suffice to say it has severely curtailed Alex Neil's tactical options and ability to rotate players and keep them fresh.

He has essentially had to trot out the same starting eleven in the past four games, and while that has seen some already on their way to cult hero status (Jordi Osei-Tutu, Lyndon Dykes, Tairyk Arconte), it has not been conducive to picking up results.

That same tired eleven has had to go Saturday-Tuesday for the past four weeks. No wonder they had lost four out of their last five heading into last night's clash at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough away is a daunting prospect for any team, not least a team as depleted as Millwall are at the moment. That it was between a trip to the Lions' bogey team and the most important fixture on the calendar also did not help.

Boro, who finished as play-off finalists in Kim Hellberg's first campaign and had yet to drop a point at home this season, were overwhelming favourites heading into the match.

Even a cursory glance over the match-day squads showed the scale of the problem. While Millwall's starting eleven was not far off Boro's, there was a serious gulf in experience on the bench. The hosts could call on the likes of Kyle Joseph, Max Arfsen, Jeremy Sarmiento, Myles Peart-Harris - all multi-million-pound signings. Neil had to name two academy kids to his bench and substitute on three young players, Dan Kelly, Zak Lovelace and Yanis Issoufou, who have minimal experience at the level.

Millwall had their backs to the wall from the off. Hellberg has built a very effective, possession-based, pass-and-move side, and that was in full force from the opening whistle, although without any of the final-third threat on top. On paper, it was death by a thousand off-ball runs - but in reality it was just keep-ball, with the occasional ball into the box.

The only time Boro really looked dangerous was when they worked it out to Amario Cozier-Duberry on the right wing, who, I have to say, looks like a real talent. It is a massive compliment to Zak Sturge that he was able to stay in front of him and deny him from causing severe damage for most of the game.

Millwall had an attacking hub of their own, Tairyk Arconte, and his willingness to pelt after the ball was on full display. Every time Millwall won it back, they immediately looked to counter through him and Lyndon Dykes (who are forming quite the formidable big man/little man combo). Arconte never really gave Ashley Phillips and Luke Ayling a break in the first half, and it was no surprise it was he who came up with the goal.

It really was a moment of magic. He took down Camiel Neghli's hopeful punt forward, frightened Ayling with his pace, then planted it through his legs. Another brilliant find by Steve Gallen.

"He's a threat," Alex Neil said after the match. "The way Middlesbrough play, because they're so aggressive, they're happy to defend one-on-one. And what I do know is if you leave him one-on-one, you're going to have to defend really well. And he cuts inside, puts it in the bottom corner. It gives us something to hold on to, which is great when you're that counter-attacking team."

The opening 45 continued at a reasonably similar pace - Boro probed but were too slow to try to find the gaps, and only looked dangerous when they worked it out to Cozier-Duberry, while Millwall looked to immediately transition.

It was actually a rare spell of possession that earned them their second - they forced Boro to put it behind for their only corner of the game (!), Derek Mazou-Sacko wins first contact, Caleb Taylor pulls off an extraordinary bit of skill (at the time I thought he was getting dragged down and would have won a penalty had it not gone in the net) then Dykes taps it in.

That's four goals in four games for Dykes - a signing many Millwall fans maligned at the time. I understood why - the poor goalscoring record, and it looked like they were signing a Charlton Athletic reject - but it made sense in terms of matching profiles and another body to rotate in for Coburn, and it has turned out to be very prescient. While not as talented as Coburn, he is able to replicate what he does in terms of winning aerial duels and occupying centre-backs, while adding a surprising number of goals. He has been a very, very useful signing - imagine if they didn't have him for this block of games.

When it got to half-time, I imagine every Millwall fan was thinking the same - just survive the first ten minutes, quieten the crowd, then you'll be well on your way to earning a point. I was certainly expressing that opinion to whichever of the Millwall media team would listen to me, and Neil was too.

Hellberg was not content to let the match play out as it had before the restart. He made three changes right before the restart, switching to a 4-2-4, which had the Lions up against the ropes from the whistle.

That it was a set-piece and a whipped ball into the box that did for Millwall was particularly disappointing. Yes, Boro were far more dangerous in the second half, and probably deserved a goal, but I would've expected that to come from a bit of skill from Cozier-Duberry or a superb strike by Will Lankshear. Not subpar box defending.

Still, that they held on for the final 30 minutes, and even created moments of their own, is encouraging. To be frank, I expected the scoreline to get a bit ugly. Millwall didn't look to have much fight left. But I should not have underrated them - they have consistently proven they can scrap and fight for results, and they did the same yesterday.

It should not be understated how good a side Boro are. Hellberg has them coached incredibly well, and they have made Riverside Stadium a fortress - Millwall became the first team to take points off them at home this season. You could only imagine how competitive a game it would've been had Neil had a near-full complement to pick from.

It was also pleasing to see them escape the game without any more injuries, and even more so to see Luke Cundle back. I genuinely thought he would be out for most of the season after seeing him limp off at St Mary's, so that was a pleasant surprise. Given how inexperienced that midfield is, that is a vital bit of good news.

With a couple more potentially back for Saturday, and the international break giving the squad a much-needed break, hopefully the injury crisis will start to ease up as we head into October.

Of course, before they can enjoy a two-week break, there's the small matter of West Ham at The Den. I have mixed emotions about this game. On one hand, I am very, very excited to take in the atmosphere on Saturday. It should be absolutely brilliant after fourteen years. However, the Hammers do look very good and are taking on a wounded side.

In all honesty, I would be happy with a draw, but if there is any man I would trust to find a path to victory through the setbacks, it would be Alex Neil.

If I had to give a tentative score prediction, I would go with 1-1, a late Jake Cooper equaliser in front of the Cold Blow Lane. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments.