Millwall v Birmingham: play-off push meets top-six chase | OneFootball

Millwall host Birmingham City in the Championship at The Den on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, with the hosts protecting a play-off berth and the visitors eyeing the top six.

Birmingham City won the reverse fixture 4-0 in November 2025, but both sides arrive with momentum and plenty at stake in the promotion race.

The Lions have won three of their last five league games, including a 4-0 derby win over Charlton and away victories at Wrexham and Sheffield Wednesday, with a single setback against Portsmouth. Birmingham are unbeaten in four Championship matches after wins over Leicester and at Norwich alongside a draw with West Brom, with only a penalties exit to Leeds breaking their recent rhythm.

The Lions are without Massimo Luongo, Joe Bryan, Lukas Jensen, William Smallbone, Josh Coburn and Daniel Kelly. Birmingham miss Paik Seung-ho, Kyogo Furuhashi, Lee Buchanan and Alexander William Cochrane.

Birmingham tend to control the ball, averaging 54% possession with 79.91% pass accuracy, while the Lions operate more directly, sitting on 47% possession and delivering a high volume of open play crosses, 522 at 22.80% accuracy. Jay Stansfield's nine league goals and Marvin Ducksch's eight give Birmingham penalty box threat, while Femi Azeez's 11 goal contributions and Alfie Doughty's five assists offer incision for the Lions.

A home win would take the Lions to 59 points and could strengthen their grip on a play-off place. Victory for Birmingham would move them to 52 points and could take them into the top six.