Southampton were left frustrated as another out-of-form side Millwall held them to a goalless draw at St Mary’s.
Saints began 2026 dominating possession but lacked the cutting edge required for victory, with only two shots on target.
Millwall, and Femi Azeez particularly, threatened on the break but were equally tame in attack.
It is now just one win in six for the seventh-placed Lions who are out of the play-offs on goal difference, while Southampton are winless in five and floundering in mid-table.
Millwall made a confident start and went close inside two minutes when Azeez fizzed in a low cross, but nobody was able to get a touch and direct it goalwards.
Southampton grew into the game and missed a decent opportunity when Cameron Archer could not connect with Nathan Wood’s header from Ryan Manning’s free-kick.
Azeez was a threat throughout as he drove forward to find Thierno Ballo, who called Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu into action for the first time. Jack Stephens fired straight at Max Crocombe moments later.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis thought he had broken the deadlock when he met Leo Scienza’s corner from two yards out, but Crocombe somehow made a point blank save.
Ballo had another opening 10 minutes after half-time, but this time he failed to hit the target. Macauley Langstaff played the ball around the corner and into his path, but the Austrian dragged his shot wide.
The hosts were on top for much of the second half, and they continued probing without finding a clinical edge. Finn Azaz’s dangerous cross caused a scramble in the area, but Millwall were able to clear their lines.
Azaz squandered a superb chance in the sixth minute of stoppage time when his shot was blocked after Adam Armstrong’s cutback. Harwood-Bellis then headed wide to bring an agonising afternoon to a close.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert told BBC Radio Solent:
“If you draw a game, it depends what happens after.
“If we can bring home a good result against Middlesbrough, there will be positives to take here.
“We could have won the game at the end. I’m happy with the clean sheet, we work very hard on that. We didn’t take our chances.
“It is four games in 10 days, I was happy with the boys who came in and played today. It is the second game in a row we’ve had a good impact from the bench.”
Millwall manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio London:
“It was a great performance. We changed our shape again for a number of reasons.
“We were the better side and we had the better chances. We’ve drawn with Ipswich, beat Bristol City and come here.
“For what we’ve got available, I thought it was terrific.
“We had opportunities, we didn’t have the cutting edge to finish them off. Our game plan was to turn the ball over and create on the counter; the balance was excellent. I couldn’t be more pleased with the lads.”
