Having only survived relegation thanks to a strong end to last season, Ian Holloway raised many eyebrows when he suggested that his Millwall side were capable of a top-half finish in the 2014-15 campaign.
The likes of Carlos Edwards, Ricardo Fuller, Matthew Briggs and Magaye Gueye were among the players to join during the summer as the Lions looked to build a squad capable of achieving such a goal.
Holloway's ambition appeared to be well-placed following a bright start to the campaign, but that proved to be a false dawn as the Londoners soon began to slide down the table.
Indeed, they ended the calendar year back in the relegation zone and now face another battle against the drop in the second half of the campaign.
August
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It all started so well for Millwall. They picked up maximum points in their opening match of the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Leeds United, while new signing Briggs was on the scoresheet as they dispatched of Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup, although the defender was also later sent off in that match.
They made it three wins and three clean sheets on the bounce with a 1-0 success at London rivals Fulham in their next match, while Gueye's 95th-minute equaliser at Hillsborough a few days later would have made the 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday almost feel like another win.
Their 100% record was gone, however, and their unbeaten start to the campaign swiftly followed as Rotherham United became the first opposition team to win at The Den since March. A tricky tie against Southampton was next up, and sure enough the Lions fell to consecutive home defeats at the hands of the Saints.
They did end the month with a victory, however, making it a respectable 10 league points from a possible 15 in August courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Blackpool.
September
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That points haul was to be as good as it got, however, with September bringing with it a return to the form that saw them struggle so much last season. They picked up just one of the next 15 points available, beginning the month with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town.
Simon Cox netted a late winner to help Reading to a 3-2 victory in their next outing, but Millwall did manage to claim a good goalless draw against high-flying Nottingham Forest to end their run of back-to-back defeats.
They soon reverted to losing ways, however, ending the month with disappointing defeats to two teams also expected to struggle at the wrong end of the table - Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City.
October
A winless September was followed by an unbeaten October, although draws were the order of the day for Holloway's side. There was nothing wrong with holding title challengers Derby County at the iPro Stadium, though, while they produced a remarkable comeback to rescue a point against Wolverhampton Wanderers having been 3-0 down with 25 minutes remaining.
There was less drama at the DW Stadium three days later as the Lions played out another goalless draw with Wigan Athletic, but they finally ended a run of eight games without a win in their final outing of the month, edging past Cardiff City courtesy of Danny Shittu's goal.
November
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Consecutive wins looked to be on the agenda when they took the lead against Watford on the opening day of November, but the Hornets fought back to run out 3-1 winners at Vicarage Road in the end. Millwall launched a comeback of their own three days later, overcoming a two-goal deficit in the final 20 minutes to earn a point against Blackburn Rovers.
They once again came from two behind against Brentford in their next outing, but this time it wasn't enough as Shittu scored an own goal to gift the lead back to the Bees. A trip to face London rivals Charlton Athletic at The Valley followed, although the match between two draw specialists unsurprisingly ended level.
There was no doubting the club's character throughout November, and they ended the month with yet another comeback from two goals down. This time it came against high-flying Bournemouth, with Edward Upson and Gueye both scoring in the final 15 minutes to pick up another point.
December
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Millwall's winless streak stretched to six at the start of December as the Lions suffered a first-half collapse at the hands of Middlesbrough. The visitors scored four goals before the interval to put themselves in complete control of proceedings, going on to claim a 5-1 victory at The Den.
Holloway wanted a response from his side, and he got it as they picked up just their second win since August with a 1-0 triumph away to Brighton & Hove Albion. Their home form was beginning to become an issue, however, and they fell to another loss in front of their own fans when Bolton Wanderers came to town in their final match before Christmas.
There was little festive cheer on show on Boxing Day either as the Lions fell to their heaviest defeat of the campaign, conceding four second-half goals on their way to a 6-1 drubbing by Norwich City. Holloway's side ended the year with a tricky tie against leaders Bournemouth, and they made it four home defeats in a row by falling 2-0 to the Cherries, leaving them one point adrift of safety.
Star man: Alan Dunne
Must do better: Byron Webster
Where to strengthen in January: Attack
Position at start of 2015: 22nd
Mid-season grade: D-
To see Millwall's remaining fixtures in 2014-15, click here.
Barney Corkhill
