Heading to The Den on Saturday, we could only hope for a win.

August 30 seemed a long time ago since the Lions’ last victory against Blackpool.  

In front of the Sky cameras and with Cardiff City coming to town, the Lions needed to pull off a big performance to silence the critics and move away from the wrong end of the Championship table.  

After a superb comeback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Wolves the previous Saturday and a hard-earned point in midweek at a wet and windy Wigan, what side was Ian Holloway going to put out against Cardiff and could the Lions turn possession into a victory? 

Holloway named a team with five changes and for the first time this season Danny Shittu (aka The Big Man) was handed a start.

Ollie had spoken a few weeks back about the characters of Millwall and how having Danny’s presence on the coach and the bench had lifted the squad in recent weeks.

I received tweets before the game from followers praising the return of The Big Man - and how his presence in the tunnel said it all.

How important is Danny’s presence and how much did he unsettle the Cardiff players? 

It was pleasing to see his name on the team sheet and perhaps the script was already written that Shituuuuuu, as the fans sing, would return with a goal.  Of course it was!

Danny scored the only goal of the game and Millwall took the three points. 

The man who is a huge favourite amongst the fans may have just put an end to what has been a bleak few months for the Lions.  

Could that victory be the tonic Ollie’s men need to now march on? 

David Forde recorded his 100th clean sheet for the club on Saturday, but it could have been very different if Ireland’s number one had not have pulled off a vital save before half-time. There’s no doubt since Carlos Edwards picked up an injury the Lions have struggled defensively and the back four has been unstable on the field and on the team sheet.

When your team is doing well, you can almost name the same side every week, but in the Lions’ case the team selection has not been consistent. 

Latest recruit Andy Wilkinson, who had barely trained with his new team-mates, seems to fit seamlessly into the squad and produced a great performance on Saturday.

Captain Alan Dunne was missing due to suspension, so Mark Beevers and Shittu alongside Briggs and Wilkinson made up the back four.   

We put in a plucky performance and it was good the Sky Sports captured the game, as recent results had not reflected the progress the team had been making.   

Scott McDonald under Holloway has made his mark in the starting XI.

McDonald was unlucky not to get on the score sheet after he sent a shot past the post from long distance. 

Cardiff did not cause many threats until they fell behind but they did try and get back in the game.

However it was us who had the better opportunities to increase the lead. 

Lee Gregory had two great chances and I firmly believe the striker is getting stronger and stronger every game and could prove to be a great signing.  

Ed Upson also went very close with a drive from 25 yards and then shot wide from inside the box so we could have won by a much larger margin. 

Scott Malone and Jack Powell were absent from the squad and I expect a number of changes to be made again this Saturday at Watford.

I would like to see the same XI which beat Cardiff, but with Blackburn just around the corner on Tuesday I ask the question - could Ollie play the same side?

The Championship is the fifth most watched league in the world but it’s a physical division that requires mental and physical strength.

There are no easy games.

Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday has left players leggy in the past and I believe this schedule is a genuine concern. 

The future is now looking brighter and again shows the competiveness of the league, as we are now six points off the play-off places and the relegation zone. 

Come and join me on Thursday on Lions Live and let me know your thoughts heading into the Watford game where I am tipping Millwall for another 1-0 victory.  

Don’t forget to tweet @lionsliveradio on match days with your predictions to be in a chance of winning a signed programme and team sheet. 

Follow @NewsShopperSprt on Twitter for live updates from Vicarage Road