On a damp Saturday afternoon at The Den in London, Preston North End and Millwall played out a tense 1-1 draw in Sky Bet Championship Round 15London, leaving both teams grappling with the same brutal reality: too many players on the sidelines. Michael Smith’s 11th-minute strike gave Preston the lead, but Mihailo Ivanovic’s equalizer in the 68th minute snatched away the three points — and with them, a chance to pull further clear in the playoff race.

Injury Toll Leaves Preston Shorthanded

Preston North End entered the match already depleted. Manager Paul Heckingbottom confirmed four key absences: forward Daniel Jebbison (hamstring, out until early December), midfielders Ali McCann and Andrija Vukcevic, and defender Lewis Gibson (all muscle injuries, expected back late November). Robbie Brady (calf) and Pol Valentin (muscle) were also sidelined, though Valentin’s recovery was progressing. Even Jordan Thompson — the summer signing who hasn’t played a single minute this season due to an ankle injury — was named on the bench. That’s six starters missing, and Brad Potts? His status was muddy. Fotmob said he was back in training; The72 listed him as out. In football, ambiguity like that is worse than a confirmed injury.

Heckingbottom didn’t sugarcoat it. "We’re running on fumes," he said post-match. "These lads aren’t just tired — they’re worn down. We’ve got lads playing out of position, lads who’ve never started a Championship game doing double shifts. It’s not sustainable."

Millwall’s Injury Nightmare Is Worse

If Preston’s situation was dire, Millwall’s was catastrophic. Manager Alex Neil admitted his squad was down to nine first-team players. "It’s a lot of the same lads that had injuries last year," he told Southwark News. "Nearly every one of these lads that are breaking down, they didn’t have a full pre-season."

• Massimo Luongo — cruciate ligament tear — out until early July 2026
• Femi Azeez — hamstring — out until early December
• Josh Coburn — hip injury — out until early January
• Steven Benda, Ryan Leonard, Will Smallbone — all muscle issues, targeting late November

That’s not a rotation problem. That’s a structural failure. Luongo’s season is over. Azeez and Coburn won’t return until the new year. Neil’s squad includes academy players and 35-year-old veterans who haven’t started in years. One fan at The Den told me, "I’ve seen Millwall struggle before, but never like this. It’s like watching a team play with duct tape holding their boots together."

On the Pitch: A Match of Missed Chances

The game itself was a study in frustration. Preston’s Lewis Dobbin had a curling shot saved in the 36th minute. Smith, the scorer, missed a clear header in the 52nd. Millwall’s Thierno Ballo sent a header wide from six yards. Then, in the 68th, Ivanovic — a January signing from Austria — pounced on a loose ball after a Preston clearance fell straight to him. No fancy move. Just instinct. And it was enough.

Neither side created much after that. The final whistle sparked mixed reactions: Preston fans relieved to hold on, Millwall fans stunned they got a point after a 4-0 drubbing by Birmingham just days earlier. But both sets of supporters knew the real story wasn’t on the pitch — it was in the treatment room.

What This Means for the Playoff Race

Preston remain in 4th place, two points behind Stoke City. That’s still a playoff spot — but with six games left before Christmas and injuries piling up, that lead feels thinner than ever. A loss here would’ve been disastrous. A win would’ve been a statement. A draw? It’s a holding pattern. And in a league where one goal separates 4th from 10th, holding on might be the best they can do.

Millwall, meanwhile, sit just one point behind Preston. Their injury list makes them underdogs in every remaining fixture. But here’s the twist: they’ve now drawn three of their last four games. Against Birmingham? They lost 4-0. Against Preston? They fought back. That resilience — born of desperation — might be their only weapon left.

What’s Next? The Winter Crunch

The next three weeks are critical. The international break ends November 18. If McCann, Vukcevic, and Gibson return on schedule, Preston might get a lifeline. But if Valentin or Thompson can’t play, the defense remains shaky. For Millwall? Even if Benda and Leonard return late November, Luongo won’t be back until summer. That’s a hole in midfield no amount of grit can fill.

Heckingbottom hinted at a January transfer push. "We’ll be looking at anyone who can step in and not just survive — but compete," he said. Neil? He’s already talking about loan deals and youth players. "We’re not waiting for the FA Cup to save us," he said. "We’re building something new."

Football’s a game of 11 vs. 11. But right now, it’s also a game of who’s left standing.