The key decisions facing Alex Neil ahead of Millwall vs Birmingham City

WHILE the relentless nature of the Championship schedule can be overwhelming, it can also offer teams the opportunity to quickly respond to setbacks.

Millwall's 3-1 loss to Portsmouth was not a season-defining defeat given the Lions' recent form - it was only their second in their past eleven games - but it was still a blip, and Alex Neil's side will be keen to bounce back.

That has been made all the more necessary by the form of some of the chasing pack.

Wrexham picked up another win on Tuesday evening, while Southampton have somehow thrust themselves back into the conversation with five wins in their past seven. It all looked so gloomy on the south coast just a month ago.

Wednesday's opponents, Birmingham City, are also in that category.

Blues hierarchy have invested £15 million-plus into the squad this January and have already seen returns on that investment, with Chris Davies' side unbeaten in their last nine.

Some of those additions have been quality - midfielder Jhon Solis and left winger Ibrahim Osman have barely been out of the line-up since their first starts, while big-money signings August Priske and Carlos Vicente already have three goal contributions in a combined three league starts.

Kai Wagner looks like the best of the lot, starting eight consecutive games at left-back. His potential battle with Femi Azeez will be one to watch.

Birmingham are essentially a different side to the one that thumped Millwall at St.Andrews back in November, but so are the Lions, who are enjoying their first run of good health this season.

Neil has been able to pick a relatively consistent starting line-up for the past month, with only one game a week to worry about.

Now, with two games within the space of five days, Neil will need to make changes, as he told the media last Thursday.

"Once you're doing the three-game weeks, we need to utilise the squad," Neil said. "For every player to churn out what's required physically in every single game is always going to be challenging. Equally, I think we've got the vast majority of squad fit and available at the moment, which is good. It means we can freshen a few things up.

"I've got a couple of different ones [line-ups] in my head. After the first game, things can change, things can be adapted from there. I've got a team in my head for Saturday, and then we'll have a look at it for Wednesday's game."

Fortunately, he now has options in his squad to make changes, and he will be looking at a few areas of the pitch.

Back five

Crama is one booking away from a two-game suspension and plays one of the most physically exhausting positions on the pitch, bombing up and down the right flank all game. He could do with a rest, even if he has been one of Millwall's best players this season. Ryan Leonard is dependable and fresh, and could fill in well in a more defensive role, focusing on neutralising Osman.

You could make an argument for freshening up on the left as well and making use of Zak Sturge's athleticism down the left. It does feel like he would be a bit redundant with Tommy Watson starting. It feels more natural to have a creative player and an overlapper - so either Doughty and Watson or Sturge and Camiel Neghli/Thierno Ballo. Doughty is also a critical part of Millwall's recent set-play success. It likely depends on who starts at left wing.

Goalkeeper is the other defensive dilemma. Anthony Patterson did not do much wrong on Saturday and made two good saves, but aside from the mistake at Hillsborough, Max Crocombe has not done much wrong either.

Neil cited the need to give Patterson minutes to explain why he started him against Pompey, and one game would hardly be sufficient. Chopping and changing every game would be detrimental to team chemistry. I would imagine Patterson will start again.

The engine room

Neil has a few ways he can go with this. One, he could continue with two holding midfielders and a ten, or he could switch to a two-man midfield and go two up front.

Both have their merits, and both have worked for Millwall in the past. Playing with a ten gives the Lions more control, playing with two up front gives them more threat in the box and another target to play to when they go long.

Against a side that prefers to play possession football, I would reckon Neil continues with a three-man midfield, and it could be the perfect opportunity to bring in Barry Bannan.

Bannan looked quality in the final fifteen minutes on Saturday, and I wonder if Neil would contemplate starting him in a deeper role.

He could be the midfielder who drops while Casper De Norre pushes high to lead the press. He would also be the one to orchestrate Millwall's build-up, especially if Doughty does not start.

Moreover, Billy Mitchell is another who would benefit from a rest after starting the last nine games.

At number ten, Neil could go with Neghli, Langstaff or Cundle.

All three have slightly different qualities, but are all very hard-working and effective out of possession.

I would lean towards Neghli due to his ability to pick up the ball in tight pockets and play off people around him, a skill that works very well alongside a pinpoint passer like Bannan.

Leading the line

Playing with one up front makes this a bit easier to decide. Neil has preferred to play Macaulay Langstaff in that nine-and-a-half, slightly deeper role, meaning it is between Mihailo Ivanovic and Josh Coburn, who I presume will be available for selection after missing the Pompey loss through illness.

Coburn's larger frame makes him a more natural choice as the lone striker, especially against a team that looks to keep the ball.

He can serve as the pressure-relieving outlet, holding onto the ball high up the pitch and bringing others into the game.

Ivanovic is the quicker option who can excel in transition and is a bit more of an agile box finisher, so it depends on what sort of game Neil reckons it will be. I think Coburn's skillset lends itself better to the clash.

He also works well with Watson and Azeez. Watson spoke about picking the ball off the nine when it is played long and driving in transition - a route that could generate plenty against Birmingham.

A quick outline of the selection decisions Neil has ahead of Wednesday's game shows the different profiles he has in the squad, how he can tailor them to different opponents, and how they play the game.

Against a ball-dominant side, I would personally choose to pack the midfield and look to play in transition through an effective target man and quick, dangerous runners off him. When they have the ball, Bannan can find any of the front four with his left foot, and Neghli can drop in and flick balls around the corner for wingers to chase.