POOR LONDON RECORD CONTINUES FOR STOKE

ALEX Neil got the better of his old Stoke City side for Millwall to leapfrog the Potters among the early Championship pace setters.

- Peter Smith

TOUGH NIGHT: Stoke City manager Mark Robins watches his side fall to defeat at Millwall last night.

Thierno Ballo set up two first-half goals; the first for Femi Azeez with a free back post header and the second with a pullback for Tristan Crama when Stoke had failed to deal with a set-piece.

A Mark Robins triple halftime sub gave Stoke a more encouraging dimension going forward but Million Manhoef kept finding his path to goal blocked by a resolute defence and no-one else could truly threaten Max Crocombe enough.

A third win in a row lifts Millwall to third while Stoke - who have now won only once in 41 visits to London - slip to sixth.

Robins made four changes, including handing a first Stoke start to Steven Nzonzi since the midfielder masterminded a 6-1 humiliation of Liverpool 10-and-a-half years previously. It was the 501st league appearance of the 36-year-old's career.

Lamine Cisse, Robert Bozenik and Eric Bocat also returned to the side, with Aaron Cresswell, Lewis Baker, Divin Mubama and Manhoef dropping to the bench as Robins managed a three-game week which will continue at Portsmouth on Saturday lunchtime.