Millwall have reached the halfway stage of the Championship season just three points above the relegation zone in 20th position.

The Lions employed Steve Lomas as their new manager at the start of the campaign, but he was immediately under pressure to keep his job after picking up just two points in his first six games in charge.

Millwall gradually improved as they entered the winter months, but Lomas was removed from his position after a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Watford on Boxing Day.

Sports Mole looks back at the first half of the campaign for the Lions.

August

Steve Lomas's tenure at The Den started in disastrous fashion as they suffered a surprise defeat at home to pre-season relegation candidates Yeovil Town.

Further losses against Ipswich Town and Huddersfield Town followed, before the Lions finally got their first point on the board thanks to a late Andy Keogh equaliser at Sheffield Wednesday.

Millwall looked on course for their first league success at Brighton & Hove Albion, but a late goal ensured that Lomas would have to wait until September to add a win to his record.

September

Millwall began September with an abysmal 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Derby County, and Lomas seemed up against it to turn things around at his new club.

However, the former Kilmarnock boss finally got three points on the board with a 3-1 win at home to Blackpool, and that wasn't the end of the revival for the month.

Victories and clean sheets followed against Charlton Athletic and Leeds United respectively to see Millwall move up to 16th place in the league table.

October

The momentum that Millwall had generated by the end of September quickly disappeared at the start of October as they suffered a 4-0 loss at St Andrew's against Birmingham City.

They looked on course to return to winning ways at Bournemouth through early goals from Martyn Waghorn and Liam Trotter, but the home side responded with four second-half goals to run out 5-2 winners.

The month ended on a positive note as Millwall scored successive last-minute equalisers to earn a point against both Queens Park Rangers and Reading.

November

Millwall held Burnley at the start of the month to consolidate 19th place, but a 3-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers saw the Lions fall towards the relegation zone.

A morale-boosting win over Barnsley helped Lomas's cause to remain at the Lions, and he was boosted by the loan signing of Guy Moussi from Nottingham Forest.

However, high-flying Leicester City easily defeated Millwall on the final weekend on of the month, but the London outfit still remained five points off the relegation places in the Championship.

December

Four points from their two opening games in December was enough to take Millwall to 17 points, just one win away from a spot in mid-table.

That's as good as it got for Lomas, though, as three successive defeats were enough to see the Millwall hierarchy act and terminate the Northern Irishman's contract at The Den.

Scott Fitzgerald and Neil Harris were quickly thrown into the caretaker positions at the club, and they ended a dismal first half to the season with a point at home to Doncaster Rovers.