SM
Wolves vs. Forest: 1 day 23 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
ML
Championship
Apr 25, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
DL

3-3

Gregory (27', 36' pen., 50' pen.)
FT(HT: 2-1)
Ince (42'), Martin (70' pen.), Hendrick (85')

Preview: Millwall vs. Derby County

:Headline: Preview: Millwall vs. Derby County: ID:218872: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews the Championship clash between Millwall and Derby County at The Den, which the hosts must win or face relegation to League One.

Saturday's home game against Derby County is last-chance saloon for Millwall if they are to preserve their Championship status.

The Lions are four points adrift of safety with two games remaining, but their opponents are also seeking a win to make sure of their playoff place.



Millwall

With their goal difference comfortably inferior to that of nearest rivals Rotherham United, Millwall need two wins from two or a fortunate Football Association ruling to stay up.

Rotherham are facing a possible points deduction for fielding an ineligible player - Derby loanee Farrend Rawson - in their 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Easter Monday.

The FA found last week that the highly-rated defender's youth loan at United had expired and that the paperwork over an extension had not being dealt with correctly. The Millers will learn their fate before this weekend.

Assuming that the Lions are not saved by Rotherham's administrative error, Neil Harris's side have no option but to beat the Rams after failing to pick up maximum points against either Cardiff City or Blackburn Rovers this week.

The blanks fired in those two games are evidence of where Millwall have struggled this season. Only relegated Blackpool have scored fewer times than the Lions, whose top scorer is five-goal winger Magaye Gueye.

Derby's own concerns have been in defensive areas and Harris and his side must exploit that weakness if they are to stand any chance of taking their most recent spell in English football's second tier into a sixth season.

Recent form: DWLWDL



Derby

Steve McClaren has constantly been lamenting his side's defensive performances of late and was doing just that following last weekend's 4-4 draw with Huddersfield Town.

The Rams took the lead at the Galpharm Stadium, but were later salvaging a point with Tom Ince's equaliser after a series of defensive errors that have hindered their promotion push over the last couple of months.

County were right in the mix for a top-two finish until a run of four wins in 15 matches, in which they have kept only three clean sheets.

Their playoff spot briefly appeared to be in jeopardy, but Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers dropping points of late leave Derby only one win shy of securing their place in the upcoming lottery for Premier League status.

McClaren will be hoping to get things safely wrapped up with victory at The Den, although mid-table Reading do not pose ominous final-day opponents.

A point this weekend would effectively be enough should both Brentford and Wolves fail to win, with Derby's goal difference better by more than 20.

Recent form: LDWDWD



Team News

Derby will be without Craig Bryson and Zak Whitbread for the final two games of the season after both limped off early in the chaos at Huddersfield.

That should mean a reprieve for recently-dropped right-back Cyrus Christie and an opportunity for either Simon Dawkins or Jamie Ward in the five-man midfield.

Chris Martin and George Thorne are both back on the sidelines after unsuccessful returns from layoffs, while Jake Buxton also remains out.

Harris could name an unchanged side and hope to extract a final couple of goals from veteran striker Ricardo Fuller, formerly of Stoke City and Portsmouth among others.

Lee Martin is an option if the hosts go with an extra midfielder, but their search for greater firepower up front means that Gueye and Aiden O'Brien will both likely start.

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Forde; Dunne, Beevers, Nelson, Harding; Abdou, Bailey, Woolford, Gueye; Fuller, O'Brien

Derby possible starting lineup:
Grant; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Warnock; Dawkins, Hughes, Hendrick, Lingard, Ince; Bent



Head To Head

Millwall have 17 wins compared to Derby's 13 in the history of this fixture, and have avoided defeat in their last two clashes with the Rams.

However, County were 5-1 victors on their last trip to The Den, although none of scorers Bryson, Buxton or Mason Bennett will feature this time around.


We say: Millwall 1-2 Derby

Millwall might get the goal that they have been missing in their last two matches, but keeping Derby out could be a problem. Ince has been on fire for the visitors since joining on loan from Hull City and he could spell curtains for Millwall's survival fight.



amp_article__218872 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-04-24 08:00:22:
html db last update - 2015-04-24 08:00:22 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Millwall257992423130
14Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
15Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
16Queens Park RangersQPR2561182733-629
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2574142642-1625
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .