Two teams striving for an unlikely playoff place meet at The Den on Saturday afternoon as Millwall host newly-promoted Sunderland in the Championship.

Millwall collected all three points at struggling Cardiff last time out in the second tier, whereas the Black Cats were in FA Cup action as they forced a replay against Premier League Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Match preview

The Championship season enters February and Gary Rowett's Lions are still among the playoff-chasing pack in the second tier after a run of just one defeat in their last six league matches.

The Londoners have had a whole fortnight to enjoy their 1-0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium in their last fixture, with a first-half strike from Tom Bradshaw securing a maximum in South Wales.

That away success was only Millwall's fourth of the campaign, and head coach Rowett will be hoping to bring their form on the road closer to what is seen at The Den, a venue which is a fortress in more ways than one for his side.

The Lions have collected a remarkable 27 points from 13 Championship home outings, with only league-leaders Burnley and Sheffield United possessing better records on familiar territory as we head into this weekend's round of fixtures.

Currently sitting eighth in the league standings with third-placed Middlesbrough three points ahead, Rowett's men are in striking distance of the playoffs and in a brilliant position to make their top-six dreams a reality over the next few months.

Sunderland secured their place in the fifth-round draw of the FA Cup last weekend with a 1-1 scoreline at top-flight Fulham, with winger Jack Clarke putting the visitors into an unexpected lead before Tom Cairney equalised for the Cottagers.

With that all-important replay to be played next week, Tony Mowbray's side must now turn their attention back to Championship matters as they look to keep pace with the playoffs as the campaign enters its business end.

The Black Cats are managing to keep up their early-season momentum and have won three of their last five second-tier matches, the most recent of those being a 2-0 victory over local rivals Middlesbrough just under a fortnight ago.

Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo was one of the goalscorers for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light during that win, with the 20-year-old impressing during his first spell of regular first-team football in England.

The North-East club have openly expressed their disappointment in being unable to recruit a recognised striker in last month's transfer window after Ellis Simms was recalled by Everton, with Mowbray now having just one fit forward option at his disposal for the remainder of the campaign.

Team News

Millwall have suffered a massive injury blow over the past week after a scan revealed Callum Styles will be sidelined for around three months with a quad issue, leaving Rowett short of options in the full-back positions.

Duncan Watmore is set to make his Lions debut against his former employers on Saturday, with Mason Bennett or George Honeyman potentially dropping out of the hosts' XI to make room for the 28-year-old.

Sunderland forward Ross Stewart will miss the remainder of the season after suffering an Achilles injury in the game at Fulham last weekend, meaning Joe Gelhardt could be drafted straight into the team after joining on loan from Leeds United this week.

Midfielder Luke O'Nien will continue to serve his two-match suspension after picking up a red card in the loss against Swansea City last month, with 32-year-old Danny Batth set to partner Daniel Ballard at centre-back for the Black Cats.

Dennis Cirkin (knee) and Alex Pritchard (calf) will be unavailable for selection on Saturday as they recover from their knocks, whilst full-back Aji Alese is a doubt.

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Long; McNamara, Hutchinson, Cooper, Leonard; Mitchell, Saville, Honeyman, Flemming, Voglsammer; Bradshaw

Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, Batth, Huggins; Neil, Michut, Roberts, Diallo, Clarke; Gelhardt

We say: Millwall 1-1 Sunderland

Millwall are still in the playoff hunt, but manager Rowett will realise his side have tended to tail off towards the end of recent campaigns, so the pressure is on the hosts to keep earning points this month.

Sunderland will have an exciting look to them with youngster Gelhardt leading the line, but the Black Cats might struggle physically in attacking areas against a Lions side that impose themselves on their opponents.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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