MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 12:38:34| >> :120:8697:8697:
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Leeds logo
Championship
Mar 22, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Millwall logo

2-1

Smith (19'), McCormack (41')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Campbell (73')

Preview: Leeds United vs. Millwall

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship encounter between troubled Leeds United and struggling Millwall at Elland Road.

Millwall manager Ian Holloway will be looking for a response from his side when they take on Leeds United at Elland Road having slipped into the relegation zone due to midweek results elsewhere.

Charlton Athletic produced a late winner to beat Bournemouth 1-0 on Tuesday, a result that lifted the Addicks above their London rivals and into a position of safety.

The Lions' task of reclaiming their place above the dotted line is certainly not a straightforward one for Holloway, who has led the team to just two wins in his 12 games in charge.

Millwall may currently be level on points with Charlton, but they have played two games more than the Addicks and their goal difference is substantially worse - effectively giving Charlton an extra point advantage.

Furthermore, the Lions have found it increasingly difficult to even score, yet alone win, having netted just once in their last five league games. They have not scored more than one goal in a game since a 3-2 defeat to Blackburn in December, 18 games ago.

Such a record is even more costly for a side with the joint-worst defensive record in the division, although that aspect has improved in recent weeks with just five goals conceded in their last seven games.

However, wins are what they need more than anything, and gaining three points is something that they have managed only twice on their travels all season.

One of those wins was an impressive 1-0 success against high flying Derby earlier this month, but that is their only victory in their last 15 away matches in all competitions, while only Barnsley have amassed fewer points on the road all season.

Holloway could opt to name new boy Stefan Maierhofer on the bench for the match, but he will definitely be without Danny Shittu, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles problem.

While Millwall are fast approaching turmoil on the field, Leeds's wrangling over a new owner means that their off-field troubles continue to rumble on.

The Football League are yet to ratify prospective owner Massimo Cellino, who has done himself no favours by being found guilty of tax evasion this week.

On the pitch, things aren't much better. Brian McDermott's once realistic hopes of reaching the playoffs now seem like a distant fantasy as they sit 15th in the table, closer to the bottom three than the top six.

They have now gone six matches without a victory, while last Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Burnley was a third consecutive loss, during which time they have conceded 11 goals.

Nine of those goals have come in their last two outings at Elland Road, where they have managed to win just once in the eight games since their 2-0 win over Wigan at the start of December.

The good news is that they have no new injury concerns to worry about, which means that Matt Smith could continue up front with the league's top scorer Ross McCormack in support.

Recent form

Leeds: LDDLLL

Millwall: DLLWLD

Possible starting lineups

Leeds: Butland; Byram, Pearce, Lees, Pugh; Austin, Murphy; Wickham, Mowatt, McCormack; Smith

Millwall: Forde; Dunne, Williams, Robinson, Lowry; McDonald, Onyedinma, Garvan, Upson, Woolford; Morison

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Ross McCormack of Leeds United celebrates scoring during their Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Birmingham City at Elland Road Stadium on October 20, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland139222391429
2Leeds UnitedLeeds137512281426
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd138321661025
4Burnley136521761123
5Watford137152221122
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom13562148621
7Millwall135441612419
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn135441614219
9Bristol City134721717019
10Norwich CityNorwich134632318518
11Middlesbrough135351415-118
12Swansea CitySwansea13445109116
13Coventry CityCoventry134361717015
14Derby CountyDerby134361617-115
15Hull City133641517-215
16Stoke CityStoke134361518-315
17Cardiff CityCardiff134361319-615
18Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds134361524-915
19Oxford UnitedOxford Utd133551617-114
20Preston North EndPreston133551420-614
21Luton TownLuton133371521-612
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth133371325-1212
23Queens Park RangersQPR131751119-810
24Portsmouth131661326-139


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