MX23RW : Friday, January 31 08:57:10| >> :120:6705:6705:
[monks data]
Leeds logo
Championship
Feb 14, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Millwall logo

1-0

Mowatt (39')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Leeds United vs. Millwall

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between relegation rivals Leeds United and Millwall at Elland Road.

Leeds United and Millwall will both be looking to continue their respective improved form when they meet at Elland Road in the Championship this weekend.

The hosts have opened up a five-point gap over Saturday's opponents, who continue to occupy the final relegation spot with just 16 matches of the season to go.

Leeds returned to winning ways at the first time of asking on Tuesday, bouncing back from their weekend defeat at home to Brentford with a 2-0 victory over Reading.

That saw them climb up to 17th in the table and, while they are still far from out of the woods in terms of the relegation battle, they are also now just three points off the top half following a run of only one defeat in their last six games.

Indeed, they have won three of their last four outings, including a shock victory against high-flying Bournemouth and a 2-1 triumph over fierce rivals Huddersfield Town.

Neil Redfearn will still be concerned about his side's home form, however, with that win over Bournemouth their solitary success at Elland Road in their last five matches - a run which has seen them score only two goals.

Their record on their own patch against Millwall is a good one, though, having won their last four and seven of their last eight meetings at Elland Road.

The hosts could be further boosted by the returns of Rodolph Austin and Gaetano Berardi from illness, although Tommaso Bianchi could miss the remainder of the season having picked up a knee injury during the midweek victory over Reading.

Liam Cooper will also be unavailable for Redfearn, while Sam Byram is expected to continue in his more advanced role on the right side of midfield.

Millwall's own improvement has raised hopes that they can avoid the drop, with two wins from their last three games and only one defeat in their four most recent outings representing a significant upturn in form.

They remain in the bottom three but, with only goal difference separating them from 21st-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, they will have a chance to climb away from danger should the Seagulls fail to get maximum points away to Sheffield Wednesday.

The Lions have kept three clean sheets in their last four games and also kept Leeds at bay when these two sides met in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season, with Mark Beevers and Shaun Williams on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory for Ian Holloway's side.

They followed that up with a win over Fulham, which for a long time was their one and only away success of the season. However, Millwall have improved on the road over the past month or so and have now won three of their last five away games, including their two most recent ones.

The Lions last pulled off three away wins in a row at the tail end of last season to help them escape the clutches of relegation, and Holloway will be hoping for a similar run of form this time around.

The visitors could opt to name an unchanged side to the one that beat Birmingham City 1-0 last time out - their first win at St Andrew's since 1968 - with Stefan Maierhofer again expected to lead the line.

Leeds:

Recent form: DDWWLW

Possible starting lineup: Silvestri; Berardi, Bamba, Bellusci, Taylor; Murphy, Austin, Byram, Cook, Mowatt; Morison

Millwall:

Form in Championship: WLDWLW
Form in all competitions: LLDWLW

Possible starting lineup: Forde; Cummings, Dunne, Hooiveld, Harding; Tonge, Williams, Martin, Fabbrini, Woolford; Maierhofer

Sports Mole says: 1-1


ID:205040: cacheID:205040:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6629:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jem Karacan of Reading celebrates with team mates after scoring the teams second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading v Watford at The Madejski Stadium on August 17, 2013
Read Next:
Team News: Reading without captain Karacan
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds29179353193460
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd29186540211958
3Burnley29151223692757
4Sunderland291510442241855
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom291014538251344
6Middlesbrough29128947361144
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn29126113228442
8Bristol City29101183734341
9Watford29125124041-141
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds29118104245-341
11Norwich CityNorwich29109104842639
12Coventry CityCoventry29108113938138
13Queens Park RangersQPR2991193237-538
14Millwall29910102826237
15Preston North EndPreston2981383236-437
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2999113343-1036
17Swansea CitySwansea2997133240-834
18Cardiff CityCardiff29710123344-1131
19Hull City2978143038-829
20Stoke CityStoke29611122636-1029
21Portsmouth2978143652-1629
22Derby CountyDerby2976163240-827
23Luton TownLuton2975172948-1926
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth29410152762-3522


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!