Millwall welcome Middlesbrough to The Den in a crunch clash in the race for the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs.
Victory would see Millwall leapfrog their visitors and go eighth, whereas a win could lift Middlesbrough as high as fourth if results elsewhere swing in their favour.
Team News
Daniel Ballard is a doubt for Millwall after suffering a groin injury in Tuesday’s goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers.
Ryan Leonard, Sheyi Ojo (both ankle), Tom Bradshaw (knee), Maikel Kieftenbeld (unspecified), Oliver Burke, Luke Freeman (both hamstring) and Shaun Hutchinson (calf) remain absent.
Middlesbrough will be without Riley McGree until after this month’s international break as the midfielder continues to recover from a calf injury, which has sidelined him in their last four matches.
Martin Payero (ankle), Sammy Ameobi and Darnell Fisher (both knee) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Millwall have won just one of their last eight meetings against Middlesbrough (W1, D4, L3).
- Middlesbrough have won three of their last six visits to The Den (W3, D1, L2).
- Millwall have kept just one clean sheet in their last 18 clashes against Middlesbrough (W5, D5, L8), with that clean sheet coming in a 1-0 home win in March 2021.
- Mason Bennett has scored in two of his last three home appearances for Millwall.
- Five of Middlesbrough’s last six away goals have been scored after half-time.
Prediction
Millwall come into this match on a six-match unbeaten run but they absolutely have to improve after a pathetic attacking effort at Blackburn on Tuesday, although their defence was difficult to break down to earn a valuable point and fourth clean sheet in their last five games.
Middlesbrough meanwhile are still stuck in their away rut because they simply were outclassed at Sheffield United in midweek, yet they do seem to defensively implode on the road once they concede first despite often playing solid football.
Add in the closeness of the play-off race and this is an absolute must-win for both teams so I expect a good battle here, yet Boro must not concede first to give themselves the best possible shot.
Prediction: Millwall 1-1 Middlesbrough.
Result: Millwall 0-0 Middlesbrough