Millwall host Preston North End at The Den in a blockbuster clash in the race for Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs.
Both teams enter this match on 62 points apiece with Millwall holding the better goal difference, meaning that victory would move Gary Rowett’s Three Lions three points clear of Preston and stay fifth.
A win however would see Preston leapfrog Millwall into fifth, although a point could be enough for the Lilywhites to go sixth if Blackburn lose in the evening kick-off and Norwich fail to win on Friday evening.
Team News
Millwall have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-0 defeat at Hull on Easter Monday, with Mason Bennett set to return from two months out with an ankle injury.
Tyler Burey (hip) is also set to feature after over four months on the sidelines.
Charlie Cresswell (eye), Ryan Leonard (groin), Callum Styles (quad) and Aidome Emakhu (hamstring) remain absent.
Preston could welcome striker, Liam Delap back into contention after he missed their wins over QPR and Reading, due to illness.
Alistair McCann (thigh), Greg Cunningham (hamstring), Alan Browne, Emil Riis (both knee) and Ched Evans (unspecified) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Millwall host Preston at 3pm BST at The Den on Saturday 15 April, albeit untelevised in UK.
Stat Attack
- Millwall are unbeaten in their last seven meetings against Preston (W5, D2).
- Preston have won just one of their last five visits to Millwall (W1, D2, L2).
- Millwall have kept clean sheets in two of their last three home games against Preston, except for a 2-1 win in March 2021.
- Gary Rowett’s Lions are looking to avoid going five consecutive league games without a goal for the first time since a six-match run between April – August 2013.
- Six of Tom Cannon’s seven league goals for Preston have been scored after half-time.
Prediction
With goals having dried up in recent weeks having sat ten points off second-placed Sheffield United heading into last month’s international break, Millwall’s priority now has to be on shoring up a play-off spot after lacking the end product to beat Hull and deservedly punished for poor marking.
Preston meanwhile have hit awesome form when it matters with just one defeat in 11 matches and absolutely dominated Reading on Easter Monday, although they really could of scored more goals than the two goals that they indeed produced.
For me, this match is absolutely crucial because if Millwall can’t score and lose this then their play-off dreams might be on the slide, whereas Preston face a tricky final four games to come so a result is imperative so I do expect a tight cagey battle which could well end in a draw.
Prediction: Millwall 1-1 Preston
Result: Millwall 2-0 Preston