Blackburnvs.Millwall

No team has picked up fewer points in the Championship than Blackburn over the last 10 games, while Millwall are among one of the most in-form sides in the division.

Match preview

Pressure continues to mount on Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael, despite the fact they were able to halt a dreadful run of form by winning away to Luton Town last weekend.

A run of six defeats in seven shortly before that has all but ended Rovers' hopes of reaching the playoffs, despite being well placed for most of the campaign to be in contention.

The gap between themselves and sixth-place Coventry City is at seven points, and with just four games remaining, it looks a very tall order from this point, especially considering Blackburn still have to visit Sunderland and Sheffield United before the season is out.

Prospects for this clash are not great either given the form of Millwall, and also because no team has lost on Good Friday in the EFL more often than Blackburn (32).

Recent form on home soil against their upcoming opponents is more positive at least, because Blackburn have not suffered defeat in any of the previous eight meetings with Millwall at Ewood - winning five.

Times are changing though, and after winning 1-0 in the reverse fixture at the Den just before Christmas, Millwall have the chance to complete a league double over Blackburn for the first time since the 1970-71 season.

Alex Neil's men start the Bank Holiday weekend in ninth, and within touching distance of the playoffs, after a superb run of form.

Over the last 10 games, Millwall have picked up 19 points in the Championship, with only Burnley taking more across that period, and it leaves the Lions just three points adrift of the playoffs.

Camiel Neghli scored the winner against Middlesbrough last weekend on a bittersweet afternoon for him, as he suffered a recurrence of the injury he was only just returning from after finding the net.

That victory was a third in succession for Millwall, and means their last 14 league wins have all come by a one-goal margin.

Despite losing three of their last five on the road, Millwall can take some solace from the fact they faced the Championship's current top three and Premier League Crystal Palace in that run, so this fixture should offer them more of a chance.

It is also 16 years since Millwall lost a game on Good Friday, going 10 games unbeaten since a 2-0 defeat to Yeovil Town in 2009, and maintaining that run could well bolster their chances of a playoff place.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

L

L

L

L

D

W

Millwall Championship form:

L

W

L

W

W

W

Team News

Blackburn will be without Kristi Montgomery after he was sent off in the win over Luton last weekend, joining a long list of players currently sidelined with injury.

Ryan Hedges is a minor doubt, but there will be no returns just yet for the likes of Owen Beck, Callum Brittain and Hayden Carter at the back, while top scorer Andreas Wiemann is also absent.

Wiemann is not the only attacker struggling with injury at present either, with Augustus Kargbo, Emmanuel Dennis and Harry Leonard also on the treatment table for Blackburn.

Neghli's goalscoring return was brief and the Millwall man is set to miss this clash after suffering a recurrence of a recent problem last week, rejoining a lengthy injury list of their own.

Femi Azeez returned last week but Duncan Watmore is out in attack, while defensive duo Calum Scanlon and Danny McNamara will not be available for selection.

Closing in on returns are Japhet Tanganga, Zak Sturge and Ra'ees Bangura-Williams, with all three just missing out on the squad for the win over Boro.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Toth; Rankin-Costello, Batth, Hyam, Yuri Ribeiro; Tronstad, Travis, Cantwell; Dolan, Ohashi, Hedges

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Jensen; Leonard, Crama, Cooper, Bryan; Honeyman, De Norre, Mitchell, Cundle; Emakhu, Ivanovic

We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Millwall

Blackburn's fortunes seem to be gradually turning in the right direction, but it is too little, too late, and even a win here would not be enough to put them back in the promotion picture.

Written by

Andrew Delaney

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