Millwallvs.Cardiff

The Lions will be looking for their first league win for almost a month in midweek, while the Bluebirds will be hoping to build on their emphatic win in the South Wales derby last time out.

Match preview

Alex Neil's Millwall may be 17th in the table, but they are just four points above 22nd-placed Portsmouth, the first team in the relegation zone.

Tuesday's hosts are in particularly poor form at the moment, having lost three and drawn two of their last five Championship games, and only Derby County - who have lost four on the bounce - are experiencing a worse spell outside of the relegation zone.

Most recently, the Lions lost 1-0 to Ruben Selles's Hull City, a match in which they struggled to create chances and were sunk by an unfortunate own goal from centre-back Jake Cooper.

Such lacking offensive displays have been emblematic of Millwall's campaign so far, and having netted just 24 goals in total, Neil's side are the lowest scoring team in the division.

In the reverse fixture, the Lions lost 1-0 to Cardiff, and considering that they have scored more than one goal on just one occasion in their last 19 second-tier matches, they will need to keep a clean sheet if they are to take all three points from Tuesday's game.

Meanwhile, Omer Riza's Bluebirds are unbeaten in 2025, and have won three and drawn three of their six most recent games across all competitions.

In the Championship, the visitors have not lost since Boxing Day, when they were beaten 3-2 on the road by Oxford United, and in stark contrast to their opponents' attacking woes, have only failed to score once in the last month.

That being said, Cardiff have conceded 17 more goals than Millwall this term, and only one team have conceded more than their 41 outside of the relegation zone.

Last time out, interim boss Riza's side beat Swansea 3-0 in an action-packed South Wales derby clash that was marked by a Callum Robinson brace - the first in the derby since Michael Chopra's in 2010 - and a sealing header from Dimitrios Goutas, as well as a red card for Riza himself and an off-pitch melee after the final whistle.

However, the Bluebirds will be on the road in midweek, and it is important to highlight that they have won just one away game in the Championship this season, so they will have to defy their own record if they are to earn back-to-back league wins for the first time since October.

Millwall Championship form:

W

L

D

L

D

L

Millwall form (all competitions):

L

D

L

D

W

L

Cardiff City Championship form:

L

W

D

D

D

W

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

D

W

Team News

Millwall have now completed the sale of teenage winger Romain Esse to Crystal Palace for a reported fee of £12m that could rise to £14.5m if add-ons are met.

In his absence, boss Neil will be looking to exploit Cardiff's defensive weakness on Tuesday, so expect George Honeyman - who scored in his side's recent 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday - to support striker Mihailo Ivanovic up front.

As for the Bluebirds, left-back Callum O'Dowda was withdrawn with an injury after just 24 minutes against Swansea, and Joel Bagan is likely to take his place in the XI for the trip to the Den.

Elsewhere, they will again be without the notoriously injury-prone Aaron Ramsey, and forward Roko Simic is a doubt for the clash after picking up a knock.

The visitors will also miss Riza's presence in the dugout after his red card in the derby, and assistant coach Tom Ramasut will be on the touchline in his place.

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Jensen; Tanganga, Cooper, Bryan; Leonard, Norre, Saville, Scanlon; Watmore, Ivanovic, Honeyman

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Alnwick; Rinomhota, Goutas, Daland, Bagan; Chambers, Ralls; Ashford, Robertson, Tanner; Robinson

We say: Millwall 1-2 Cardiff City

Millwall have struggled offensively this season, while Cardiff have had issues at the back, so expect a close-fought affair regardless of the result.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

Previews by email