Millwallvs.Sheff Utd

The visitors regained top spot on Sunday in a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion, while their hosts dropped to 11th place following a defeat at the weekend.

Match preview

Millwall return to action on Wednesday aiming to climb back towards the Championship's playoff places, having experience a slight dip in form in recent weeks.

In their first full season back under the management of Neil Harris, after steering clear of relegation last time around, the London side enjoyed a pleasing start to the term, moving into the top six on 22 points from 14 outings with a run of four straight victories across October and November.

While they followed up those triumphs with three consecutive 1-1 draws last month to make it nine games unbeaten, the Lions now find themselves winless in four outings, having most recently hosted Coventry City on Saturday after being pegged back late on by Oxford United.

The Lions came away empty-handed from that contest, falling to just a fifth league defeat of the campaign having failed to find a leveller after Ephron Mason-Clark put the visitors 1-0 up around the hour mark.

Now trailing the playoff spots by six points as a result of the winless streak, but still boasting one of the division's best defensive records with only one side outside of the top four having allowed fewer than their 16 goals, Millwall will hope to improve their attacking fortunes on Wednesday and bounce back to winning ways at The Den to move closer to the top six.

They face a tough test, though, as the away side visit the Den aiming to strengthen their standing at the summit of the table and extend an impressive unbeaten streak.

Sheffield United head out on the road again on Wednesday aiming to make it nine games without defeat in England's second tier, having amassed 20 points in their last eight outings after suffering their only two league losses of the season consecutively in November.

The Blades have shown their quality at both ends of the pitch thus far, with only four sides topping their tally of 27 goals in 19 games and only Burnley allowing fewer than the 11 that they have conceded, while their tally of 16 points on the road is also the division's third strongest.

After recording back-to-back home victories over Oxford United and Sunderland last week, scoring four goals along the way without conceding, Chris Wilder's men most recently visited fellow promotion-chasers West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and returned to top spot in a 2-2 draw, having led 2-1 at the interval through Callum O'Hare and Tyrese Campbell before settling for a share of the spoils after Tom Fellows levelled the game.

Still only leading Leeds United by a single point and Burnley by two after beginning the season with a two-point deduction, Sheffield United will aim to continue their fine form on Wednesday and record a 13th Championship win of the season to strengthen their standing at the top.

Millwall Championship form:

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L

Sheffield United Championship form:

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D

Team News

Millwall are without defenders Jake Cooper and Shaun Hutchinson due to injuries, although Neil Harris will be able to call on Japhet Tanganga, who missed the Coventry City defeat through suspension.

He should join Murray Wallace at the heart of a back four given their other absences at the back, while former Sheffield United man Ryan Leonard should shift back out to his usual right-back role.

Romain Esse missed the Coventry contest at the weekend, and if his absence continues Femi Azeez, George Honeyman and Duncan Watmore should again line up in support of front man Macaulay Langstaff.

Sheffield United continue to deal with several enforced absences on Wednesday, with midfielder Oliver Arblaster and striker Kieffer Moore both sidelined by injuries, although they are boosted by the returns of centre-backs Harry Souttar and Anel Ahmedhodzic from red-card suspensions.

They could both come back into the middle of the defence at The Den, allowing Chelsea loanee Alfie Gilchrist to return to the right-hand side, while Sydie Peck should again join Vinicius Souza in the engine room with Tom Davies offering an option from the bench after his return from injury and decisive goal against Sunderland.

Forward Tyrese Campbell, who has netted six goals in the Blades' last eight Championship outings, was forced off with a muscle injury on Sunday, likely leaving Rhian Brewster or 18-year-old Ryan One to lead the line with support from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Callum O'Hare and Gustavo Hamer, given the ongoing absence of Moore.

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Jensen; Leonard, Tanganga, Wallace, Bryan; De Norre, Saville; Azeez, Honeyman, Watmore; Langstaff

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Gilchrist, Souttar, Ahmedhodzic, Burrows; Souza, Peck; Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, Hamer; One

We say: Millwall 1-1 Sheffield United

With fixtures continuing to come thick and fast in the Championship, we anticipate a tight contest at The Den between two sides who have excelled defensively.

Written by

Sam Varley

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