Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Friendly Games
Nigeria

Preview: Bristol City vs. Millwall - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 30 December 2023, 10:58
Two teams in good form will lock horns in the Championship on New Year's Day, with Bristol City welcoming Millwall to Ashton Gate.

Bristol City are currently eighth in the Championship table, three points behind sixth-placed Hull City, while Millwall are 16th, eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Bristol City have picked up 10 points from their last four Championship matches during an impressive run of form, beating Sunderland, Hull and Watford before drawing 0-0 with Birmingham City on Friday.

Liam Manning's side boast a record of 10 wins, six draws and nine defeats from their 25 Championship matches this season, which has left them in eighth position in the table on 36 points, just three points behind sixth-placed Hull ahead of the next set of fixtures in the second tier of English football.

The Robins have finished 19th, 17th and 14th in their last three campaigns at this level, so it is a surprise to see them currently pushing for a playoff position in the Championship.

Bristol City have struggled for consistency at home this season, winning six, drawing two and losing four of their 12 matches in front of their own supporters, while Millwall have gathered 14 points from their 12 games on the road.

The Robins have already beaten Millwall this season, running out 1-0 winners on August 12, with Matty James registering in the 94th minute of the contest in the English capital.

Millwall, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 win over Norwich City on Friday, with Tom Bradshaw scoring the only goal of the contest in the 18th minute.

The Lions also beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at home on Boxing Day, while they drew with both Huddersfield Town and Stoke City after losing 3-2 at Leicester City on December 13, so the visitors will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this match.

Joe Edwards's side have won seven, drawn eight and lost 10 of their 25 league matches this season to collect 29 points, which has left them in 16th position in the table.

Millwall are eight points clear of the relegation zone and only 10 points off the playoffs, so a strong run in the coming weeks would certainly move them closer to the top six.

The London club finished eighth in the Championship last season, only missing out on the playoffs by a single point, but a lack of goals has been a problem this term, only finding the back of the net on 27 occasions.

Bristol City Championship form:

D

L

W

W

W

D

Millwall Championship form:

L

L

D

D

W

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Bristol City's absentee list is relatively long at this moment in time, with Kai Naismith, Haydon Roberts, Andy King, Ross McCrorie, Rob Atkinson and Ayman Benarous all unavailable for selection.

Head coach Manning could decide to name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Birmingham, although it is likely that there will be a change in attack.

Tommy Conway replaced Nahki Wells off the bench against Birmingham, and the former, who has six Championship goals to his name this term, could now be introduced into the XI.

As for Millwall, there will have to be at least one change to the side that started against Norwich, as George Saville is suspended following his red card in the latter stages of the contest.

Billy Mitchell is likely to be the player to benefit, with the 22-year-old set for a starting role in midfield.

Wes Harding is also out of the match due to a knock, while a calf problem will keep Casper De Norre on the sidelines for at least another couple of weeks.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Dickie, Pring; Williams, Gardner-Hickman; Sykes, Knight, Mehmeti; Conway

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Sarkic; Leonard, Hutchinson, Cooper; Norton-Cuffy, Honeyman, Mitchell, Wallace; Emakhu, Bradshaw, Flemming

We say: Bristol City 1-1 Millwall

Millwall have only actually lost four times away from home in the Championship this season, sharing the spoils on five occasions, while Bristol City have dropped points in half of their 12 home league games in 2023-24. A case can be made for either to win it, but we are backing a low-scoring draw on Monday.

Previews by email

Top News

12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping that Tottenham Hotspur will be in no mood to do North London rivals Arsenal any sort of favours, Manchester City head to the capital to face Ange Postecoglou's side on Tuesday in the Premier League. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still in with a shot of Champions League qualification, Tottenham Hotspur face their toughest remaining Premier League test at home to champions Manchester City on Tuesday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce vs. Kayserispor (Sunday, 5.00pm) Fenerbahce will be hoping to return to winning ways when they host Kayserispor at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Sunday evening in the Turkish Super Lig. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Darmstadt vs. Hoffenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) Relegated SV Darmstadt 98 aim to scupper Hoffenheim's European bid when they host Pellegrino Matarazzo's men in gameweek 33's action in the Bundesliga on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lazio vs. Empoli (Sunday, 11.30am) Still in contention for an unlikely place in next season's Champions League, Lazio seek maximum points when they host relegation-threatened Empoli on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cadiz vs. Getafe (Sunday, 1.00pm) Cadiz's battle to escape the La Liga relegation zone will continue on Sunday afternoon, when they welcome Getafe to Nuevo Mirandilla. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has denied speculation that he has held talks with Manchester United. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have suffered a setback in their pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne equalled Cesc Fabregas's Premier League assist tally in Saturday's 4-0 win over Fulham. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Some of the greatest forwards and goal-getters in recent football history have graced the Premier League since its inception in 1992, helping to establish the English top flight as one regarded by most as the best league in the world. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Paris Saint-Germain's long-serving veterans has confirmed that he will be heading for the exit door when his contract expires at the end of the season. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have come from behind to record a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, boosting their European hopes in the process. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brahim Diaz netted a second-half brace to guide Real Madrid to a dominant 4-0 victory over relegated Granada at Nuevo Los Carmenes. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed a fresh attacking injury blow to his side after a surprise national team snub. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Third meets fourth in the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures on Monday evening, as Aston Villa and Liverpool square off at Villa Park. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool fans are anxiously waiting to learn whether left-back Andy Robertson will be involved in Monday's Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Villa Park. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been quoted a higher fee than initially expected to sign one of their top attacking targets this summer. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Manchester United midfielder Casemiro. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Aston Villa have reportedly taken a step back from pursuing a highly-rated La Liga attacker due to his salary demands. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will reportedly not announce a deal for Kylian Mbappe until after the Champions League final. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Manchester United are apparently among the teams keeping a close eye on the exploits of a highly-rated Ligue 1 teenager. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric's agent Valdika Lemic has revealed that a final decision on the his client's future is yet to be made, but his situation at Real Madrid "will be clearer" next week. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Josko Gvardiol has explained why he did not take a penalty to potentially complete his hat-trick in Manchester City's 4-0 Premier League win over Fulham. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United's European aspirations have suffered a slight blow in a 1-1 Premier League draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at St James' Park. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town's Premier League survival chances have been left in tatters courtesy of a 3-1 defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the only goal as Everton recorded a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United in Saturday's Premier League contest at Goodison Park. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Burnley have been officially relegated from the Premier League owing to a 2-1 defeat to top-four chasing Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have set a new English football record after cruising to a 4-0 victory away against Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday. 11 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking their first Premier League double over Manchester United since the 2006-07 season, Arsenal head to Old Trafford to square off with the Red Devils on Sunday afternoon.