Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Preview: Millwall vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 15 September 2022, 18:23
Two teams struggling for form in the bottom half of the Championship table will meet at The Den on Saturday when Millwall play host to Blackpool.

The Lions have won only one of their last six league games, while the Tangerines have won just two matches in their last eight.

Match preview

Millwall were unable to follow up their 2-0 win at home to Cardiff City with another three points at The Den as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday.

After a goalless first half, strikes from Chris Willock and Stefan Johansen condemned the Lions to their fourth league defeat in their last five matches without scoring.

Millwall have actually accumulated one point more than at this stage last season, but Gary Rowett has plenty to ponder with his side languishing in 19th place in the Championship, just one point above the relegation zone.

The Lions will view Saturday's fixture against Blackpool as a good opportunity to turn their fortunes around as they have won each of their last four home meetings against the Tangerines, including the 2-1 victory in August of last season.

Blackpool also head into this weekend's game off the back of a defeat after they lost 3-0 away at Rotherham United on Wednesday.

The Tangerines went a goal down in the 34th minute courtesy of a strike from Chiedozie Ogbene, before goals in the final eight minutes from Wes Harding and Georgie Kelly saw Rotherham run out comfortable winners at the New York Stadium.

Michael Appleton was unable to pinpoint what went wrong for his team after the match, but expressed his disappointment at his side's lack of 'character' and he expects improvements to be made quickly in the coming weeks.

Blackpool, who sit just one point clear of Millwall in 16th place, have performed better away from home so far this season and have accumulated seven points in their last four league matches on the road.

However, the Tangerines have only won one of their last nine visits to The Den, a 2-0 Championship victory back in August 2012 with former winger Tom Ince scoring both goals.

Millwall Championship form:

Blackpool Championship form:

Team News

Millwall defender Shaun Hutchinson is ruled out with a groin injury, while Ryan Leonard and Mason Bennett are both sidelined with hamstring problems.

Rowett is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup despite defeat in midweek, with Charlie Cresswell, Jake Cooper and Murray Wallace all set to retain their places in the back three.

Benik Afobe and George Honeyman will both be pushing to start after beginning on the bench against QPR, and they could replace Tom Bradshaw and Andreas Voglsammer respectively.

As for Blackpool, they will be without Kevin Stewart (broken foot), Lewis Fiorini (hamstring), Keshi Anderson (knee) and Jake Beesley (ankle) due to injury.

Striker Gary Madine will serve the final game of his three-match ban this weekend, with Jerry Yates set to lead the line once again as a result.

Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino could be handed a start in centre-midfield, with either Callum Connolly or Kenneth Dougall dropping to the substitutes' bench.

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Bialkowski; Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Shackleton, Saville, Mitchell, Styles; Honeyman; Flemming, Afobe

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Williams, Ekpiteta, Thorniley; Lawrence-Gabriel, Patino, Dougall, Thompson; Corbeanu, Yates, Poveda

We say: Millwall 1-1 Blackpool

Both Millwall and Blackpool will be fired up for Saturday's contest, as they look to return to winning ways and climb into the top half of the table.

However, with little to separate these two sides, a score draw could be on the cards at The Den.

Previews by email

Top News

22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal broke an English football record in their 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it came at a significant cost, as Bukayo Saka was taken off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is allegedly generating interest from at least five clubs. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona reportedly remain fully behind head coach Hansi Flick despite the team's latest title setback against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep vs. Antalyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) After their Turkish Cup victory in midweek, Gaziantep will now turn their attention to the Turkish Super Lig, with Antalyaspor visiting the Kalyon Stadyumu in Sunday's gameweek 17 encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Braga (Sunday, 5.00pm) Still reeling from crashing out of the Taca de Portugal, Santa Clara return to action in the Primeira Liga when they play host to Braga at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Ajax (Sunday, 11.15am) Ajax will be looking to end the year on a high when they travel to Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel to take on a stuttering Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma vs. Parma (Sunday, 11.30am) Both struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, Roma and Parma will hope for an early Christmas gift when they meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Heidenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has been seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after sustaining a suspected hamstring problem in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have written a new page of English football history thanks to their 5-1 destruction of London rivals Crystal Palace in Saturday's Premier League derby. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 17 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will be wrapped up with a clash between two sides from the Marmara region, as Istanbul Basaksehir welcome Kasimpasa to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Monday evening. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Leicester loan star Facundo Buonanotte wants to see a Tottenham forward join him so they can rekindle their partnership. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's rivals will hate it but they can definitely claim London is red after their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus continued his resurgence with two goals as the Gunners demolished Crystal Palace 5-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.