Millwall won for the first time since October 24 when they beat Reading 1-0 on Boxing Day. A first win and clean sheet for two months saw the Lions climb out of the bottom three.
Next up is Aitor Karanka’s Nottingham Forest. The sides drew 2-2 earlier in the season with Lee Gregory scoring late to earn Millwall a point.
There has been much speculation about Karanka’s future with Forest currently outside the top six. As things stand the Spaniard will take charge of Forest on Saturday.
Team News
Neil Harris said after beating Reading that Jed Wallace will need to be assessed, the goalscorer was taken off with a tight hamstring in the second half. Other than Tom Bradshaw (ACL) and Shaun Williams (ankle ligaments) Neil Harris has a fully fit squad to choose from.
The Millwall boss may decide to make changes as his side play again just three days later on New Year’s Day. Harris made his substitutions fairly early in the second half meaning he could stick with the side that stayed against Reading.
Form
Millwall won for the first time in eight matches on Boxing Day to move out of the bottom three. Forest meanwhile have not won since beating Ipswich 2-0 on December 1. Forest have also found goals hard to come by just four in their last five matches. Three of those came against Norwich on Boxing Day. A game in which they led 3-0 before Norwich staged a late comeback to draw 3-3.
In terms of recent meetings between the two sides, its fairly even. Millwall won at The Den while Forest won at the City ground last season. The meeting between the two sides earlier in the season was 2-2 draw.
Potential Changes
I think Neil Harris will go for an unchanged lineup. The fact he made his substitutions early against Reading spoke volumes. The only area where there could be a change is up front. Steve Morison may come in for Tom Elliott with the latter starting against Reading and with Ipswich to come just three days later.
Predicted Millwall line up
Archer; Romeo, Hutchinson, Cooper, Meredith; J Wallace, Tunnicliffe, Leonard, Ferguson; Eliott, Gregory.
