Millwall and Preston North End will lock horns this weekend in the SkyBet Championship on Saturday afternoon at The Den.
Millwall are coming off the back of an impressive 4-1 home win against Barnsley in the FA Cup. Similarly, Preston recently won an impressive 5-1 to League Two Wycombe Wanderers. Alex Neil’s lilywhites are currently 3 points off the play-off places in 9th place. The Lions on the other hand are on a six-match unbeaten in all competitions at home. However, they are still searching for their first away win of the season, drawing 0-0 in the reverse fixture at Deepdale in September.
Millwall have the upper hand over their Lancashire rivals over the years. Winning 28 games to Preston’s 23 games, with their last meeting at The Den coming in January 2013 where a Liam Feeney goal saw Millwall win 1-0 in the FA Cup. The Lions eventually went on to the semi-finals that season, losing 2-0 to eventual winners Wigan Athletic at Wembley.
Millwall look to welcome back Tom Elliot into the side as well as returns for keeper Jordan Archer and Mahlon Romeo. With Byron Webster and Shane Ferguson still out with long-term injuries.
Preston on the other hand look to welcome back Ben Pearson, Den Davies, Chris Maxwell and Jordan Hugill to the side after being left out of last week’s FA Cup win. Darnell Fisher is also close to a return after being out with a hip problem, and Calum Woods will be out for 2-3 weeks after injuring his hamstring against Wycombe.
Speaking ahead of the match, manager Neil Harris has praised his side’s form among the camp.
“The form of the players in our team, and the players on the bench waiting to get in has been top draw. With that in mind there is no immediate need for someone to come in.”
“Hopefully that continues and it’s just about adding to the squad.”
Alex Neil has also seen improvements of his side since the 2 teams’ last meeting in September and hinted of a tough afternoon for his side in South London:
“I thought if anyone deserved to win that game (the reverse fixture) it was us. I think we have started to develop that side of our game, which has been better.”
