Millwall FC are back in the promotion race

The Lions are not out of the Championship promotion race yet. Twelve matchdays before the end of the regular season, there are still realistic chances of at least participating in the promotion play-offs. Currently, Millwall FC are separated by only three points from sixth-placed Middlesbrough.

Considering how strong the Lions have been in recent weeks, it cannot be ruled out that the gap to the play-off places will shrink further. Millwall recently celebrated five wins in a row. Nevertheless, the upcoming match will be a real test. The Lions are, after all, guests of Blackburn Rovers, the third strongest home team in the league.

Although Rovers have only won one of their last seven matches in the Championship, the best betting sites see the hosts from Blackburn in the favourite role. For a home win, odds of only 2.20 are offered on Blackburn vs Milwall. A bet on the visitors, on the other hand, is rewarded with betting odds of up to 4.00 in the event of a success.

Millwall FC had already scored against Rovers in the first leg. Nevertheless, it is daring to place bets on a point win for the Lions this time. After all, Millwall FC have not won any of their last five competitive games at Blackburn since March 2013 – will it stay that way?

Blackburn – Statistics & current form

The Rovers are currently in fear of promotion to the English top flight. In recent weeks, Blackburn have not only had to say goodbye to a direct promotion spot, but have also squandered any lead over their pursuers. As fourth in the table, Blackburn have only a three-point cushion on the seventh-placed Sheffield.

In the current table constellation, there is therefore no further room for Rovers to lose points. The match against Millwall FC is also a six-point game in the promotion race. If successful, Blackburn vs. Millwall not only pays odds of 2.20 for this tip, but Rovers would also extend their lead over their upcoming opponents to a total of eight points.

As fourth in the table, head coach Tony Mowbray’s side currently still have a chance of direct promotion. Although they are five points behind second-placed Huddersfield, Blackburn have one game less to play than Huddersfield

Third strongest home team in the Championship

Despite recent run of form, Blackburn go into their home game against the Lions with confidence. Mowbray’s side have lost just three of 17 games at Ewood Park this season. In those games, Rovers’ attack has been particularly brilliant. On average, they have scored almost two goals per home game.

Ben Brereton Díaz played a major role in this goal output. The 22-year-old Chilean is not only Rovers’ top scorer with 20 goals, but also the third best scorer in the Championship. So far, only Mitrovic (Fulham) and Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) have scored more goals than Díaz. The Chilean missed the last three matches due to injury.

Díaz is not expected to play again before the international break. In his absence, Dolan will continue to play up top. Without Díaz, Blackburn scored only one goal in the last three matchdays. In any case, Rovers have only scored one goal in their last seven league games. It is quite possible that the goal drought will continue against Millwall FC. Besides Díaz, Markanday, Poveda and Dack will also be absent due to injury.

Predicted Blackburn line-up:
Kaminski; Lenihan, Van Hecke, Wharton; Rankin-Costello, Travis, Johnson, Pickering; Giles, Dolan, Gallagher

Last matches played by Blackburn:

Championship
03/05 2022 – Fulham 2 – 0 Blackburn

02/26 2022 – Blackburn 1 – 0 Queens Park Rangers

02/23 2022 – Sheffield United 1 – 0 Blackburn

02/14 2022 – West Bromwich Albion 0 – 0 Blackburn

02/09 2022 – Blackburn 0 – 2 Nottingham Forest

Millwall – Statistics & current form

The Lions continued to soar in the Championship on the last matchday. Against Reading FC, who are 21st in the league, Millwall FC celebrated a 1-0 victory and thus their fifth win in a row. In this period, Millwall even remained three times without conceding a goal. Especially commendable was the clean sheet against QPR, the third strongest attacking team in the league.

Considering how weak the attack of the upcoming opponents has been lately, it cannot be ruled out that Millwall FC will not concede a goal against Blackburn. In the first half of the season, the Lions conceded only one goal against Rovers. The scorer then? Ben Brereton Diáz, currently one of four injured players in the Blackburn squad.

Millwall, on the other hand, are without the injured Kieftenbeld, Ojo, Bradshaw and Leonard. Hutchinson and Bennett are back in the squad. However, the Lions are not expected to make any major changes compared to their last starting eleven.

Continues away woes at Ewood Park?

Millwall FC have not won an away game against their upcoming opponents at league level since November 2012. In their last five Championship games, there have been four defeats and a draw at Blackburn’s Ewood Park. Most recently, Millwall lost two away games in a row at Rovers.

Although the Lions have won two games in a row in the Championship, it cannot be ruled out that Blackburn will see their winning streak come to an end away from home. In the eight away games before, Millwall FC had celebrated only one victory. A relapse of the Lions can therefore not be ruled out.

In the 17 away games of the current Championship, Blackburn have so far recorded a record of 5-5-7. In total, Millwall have scored only 16 goals. It is therefore by no means far-fetched to predict a low-scoring encounter in Blackburn vs Millwall. Especially as Rovers’ offence has stumbled in recent weeks anyway.

Predicted Millwall line-up:
Bialkowski; Ballard, Cooper, Wallace; McNamara, Mitchell, Saville, Malone; Burey, Wallace, Afobe

Last games played by Millwall:

Championship
03/05 2022 – Reading 0 – 1 Millwall

02/26 2022 – Millwall 1 – 0 Sheffield United

02/23 2022 – Derby 1 – 2 Millwall

02/15 2022 – Millwall 2 – 0 Queens Park Rangers

02/12 2022 – Millwall 2 – 1 Cardiff

Blackburn – Millwall Direct comparison / H2H record

This is the 46th time the two clubs have met. Rovers currently lead the head-to-head comparison against Millwall FC with a record of 24-11-10. The most wins for Blackburn have come at home. The Lions have only won five of 22 away games at Rovers. In return, there have already been 14 defeats at Blackburn’s stadium in this period.

Millwall have lost four of their last 14 away games at Ewood Park. Millwall FC have failed to score in three of their last four away games at Rovers. The two clubs drew 1-1 in the first leg of the current season.

Blackburn – Millwall Tip

Blackburn are in a crisis of form at the moment and even have to fear for a participation in the promotion play-offs after severe setbacks in the last weeks. The Rovers have lost all their lead over the chasing pack. At the moment, Blackburn are separated by only three points from seventh-placed Sheffield, who also have a game to play.

Tuesday’s opponents Millwall FC, on the other hand, returned to the promotion race with an impressive winning streak. With twelve matchdays to go in the regular season, the Lions have a realistic chance of making the promotion play-offs, given their current gap to sixth in the table.

With that in mind, the match against Rovers is a six-point game for Millwall FC. A win will see head coach Gary Rowett’s side close the gap on Blackburn to a total of two points. To do so, however, the Lions will have to work on their poor away record at Ewood Park. Four of the last five away games were lost at Blackburn’s stadium.

We therefore think it is risky to place bets on the 1X2 market for the match between the two clubs. With both attacking lines – especially Rovers’ offence – failing to make a good impression in recent weeks, we expect a low-scoring encounter between the two promotion hopefuls.