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

Millwall will look to extend their league unbeaten run to seven games on Saturday, when they travel to take on Barnsley.

The visitors picked up a 1-0 win over Bristol City on Wednesday to climb to 14th spot in the Championship table, while their visitors were handed a second straight defeat, seeing their winless run stretch to eight outings.

Match preview

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Barnsley defied expectations to break into the playoff places last season and just fell short of the final, but following the departure of manager Valerien Ismael over the summer, they have had a far more difficult start to the new campaign.

Now under the management of Markus Schopp, the Yorkshire side collected four points from their first two matches, but have since failed to add another victory.

They come into the game having picked up just four points from the last eight games, and have now lost their last two league outings.

After creditable draws with Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers, Schopp's side fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat away at newly-promoted Blackpool on Saturday, before losing to Nottingham Forest last time out.

The Tykes led until the hour mark thanks to Cauley Woodrow's penalty, but the visitors eventually drew level through Philip Zinckernagel, before Brennan Johnson quickly put them ahead and Lewis Grabban added a third late on to compound Barnsley's misery.

As a result, they were leapfrogged by the Nottingham side and now sit in 21st spot, and the Tykes will be desperate to reverse their fortunes and move away from the drop zone, but they face a tough test against a Millwall side who have not fallen to a defeat in the last six league games.

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After a slow start to the season, collecting two points from the first four league games, Millwall have managed to build a relatively solid run of form, firstly breaking their difficult start with a 2-1 home win over newly-promoted Blackpool.

Gary Rowett's men then played out four consecutive draws, firstly holding promotion-chasing West Bromwich Albion before taking points from Swansea City, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, who posed a tough test with a new manager.

The Lions managed to stretch their unbeaten run to six Championship games last time out, while also making a return to winning ways, as they welcomed Bristol City to The Den on Wednesday.

The game remained goalless for an hour, until Benik Afobe won a penalty and Jed Wallace converted from the spot to secure their second victory of the campaign.

That saw the London side climb to 14th spot with 12 points from the opening 10 games, and, after playoff pushes in the last two years, they will be keen to continue their form and build with another victory on Saturday.

Team News

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Barnsley face the concerning loss of key centre-back Mads Andersen, who is sidelined with an injury, leaving Michal Helik to play at the heart of a relatively inexperienced defensive line, although Schopp could bring Toby Sibbick back into the starting XI.

Creative talent Callum Styles has taken to a new midfield role this season, with the likes of Jordan Williams and Ben Williams battling to fill in the vacancy in the left wing-back slot.

Their line will be led by Cauley Woodrow, who has netted three goals in 10 Championship appearances so far this campaign after hitting 12 and 14 goals in the previous two terms in the second tier.

Following a recovery from an injury, key Millwall attacker Jed Wallace returned to the bench last time out, and, after coming on to convert the winning penalty, he could be handed a start if deemed fit on Saturday.

Meanwhile, strikers Matt Smith and Benik Afobe will both be battling to keep their places, although one would likely make way for Wallace to maintain Rowett's preferred 3-5-2 shape.

Established centre-back Jake Cooper was reduced to a substitute appearance last time out, with the Lions deploying the back three of Murray Wallace, Shaun Hutchinson and Daniel Ballard, but Cooper should return to the starting XI on Saturday.

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Collins; Sibbick, Helik, Kitching; Brittain, Palmer, Styles, J Williams; Frieser, Woodrow, Adeboyejo

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Ballard, Hutchinson, Cooper; McNamara, Evans, Saville, M Wallace; Ojo; J Wallace, Smith

We say: Barnsley 0-1 Millwall

Millwall find themselves in a stronger run than their hosts and thrive on their solid defensive foundations, potentially setting them up to leave Oakwell with a hard-fought win on Saturday.

If they are able to deal with the threat posed by the likes of Styles and Woodrow, the Lions will be able to attack Barnsley's struggling back line, and, with the return of Jed Wallace, they should have enough to seal all three points.