Preview: Luton Town vs. Millwall - prediction, team news, lineups

Luton Town will hope to continue their remarkable Championship playoff push at home against a Millwall side who still have hopes of the top six themselves.

The Hatters are currently third in the table, while the Lions are 10th and four points behind sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers.

Match preview

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Luton's run of eight wins from their last 11 matches has seen them rise from 10th in the Championship to third.

Nathan Jones said his side reached "utopia" after going third following their 3-1 win over Hull City before the international break.

The Hatters still have an intense battle ahead of them over the next five weeks though, as they are as close to second place as they are to 10th in terms of points (six).

If they keep up their superb form though, which includes four wins from their last five home games, Luton's unlikely Premier League dream could become a reality.

Jones's side won 2-0 over Millwall earlier in the season, courtesy of a brace from Harry Cornick, which was the Hatters' first victory against the Lions in their last 10 meetings since 2005.

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Millwall's playoff push stalled before the international break as they lost 2-0 to a Stoke City side who were winless in eight matches going into the game.

A run of five consecutive victories in February and early March had put the Lions right in the top-six picture but they have now won just one of their last four games.

Only four Championship teams have scored fewer goals than Gary Rowett's side this season, but only three clubs have conceded fewer.

Millwall have won just five of their 19 away matches this season and have only triumphed on the road twice so far in 2022.

Team News

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Nathan Jones says that Luton are in a "better position" regarding injuries after being without Sonny Bradley, Kal Naismith, Reece Burke, Gabriel Osho and Robert Snodgrass for the win over Hull before the international break.

Although the Hatters boss remained tight-lipped on exactly which players could return, he revealed that Snodgrass is back in full training and is ready to contribute.

Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu has returned from international duty with no injury concerns, but Peter Kioso was forced off against Hull with a tight hamstring so will be assessed ahead of Saturday's game.

The international break has allowed Millwall to get several players back fit after dealing with an injury crisis throughout February and March.

Oliver Burke and Ryan Leonard are set to be available after time on the sidelines, while Maikel Kieftenbeld, Sheyi Ojo and Tom Bradshaw all made their returns from injury off the bench against Stoke a fortnight ago and should now be back to full fitness.

The only Lions players not available are Mason Bennett and Luke Freeman, who are unlikely to feature again this season.

Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Shea; Burke, Lockyer, Potts; Bree, Campbell, Clark, Bell; Berry; Adebayo, Cornick

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Ballard, Cooper, M. Wallace; McNamara, Saville, Kieftenbeld, Malone; J. Wallace; Afobe, Burey

We say: Luton Town 1-1 Millwall

Both teams will be stronger squad-wise than they were before the international break with players returning from injury, so the two managers will feel this is a good chance to set the tone for the final eight games. We think that it will be a tight game and predict that it will finish level.

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