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

Millwall play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon trailing their next opponents by just two points in the Championship standings.

The two clubs occupy ninth and eighth place respectively, and defeat for either team would leave them as clear outsiders to earn a playoff spot at the end of the season.

Match preview

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Soon after his arrival, Chris Wilder guided Middlesbrough on a run of six wins from seven games, putting the club right in the mix for a place in the playoffs.

However, Boro have failed to post successive wins since the turn of the year, with four defeats in nine matches leaving the North-East outfit outside of the top six.

With 11 matches remaining, the situation can be quickly rectified, but Middlesbrough have looked a shadow of their former selves, particularly away from home where nine goals have been conceded during three defeats in a row.

Wilder watched his former club Sheffield United blow Boro away earlier this week, the Blades prevailing by a 4-1 scoreline, and there are signs that minimal squad rotation is starting to take its toll.

Although Boro have the strength-in-depth to turn things around, Saturday's trip to East London could prove pivotal with the club now only four points ahead of 11th-placed Preston North End.

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As far as Millwall are concerned, they are one of only two teams - the other being Huddersfield Town - to come through their last six games without suffering a defeat.

Five successive victories were recorded during that run, the only blot on their copybook being a respectable goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers earlier this week.

Despite dropping points at Ewood Park, Gary Rowett will remain positive about their ongoing run of form, aware that none of their rivals will fancy playing his team in the current moment.

Despite scoring just eight times in six matches, only two strikes have been conceded, both of which have come in the 88th minute and beyond having held a 2-0 advantage on each occasion.

Millwall also head into this fixture with the second-best defensive record at home, shipping just 13 goals in 17 fixtures.

Team News

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With Daniel Ballard having sustained a groin injury against Blackburn, Alex Pearce is expected to come into the Millwall XI.

George Evans is an option if Rowett wishes to introduce fresh legs, while Mason Bennett may get the nod over Tyler Burey in attack.

Middlesbrough boss Wilder will hope to have Anfernee Dijksteel available after the defender missed the Sheffield United defeat through illness.

Neil Taylor should return at left wing-back, taking the spot of Marc Bola, while Folarin Balogun is in line to return in attack.

Riley McGree may be fit enough to take a place on the substitutes' bench, but he is unlikely to be risked in midfield from the start.

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Pearce, Cooper, Wallace; McNamara, Mitchell, Saville, Malone; Wallace; Afobe, Bennett

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Dijksteel, Fry, McNair; Jones, Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Taylor; Balogun, Sporar

We say: Millwall 1-1 Middlesbrough

Given the respective form of the two clubs, you have to make Millwall favourites to prevail from this contest. However, Boro have reached a point where they need to rediscover some consistency, and that desire may be enough to earn a share of the spoils.

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