Both planning their routes into the top-six places over the remaining weeks of the campaign, Millwall and Middlesbrough will clash at The Den on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
The Lions have revived their dreams of a playoff finish with back-to-back wins recently, whilst Boro are looking to avoid consecutive defeats at such a crucial part of the second-tier season.
Match preview
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Following the conclusion of their March schedule with a 1-0 defeat away at the base of Sunderland, Millwall have enjoyed a stellar start to their April calendar, recording back-to-back wins over strugglers Portsmouth and Premier League-chasing Sheffield United most recently.
Despite having only seven shots in Yorkshire on Tuesday night compared to the Blades' 25, the Lions were the latest side to enjoy a productive evening at Bramall Lane this season, with Middlesbrough loanee Josh Coburn firing home the game-winning strike in the first half.
After seeing his side collect a maximum of six points from their first two matches this month, Alex Neil still has a slim chance of replicating his heroics as Norwich City head coach and taking Millwall to the Premier League, with Saturday's hosts five points behind the top six in the Championship standings with five games remaining.
Winning four of their last six matches in the second tier, the Lions are in good shape ahead of a dogfight for a spot in the post-season conversation, with Millwall triumphant in consecutive home matches recently, edging past the attentions of Stoke City (1-0) and Pompey (2-1) in the capital.
Scoring all three of his side's strikes across their last two contests at The Den, summer arrival Mihailo Ivanovic is beginning to find his feet in the rough and tumble of English football, with the 20-year-old Serbian leading his team's Golden Boot race, boasting eight Championship goals so far.
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Also targeting a late charge towards the top six, Middlesbrough witnessed their four-game unbeaten run grind to a saddening halt on Tuesday night, when league-leading Leeds United rocked up on Teesside and returned to Yorkshire with maximum points courtesy of an early Dan James effort.
Nevertheless, Michael Carrick's men are still firmly in the race for a top-six berth heading into the final five matches of the regular campaign, with Boro currently occupying seventh spot in the Championship table, two points behind an in-form Coventry City outfit in sixth.
Whilst only ranking a respectable seventh in terms of second-tier away form this season, Middlesbrough hold the title of the most potent attacking force on the road to date, with the North-East club netting a sensational 32 goals across 20 Championship matches away from the Riverside Stadium.
Boro's offensive prowess was thrown into jeopardy during the winter transfer window as 11-strike forward Emmanuel Latte Lath secured a big-money move to MLS side Atlanta United, although Carrick's troops were quick to resupply the armoury, with Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Iling-Junior and Morgan Whittaker all joining the ranks.
Following victories over Millwall at The Den and the Riverside during 2024, Middlesbrough will be looking to make it three wins on the spin against the capital side on Saturday afternoon, when the visitors could move as high as fifth place, leapfrogging Bristol City and Coventry in the process.
Team News
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After netting the winner at Bramall Lane earlier in the week, Millwall attacker Coburn is unable to feature against his parent club this weekend.
As a result, Serbian star Ivanovic will require a new partner at the top of the field, with Aidomo Emakhu possibly earning a promotion from the bench.
The Lions are running low on options in their backline ahead of Saturday, with both Japhet Tanganga (wrist) and Shaun Hutchinson (leg) sidelined.
Middlesbrough are in the heat of the top-six race without a host of first-team regulars, including first-choice goalkeeper Seny Dieng due to an ankle injury.
Boro have missed the creativity of Liverpool loanee Ben Doak in recent times, with the Scotland international on the treatment table owing to a thigh problem.
Millwall possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Leonard, Crama, Cooper, Bryan; Honeyman, De Norre, Mitchell, Cundle; Emakhu, Ivanovic
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Travers; Dijksteel, Howson, Van den Berg, Iling-Junior; Morris, Hackney, Burgzorg, Azaz, Conway; Iheanacho
We say: Millwall 2-1 Middlesbrough
After a hard-fought success at Sheffield United earlier in the week, Millwall will be full of confidence as Middlesbrough visit the capital this weekend.
Boro are the highest-scoring attack in the division on their travels, although we believe that Carrick's exciting crop will suffer a damaging defeat at the home of the Lions.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
