Preview: Peterborough United vs. Millwall - prediction, team news, lineups

Peterborough United will be seeking their first Championship victory since October 23 when they welcome Millwall to London Road on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors, meanwhile, are hoping to claim back-to-back league wins for the third time this season and close in on the playoff spots.

Match preview

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Peterborough extended their unwanted winless league run to seven matches when they lost 2-0 away against Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Second-half strikes from James Garner and Ryan Yates condemned the Posh to their 13th Championship defeat – the most of any side in the division – as well as their fifth in succession without finding the net.

Darren Ferguson has a difficult task in steering his side clear of the relegation zone, but if they are to move out of the bottom three then their home form is seemingly their main source for points. Peterborough have accumulated 13 of their 16 Championship points at London Road, including nine in their last seven home matches.

Posh have won their last two home league games against Saturday's opponents Millwall, scoring five goals in each victory – winning 5-3 in October 2015 and 5-1 in August 2016.

With three of their next four fixtures against sides currently in the bottom half of the table, a victory this weekend could act as a springboard towards a much-needed run of form.

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After a four-game run without a win in the Championship, Millwall secured all three points at home against Birmingham City last weekend.

First-half strikes from Murray Wallace and Tom Bradshaw put the hosts in control at the break, before Troy Deeney pulled one back for the visitors in the 56th minute. However, George Evans restored Millwall's two-goal advantage with a curling effort in the 73rd-minute from just inside the penalty area.

Gary Rowett's men are now sitting eighth in the table, eight places better off than at this stage last season, as well as just four points behind the playoffs.

Millwall head into Saturday's encounter after winning just two of their last 13 away games in the Championship, failing to win each of their last three on the road in the process.

However, the Lions have never lost an away match in the second tier against Peterborough, winning their last encounter at London Road in August 2012 under former boss Kenny Jackett.

Team News

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Peterborough will be without forwards Jack Marriott and Ricky-Jade Jones as they continue to recover from respective tendon and knee injuries.

Following a dressing room bust-up with Ferguson in September, goalkeeper Christy Pym is set to continue on the sidelines, with David Cornell to start between the sticks once again.

Despite scoring only once in his last nine league appearances, Jonson Clarke-Harris is set to lead the line along with Siriki Dembele.

As for Millwall, they will be without midfielder Ryan Leonard and winger Connor Mahoney, who are suffering with respective ankle and hamstring injuries.

Rowett is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to the starting lineup which won last weekend, with Jed Wallace expected to support strikers Bradshaw and Benik Afobe in attack.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Cornell; Beevers, Kent, Edwards; Thompson, Taylor, Norburn, Grant, Butler; Dembele, Clarke-Harris

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Hutchinson, Cooper, M. Wallace; McNamara, Evans, Mitchell, Malone; J. Wallace; Bradshaw, Afobe

We say: Peterborough United 1-3 Millwall

As Millwall have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 league matches, the Lions could be the perfect opponent for Peterborough to end their five-game drought without a goal.

However, the hosts have also struggled defensively this term, conceding more goals (40) than any other side in the division, so we expect the visitors to come out on top at London Road.

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