Two teams we have discussed a lot this season. The Lions are a club I have always had a bit of a soft spot for (yes I am a little odd) and they did us a favour last week in that home draw with league leaders Burnley, but as we discussed at the time, that is typical Millwall, raising their game against the big clubs at the New Den. On the road they are not quite so imposing and ahead of their trip to Bournemouth early last month I wrote ....

I think the Lions might have got "found out" with that heavy midweek loss to Birmingham, they were coming off three straight wins and played some delightful attacking football in a 2-0 defeat of Leeds United at the New Den last Saturday. But they were a bit too gung-ho at times ,allowed acres of space and United really should have got something from that match. City had done their homework, ran out easy winners, missed a penalty and could have scored six. Millwall were 0-2-4 through their first six games and I feel the recent run was a brief respite. The Lions lost a lot of key players in the Summer and have now allowed James Henry (35-5-8 last season) to join Wolves and Liam Feeney has gone to Bolton, they have a small budget and boss Steve Lomas is trying to balance the books and stay competitive, which in this toughest of divisions is close to impossible. They lost absolutely key central defender Mark Beevers for six weeks to injury , he played in the first eight games, missed the last two and he was missed. You only had to see the space through the middle in both games at the back, despite the win over Leeds, who are themselves struggling. The Lions have had a league low 23 attempts on target this season and I think they have a tough ask to stay in the second tier, I hope they will, but not with any points today !

That was probably a bit harsh, but they did lose 5-2, points against Reading, QPR and Burnley since is a decent return, but they rode their luck at times in each and conceded five in those games anyway and it could easily have been three or four more. I feel they are very vunerable defensively and that a season long relegation battle is still on the cards, personally I do not feel they are helped today by the loss of promising young left back Scott Malone, he seems sure to be replaced by Shane Lowry and Millwall are 0-3-5 with 16 goals conceded with Lowry in that key position. Otherwise coach Steve Lomas has more options than for recent weeks.

I am not going over old ground with Wanderers, they have a strong squad and at the very least, should be pressing for a top six place, their failure to win at home (0-5-2) has cost them very dear, but they are now unbeaten in six, including two road wins and I still do not feel they are totally out of the playoff picture, but have to start winning games like this. There are signs that their full treatment room is starting to clear and the club got a boost this week with the news that classy midfielder Mark Davies has resumed training and will be fit to return shortly ( not today), they do however get André Moritz back to increase options . Beckford and N'gog are developing an understanding up front now and right winger Chung-Yong Lee should be eyeing up Shane Lowry ( sorry to pick on him again) with relish. Man for man, this is a mismatch, even with Bolton missing several key long term injuries, Chris Eagles can barely get a look in for goodness sake and has not even left the bench in 3 of the last 5 starts, he would be first name on the Millwall team sheet and in many Championship teams. Finally, at long last, Wanderers to break their duck. 1.5 units Bolton Wanderers -0.5 ball 2.0-2.02 asian line/Ibramarket.

Good Luck.