Eng. Championship
2012-03-24 - Millwall vs Leeds United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 24 March 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Millwall
For a long time this season, it looked like Millwall were going to be in the thick of a relegation scrap, but they are one of the teams that have taken advantage of the sad problems at Portsmouth and now look likely to extend their stay in the Championship.
Millwall are 18th in the Championship, but find themselves 8 points clear of Coventry City in the final relegation places. Without the ten point deduction suffered by Portsmouth, Millwall would actually only be 5 points clear and those 3 points could make all the difference as the games are running out fast. They are 5-6-8 at the New Den this season, scoring 21 goals and conceding 26.
The team were leading Southampton 2-1 here last week, but ended up losing the game 2-3 thanks to two Ricky Lambert goals in the last 7 minutes of the game. However, they bounced back with an important win at Doncaster during the week and have now won 3 and lost 3 of their last 6 games. However, Millwall have lost 4 of their last 5 home games in the Championship, the last 3 in a row, and they have conceded 8 goals in the last 3 games.
Nick Montgomery signed on loan from Sheffield United and he should be in the squad for this game. There are no new injury worries for the home side.
Leeds United
Simon Grayson was fired as manager of Leeds United a few weeks ago with the ambition that a new manager could perhaps help the side back into the Play Offs and an opportunity to return to the Premier League, a Division they should rightly be in. Neil Warnock was given the task to achieve Ken Bates' dreams, but they will need a good run to end the season if they are to do so.
Leeds United are 10th in the Championship table and have earned 54 points so far this season, leaving them 6 points short of the Play Offs. The picture in front of them sees a number of teams jockeying for position and Leeds can join the fray but will look to win at least 6 of their remaining 8 games to give themselves a chance. They are 7-6-6 away from home this season, scoring 29 goals and conceding 23.
That run of form required has not looked likely to happen at the moment as the team have won just 1 of their last 6 games with Neil Warnock's arrival not sparking an upturn in form. The most embarrassing aspect was the 3-7 home loss to Nottingham Forest during the week, a record breaking result. Leeds are unbeaten in their last 3 away games in the Championship, winning last time out 0-2 at Middlesbrough.
Alex Bruce and Andy O'Brien are both still missing for the away side and the same XI that started the defeat to Forest will begin here and get a chance for redemption.
Head to Head
Leeds beat Millwall 2-0 at Elland Road earlier this season, but they have not had much success when coming to this part of London in recent games.
Millwall have won their last 4 home games against the Yorkshire side including a 3-2 win here last season.
Prediction
Leeds had been very solid defensively in their games under Neil Warnock until that game against Nottingham Forest last time out and that has left them under some intense pressure to find a winning formula in their last 8 games.
They will play a Millwall side that has relieved a bit of pressure on themselves with a 0-3 win at Doncaster in their last game and one that enjoys playing Leeds at home.
Goals looks like being the best shout in this game as 3 of the last 4 at the New Den have all seen at least 3 goals shared by the teams, while Millwall have shown some real attacking flair mixed with defensive issues in their recent games.
My biggest concern is that Warnock will look to make Leeds especially solid after the 7 they conceded last time out, but he will also be under pressure to find goals and that should at least see the game open up and offer opportunities for both sides to capitalise.
The Pick :
Millwall 1-2 Leeds United
