Eng. Championship
2013-05-04 - Derby County vs Millwall
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 4 May 2013 - Kick Off 12:45pm
Derby County
The season comes to a close at Pride Park this weekend and Nigel Clough is most likely already thinking about what needs to be done to make Derby County a potential promotion challenger next season. Financial constraints makes it tough for the Rams in a very competitive Championship which is going to be bolstered by Queens Park Rangers and Reading next season, but for now the players can focus on sending the fans away in a positive mood for the Summer.
Despite having 58 points on the board, Derby County are still not exactly sure where they are going to finish this season, but they do have a chance to finish in the top half of the table with a win. The Rams are currently in 13th place in the Championship and they have an 11-7-4 record at Pride Park this season. In those games, Derby have scored 42 goals and conceded 22 this season.
It hasn't been the best end of the season for Derby County since a possible Play Off place was gone and they have only won 1 of their last 5 games in the League. However, Derby have remained pretty solid at home and they have won 3 of their last 4 games here including a 3-1 win over Peterborough United in their most recent game at Pride Park.
Millwall
The run to the FA Cup Semi Final would have been well received by the fans, but it took a fair bit out of the players who were dragged into a relegation battle. Millwall are certainly not out of the danger zone just yet, but it will take a big turn of events for them to be relegated now after earning a goalless draw with Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
That result left Millwall in 19th place in the Championship with 56 points earned so far, but they are still not mathematically safe from the drop. If Barnsley, Peterborough United and Sheffield Wednesday all win and Millwall lose they will be relegated, while failing to pick up three points will mean Millwall are hoping for goal difference to be on their side. They have a 7-7-8 record away from home this season, scoring 27 goals and conceding 31 in those games.
Millwall have won 1 of their last 9 games in all competitions to see them drop down towards the bottom three in the Championship and also fall out of the FA Cup at the Semi Final stage. They were beaten 3-0 at Huddersfield Town in their last away game in the League, but Millwall had only lost 1 of their previous 5 away games in the Championship and had picked up 10 points from a possible 15.
Head to Head
Millwall beat Derby County 2-1 at the New Den earlier this season.
Derby are unbeaten in their last 4 home games against Millwall including a 3-0 win last season.
Prediction
I think Millwall are likely to survive thanks to other teams failing to pick up the necessary points to overtake them, although it will be a nervy afternoon for them
Derby County are a solid team at Pride Park and I think they will have enough to make the odds pay in this one, even if some of the players are perhaps looking forward to the off-season.
The Pick :
Derby County 2-1 Millwall
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Derby County to Win @ 2.38 (Ladbrokes)
