It has been a dismal few weeks for Millwall as they have plunged into the relegation zone following a run of four defeats in five. They have lost 10 of their last 14 games in the Championship so it’s no surprise to see them languishing at the depths of the table. Manager Ian Holloway has enjoyed promotions with the likes of Blackpool and Crystal Palace from this league but he has real battle on his hands to prevent his current club from going down. Their struggles are highlighted even further by the fact they have managed just one goal in their last five games.
After winning six games on the bounce, including a crucial victory over rivals Ipswich in the derby, Norwich were brought back down to earth with a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to struggling Wigan. It is a result which see’s them slip back into fifth position but they are still only four points off top. The promotion picture is incredibly tight in the league so the Norwich players and management will be determined to not lose any more ground on the clubs above them and begin another winning run starting on Saturday against Millwall.
Only bottom side Blackpool have scored less goals than Millwall, and that’s the main reason why they have been unable to climb the table this season. Their top scorer is on just four league goals so it’s obviously an area that they need to improve on. Options are limited for Holloway, though, and despite bringing in a couple of attackers on loan, he has to rely on the players which have, as yet, failed to produce. The pressure only increases with every passing week and the six point gap between them and safety is looking awfully big at the moment.
Of the three sides relegated from the Premier League last season, Norwich were the least fancied of the clubs to bounce straight back. Better things were expected of Fulham and Cardiff but it has been the Canaries who hold the only realistic hope of being promoted. Their away form has improved under Neil and they come into this game on the back of five unbeaten, winning four of those. When you take into consideration that they managed only one win in the seven games previous to that, it’s been a considerable improvement.
Neither of these sides can really afford to lose this game, even at this stage of the season. Losing consecutive games when the top seven are so tightly packed would be s huge blow to Norwich’s hopes of automatic promotion whilst Millwall simply have to start winning games if they are to stand any chance of staying in the league. The last time these two sides met Norwich ran out emphatic 6-1 winners. Whilst I don’t think we will get a repeat of that score this time around, I do believe the away side will triumph and heap further misery on Ian Holloway.
Norwich 17/20 @ Betfred
