Friday 20th April 2018 Kick off 1945hrs Millwall v Fulham Football – England – Championship The business end of the Championship season is well upon us and Friday night’s game involves two teams who are involved in the promotion shake-up. Both Millwall and Fulham are in the playoff zones currently but for the home team they will be delighted to finish in one of the four playoff spots whilst Fulham are still attempting to claim the second automatic promotion place, in what is now a straight battle with Cardiff. Wolves may have clinched their place in the Premier League for next season but there is still plenty to be decided.
Millwall were not expected to be involved in the race for promotion at the start of the season and even at the midway point the noises come out the club were seemingly about being content to avoid being dragged into any relegation scrap. Now there is a less than a handful of games remaining, Neil Harris and his players are preparing for what will be an extremely tense battle for the last two playoff spots. Themselves and Middlesbrough are currently occupying 5th and 6th but they are only a point ahead of Derby County – who sit just outside the top six – and have played a game more than the Rams. That’s how tight it is going into these last couple of weeks, making every point absolutely crucial. Millwall have the hardest running of any of the top six as they complete their season against ‘Boro and Aston Villa. That puts them at a disadvantage compared to the other runner for promotion but they are on an incredible run which sees them unbeaten in their last 17 games – winning nine of them. They will have to continue that fine form to ensure they remain in the top six.
Fulham will feel like they have let themselves down by failing to win a crucial home match with Brentford last Saturday. Having nudged ahead of Cardiff in the race for second last midweek, the Cottagers would have fancied their chances of staying above Neil Warnock’s side when hosting Brentford. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t find a winner and have since handed the advantage back to Cardiff. The current situation sees the Bluebirds hold a one point lead but they also have a game in hand. Should they win that then making up points with just three games left would appear to be a big ask but all Fulham can do is try and do their part and return to winning ways on Friday evening. Like their next opponents, Fulham are on a great run and have managed one more game unbeaten. One of the most impressive aspects of that run has been their form on the road. Currently on a four game winning run on their travels, only Wolves have won more matches away from home this season. Two of their last three are away from Craven Cottage so that winning habit on the road has to continue to stand any chance of automatic promotion.
Millwall v Fulham Betting Tip
It is an incredible achievement from both managers the fact that this games pits two teams together who have went a combined 35 games without defeat in the Championship. We know how competitive this division is so the consistency shown by Millwall and Fulham has been superb but something may well give on Friday. A draw does not do either of the teams much good in relation to their objectives for this season. Any dropped points would hand significant advantages to the teams competing for the respective positions in the league and it does not leave the much time to recover as both would only have a couple of games of their campaigns left. This could yet be a semi final or final in the end of season playoffs but Fulham will be hoping to avoid that drama if they can.
Millwall’s last defeat in the league came all the way back on the 1st of January where as Fulham have not been beaten in the league since December of last year meaning they are actually 21 games without defeat in the Championship. There was very little between the sides when the met at Craven Cottage earlier in the season as Fulham secured a 1-0 win, and it’s likely that it will be a close encounter again on Friday. The pressure is going to be obvious at this stage and with so much at stake for the two clubs, allied with the fact it’s a London derby, then we may well see a very tight and nervy game. Take the unders with defences likely to be on top.
Under 2.5 goals 11/10 @ Unibet
