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Blackburn logo
Championship
Apr 21, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Millwall logo

2-0

Gestede (78'), Rhodes (93')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Millwall

Sports Mole looks forward to Tuesday night's sole Championship match at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers take on Millwall.

Millwall are still alive in the battle against relegation from the Championship as they prepare to travel to Blackburn Rovers in Tuesday's sole match in the second tier.

The Lions have enjoyed a mini-resurgence under club legend Neil Harris and they'll be hoping to take three points from Ewood Park against a Blackburn side with little to play for in the final weeks of the season.



Blackburn

Rudy Gestede of Blackburn Rovers (39) celebrates as he scores their second goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City at Ewood park on January 24, 2015© Getty Images

With only eight sides in with a chance of finishing in the top six, Blackburn are currently best of the rest in ninth place going into the final two weeks of the season.

Gary Bowyer's side have been plagued with inconsistency all season long and will want to keep their place in the top 10 by the end of term on May 2 as something to build on for next year.

However, with the top eight out of sight, it means that Blackburn will have regressed this season having finished eighth last term.

Their chances of making a late dash for the playoffs in 2014-15 have been realistically over for some time, but three straight draws mean that there is no chance of crashing the promotion party.

On Saturday they shared six goals with Nottingham Forest and Bowyer expressed his anger with his side's defence, despite a hat-trick at the other end from Rudy Gestede.

Make it 17 league goals this season for the powerful frontman, who is now only one behind teammate Jordan Rhodes and likely to again be pursued this summer after Blackburn warded off interest in January.

Away from home, Blackburn are unbeaten in eight games stretching back to early February, but it's just one win in seven at Ewood Park.

Recent Championship form: LLWDDD
Recent form (all competitions): LWLDDD



Millwall

Neil Harris during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Leeds United at The Den on September 28, 2013© Getty Images

Four points out of a possible six in the last week has kept the Lions' hopes of escaping the drop well and truly alive with three games of the season remaining.

Earlier this week they got the better of Wigan Athletic in a huge basement battle to effectively relegate the Latics before taking a point from Cardiff City yesterday.

Although four points still separate them from Rotherham United outside the drop zone, there is a good chance that the Millers could be handed a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player.

Millwall fans will certainly be hoping that verdict is reached by the Football League, but if it isn't Millwall will be effectively doomed if they lose to Blackburn and Rotherham win their next game on Saturday against Norwich City.

The Lions might have suffered just one defeat in their last six games, but looking solely at their away from, the signs are worrying - they have picked up just two points out of a possible 18 in their last six on the road.

Recent form: DDWLWD



Team News

Magaye Gueye of Millwall FC celebrates scoring Millwall's 2nd goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Wigan Athletic at The Den on April 14, 2015© Getty Images

Changes are likely for Blackburn as the only substitution that they made yesterday came in added time.

Gestede will surely keep his place up front, but Rhodes might be given a rest with the likes of Paul Taylor and Chris Brown pushing for starts.

Elsewhere, Jay Spearing could come into the midfield, but Bowyer will probably have to go with the same backline as he is short of options in defence.

Harris might opt for the same Millwall side that started against Cardiff, with Ed Upson serving the last game of his two-match ban.

Magaye Gueye will hope to start having scored in the win over Wigan and he could take Lee Martin's place out wide. Shaun Cummings may return, but this game is likely to come too soon for the defender who damaged his groin against the Latics.

Shaun Williams will definitely be missing after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a bone fracture also suffered against Wigan.

Blackburn possible starting lineup:
Eastwood; Henley, Kilgallon, Olsson, Spurr; Cairney, Spearing, Williamson, Conway; Rhodes, Gestede

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Forde; Dunne, Nelson, Beevers, Harding; Gueye, Abdou, Bailey, Woolford; O'Brien, Gregory

Referee: Nigel Miller



Head To Head

Millwall haven't beaten Blackburn in four attempts, with the last two meetings both ending as 2-2 draws.

In the reverse back in November, the Lions staged an impressive comeback after being two down with 25 minutes to go.

A sending off could be on the cards as each side has had a player dismissed across the two recent score draws.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Blackburn 0-0 Millwall

With Bowyer fuming at the defence yesterday, expect them to sharpen up against a Millwall side who have scored just three goals in their last six away games. The Lions won't make it easy and a goalless stalemate could be the result.



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Blackburn's English defender Matthew Kilgallon (L) clears the ball during FA Cup quarter-final match between Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on March 8, 2015
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