Preview: Millwall vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to break a run of seven games without a win on Saturday, when they travel to The Den to take on Gary Rowett's Millwall.

The hosts have enjoyed a solid recent run having suffered just one defeat in their last 11 league games, seeing them move up to 10th in the Championship table, while Tony Mowbray's side have fallen to 15th spot.

Match preview

© Reuters

In their last game, Millwall hosted a struggling Preston North End side, but it was the visitors who took the lead early on through Ched Evans.

Scott Malone then equalised for Rowett's side after 40 minutes, before Mason Bennett headed in a late winner, taking advantage of Daniel Iversen's hesitation in the Preston goal.

That sealed a 10th league win of the season for the Lions, while they have only lost eight of their 34 Championship games so far this campaign.

That is mostly down to their resilient home form, with Rowett's men suffering just one defeat from their 17 league games at their London ground.

However, their issue could be that they struggle to turn draws into wins, having drawn 10 of those 17 home matches and 16 league games overall, four more draws than any other side in the division.

Rowett will definitely see this game as a good opportunity to record consecutive home victories, as they look to continue their rise up the table.

© Reuters

Meanwhile, Blackburn will be on the hunt for a first league win since January, having gone seven games without a victory.

Last time out, Tony Mowbray's side fell to a 1-0 away defeat at the hands of fifth-placed Reading, as George Puscas netted the only goal of the game in the first half.

That followed a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Coventry City, when Matty James equalised for the visitors after Ben Brereton gave Rovers the lead.

That draw was the only point the Lancashire outfit have picked up in the last seven matches, having previously lost five consecutive games to Queens Park Rangers, Preston, Barnsley, Nottingham Forest and Watford.

Mowbray will be hoping for a reaction from his side in this game, as they look to avoid slipping further towards the relegation scrap.

Millwall Championship form:

WWDDLW

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

LLLLDL

Team News

© Reuters

Millwall are expected to remain without midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld, who has not featured in the squad since he was forced off with an injury in the win over Sheffield Wednesday in early February.

Similarly, Ryan Leonard has also been absent since the victory over Sheffield Wednesday, handing a further blow to Rowett's midfield options.

Mason Bennett, Jed Wallace and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could form their front three once again, although striker Matt Smith will also be pushing for a starting spot.

Blackburn will be without experienced centre-back Daniel Ayala, who remains out with a groin injury having failed to appear since the turn of the year.

In his absence, Everton loanee Jarrad Branthwaite and Manchester City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis have battled for a starting spot alongside Darragh Lenihan, with Harwood-Bellis being preferred in the last game.

Key midfielder Bradley Dack has failed to put together a long run of starts this season having struggled with injuries, while Lewis Holtby remains out with a knee ligament injury.

Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott has shone for Tony Mowbray's side this season, registering five goals and nine assists in league action.

He is joined in attack by the clinical Adam Armstrong, who has racked up 19 league goals this campaign, a tally only topped by Brentford's Ivan Toney.

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Bialkowski; Evans, Hutchinson, Cooper; Romeo, Woods, Thompson, Malone; Wallace, Smith, Bennett

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Harwood-Bellis, Douglas; Evans, Rothwell, Dack; Elliot, Armstrong, Brereton

We say: Millwall 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

Millwall have proven to be extremely difficult to beat at The Den this campaign, and that coupled with the poor form of Blackburn should result in another win for the London outfit.

Their tight defensive structure should see them to another narrow victory, as the Lions continue their impressive rise up the Championship table.