Preview: Millwall vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups

After both featuring in the EFL Cup second round in the week, Millwall and Blackpool return to Championship action on Saturday, when they square off at the Den.

Millwall progressed with a 3-1 win over Cambridge United, but Blackpool were dumped out by Sunderland, while both sides remain without a win after four games of the Championship season.

Match preview

© Reuters

After another impressive showing last season, eventually finishing in 11th spot in the championship, Millwall headed into the new campaign with confidence, as Gary Rowett set his sights on a battle for the playoff spots.

They got off to an acceptable start, collecting two points from their first two league games as they drew 1-1 with Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers, while also defeating Portsmouth 2-1 in the first round of the EFL Cup.

The Lions were unable to sustain an unbeaten start though, as the third league game saw them fall to a 2-1 defeat in a London derby with Fulham, as Benik Afobe pulled a late goal back in vain after Fabio Carvalho and Aleksandar Mitrovic both got on the scoresheet for their opponents in the first 10 minutes.

They again fell short last time out, as an Aden Flint brace and a Sean Morrison goal fired Cardiff City to a 3-1 win last week, with Afobe again hitting what turned out to be a consolation goal.

However, Rowett's men come into Saturday's game with some renewed confidence after a Murray Wallace brace and a Matt Smith goal saw them knock Cambridge United out of the EFL Cup on Tuesday with a 3-1 win, and they will look to build on that with what would be their first Championship victory of the season.

© Reuters

On the other hand, Blackpool come into the game on the back of a cup defeat, as they fell to a 3-2 home loss at the hands of third-tier Sunderland, with Aiden O'Brien completing a hat-trick in the 91st minute to see the visitors progress despite an early Shayne Lavery opener and an 87th-minute Josh Bowler equaliser.

While that did come after a commendable 2-2 away draw against promotion-chasing Bournemouth, with James Husband and Jerry Yates drawing them level in the second half after an early Dominic Solanke brace, the previous two league outings produced back-to-back defeats.

After an opening draw with Bristol City and a dominant cup win over Middlesbrough, Neil Critchley's men were first defeated 2-0 by Cardiff City, with Leandro Bacuna and Kieffer Moore getting on the scoresheet, before Viktor Gyokeres hit the only goal in a 1-0 win for Coventry City at Bloomfield Road in the last Championship game.

As a result, they now sit on just two points from their first four games back in the second tier after Kenneth Dougall fired them to victory in last season's League One playoff final, and they will be desperate to find a first win on Saturday to climb away from the foot of the table.

Team News

© Reuters

Rowett made several changes to his squad for the recent cup clash with Cambridge, but he should revert back to a similar system to the one he has deployed in the Championship so far this season.

Target man Matt Smith proved his worth with a goal in that game, but the pairing of Benik Afobe and talisman Jed Wallace has impressed so far, and they should both return to the starting XI.

Elsewhere, Bartozs Bialkowski will take back his place between the sticks, while Maikel Kieftenbeld and George Saville should both return to the midfield.

Defender Murray Wallace offered an impressive attacking threat in that game, as he moved from centre-back to a wing-back role on the left-hand side, and Rowett could keep him in that spot after Wallace hit a brace.

Blackpool should come into Saturday's game with a clean bill of health, and Critchley rested several key players in the midweek cup game.

Midfielder Kenneth Dougall should come straight back into the middle alongside Grant Ward, while star forward Jerry Yates will return to the starting XI to lead the line.

However, forward Shayne Lavery scored in Yates's absence, and he could also keep his place in the attacking line if the Tangerines slightly alter their system.

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Bialkowski; Ballard, Pearce, Cooper; Romeo, Kieftenbeld, Saville, Evans, M Wallace; J Wallace, Afobe

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Maxwell; Connolly, Husband, Ekpiteta, Garbutt; Bowler, Dougall, Ward, John-Jules; Lavery, Yates

We say: Millwall 1-0 Blackpool

While both sides have had disappointing starts to the season, the Lions are experienced at Championship level and difficult to beat at the Den, and we see them earning a first league win of the season on Saturday.

Rowett's men come in with a degree of momentum following an impressive cup win, while their visitors' confidence has taken a major hit, meaning they could fall just short in London, as plenty of sides do when Millwall take a lead on home turf.