Preview: Millwall vs. Huddersfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Millwall and Huddersfield Town meet at The Den on Saturday afternoon with both clubs sitting just above the Championship relegation zone.

With neither of these teams winning any of their last three fixtures, both managers require a victory to move away from 20th and 21st place in the standings.

Match preview

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Ever since the 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in his first game, Joe Edwards has been given a rude awakening as Millwall boss.

Just one point has been recorded in five games - a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland - with 10 goals being conceded in the four defeats.

In Edwards's defence, the Lions have faced Ipswich Town, Cardiff City and Leicester City all away from home, matches where they would be regarded as underdogs.

The East Londoners also went in front at the leaders on Wednesday night before losing 3-2 at the King Power Stadium, and positives will be taken from that performance.

Nevertheless, Millwall are now 12 points adrift of the playoffs and very much in a battle to avoid relegation, as there is just a one-point gap to 22nd-placed Queens Park Rangers.

Although there feels more stability at Huddersfield, Darren Moore will recognise that he needs to get more out of his side to remain safe in his job.

A win and four draws from seven games can be perceived to be progress, but being outplayed by Preston North End at the John Smith's Stadium in a 3-1 defeat puts a different spin on things.

Moore requires the January transfer window - as does Edwards - to put their own spin on a struggling squad, but matches such as the one at the weekend can prove pivotal in the context of their season.

The Terriers are much improved away from home under Moore, with four points and just three goals conceded during their last three fixtures on their travels.

Team News

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Edwards is likely to freshen up his Millwall XI after the defeat to Leicester with Zian Flemming and Kevin Nisbet both in contention to start.

Billy Mitchell could return in midfield, while goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski may regain his place between the sticks after Matija Sarkic failed to impress versus the Foxes.

Despite Huddersfield having a lengthy injury list, Moore is expected to make changes to the team that underperformed versus Preston.

Yuta Nakayama and Jaheim Headley could be involved down the left and may take the spots of Josh Koroma and Josh Austerfield.

Ben Wiles may also be considered for a start down the right, either at wing-back or further down the flank.

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Bialkowski; Leonard, Cooper, Harding; Norton-Cuffy, Mitchell, Saville, Wallace; Flemming; Bradshaw, Nisbet

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:

Maxwell; Pearson, Helik, Lees; Thomas, Kasumu, Hogg, Nakayama; Burgzorg, Ward, Headley

We say: Millwall 1-1 Huddersfield Town

This has the makings of a nervy match for two teams who would have expected to be further up the table at this stage. Performance-wise, Millwall may be making progress under Edwards, but we fancy Huddersfield to battle their way to a share of the spoils on Saturday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.