Preview: Millwall vs. Swansea City - prediction, team news, lineups

Millwall head into their Championship fixture with Swansea City on Saturday afternoon looking to extend their unbeaten streak to three matches.

While the Lions occupy 11th position in the table, the visitors are only outside of the relegation zone courtesy of ending their winless streak last time out.

Match preview

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There have been times this season when Millwall have looked a shadow of the side that narrowly missed out on reaching the playoffs in 2022-23.

However, Gary Rowett's team appear to have turned a corner, collecting four points from fixtures against Rotherham United and West Bromwich Albion and keeping two clean sheets.

Aside from the 3-0 hammering by Leeds United, Millwall have accumulated eight points from their most recent five league outings, ending a three-match losing run in the process.

Despite scoring just seven goals in eight league fixtures, Rowett's side sit just two points adrift of the playoff spots, highlighting their outstanding efforts at the back.

Six of the eight goals that they have conceded came across two games with Norwich City and Leeds, and Swansea will recognise their size of the task in front of them in the capital.

Michael Duff would have wanted to make an immediate impact in South Wales, but it has taken until the middle of September and beyond to feel like he is making any notable progress.

Having recorded two draws and four defeats from his opening six Championship games, Duff now has four from his most recent two outings, earning points from Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday.

While each of those teams are among the current weakest in the second tier, Swansea were under pressure to deliver, particularly in the latter game where they prevailed by a 3-0 scoreline.

As well as scoring three goals in a Championship match for the first time under Duff, Swansea also posted their first clean sheet, and there is the feeling that the pendulum may be starting to swing back in their favour.

Team News

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Millwall face the prospect of making at least two changes with Murray Wallace expected to be unavailable and Tom Bradshaw suffering a hamstring injury.

Wes Harding should be brought back into the defensive three, while Billy Mitchell may be recalled to allow Zian Flemming to be used in a more advanced role.

Shaun Hutchinson, George Honeyman and Kevin Nisbet remain on the sidelines for the Lions.

Nathan Wood and Josh Ginnelly are huge doubts for Swansea after their first-half withdrawals against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

Harry Darling and Jerry Yates - who scored versus the Owls - are in line to replace the duo in defence and the final third respectively.

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Bialkowski; Cooper, Harding, Leonard; Norton-Cuffy, Campbell, De Norre, Mitchell, Longman; Watmore, Flemming

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; Key, Cabango, Darling, Pedersen; Patino, Grimes; Cullen, Paterson, Yates; Lowe

We say: Millwall 2-1 Swansea City

This has all the makings of being a hard-fought contest, particularly with Swansea having got back on track last weekend. Nevertheless, Millwall may prove tough to beat on home territory, leading us to opt for a narrow triumph for the East Londoners.

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