Preview: Norwich City vs. Millwall

Playoff-chasing Norwich City will hope to close the gap to the top six with a Boxing Day victory over struggling Millwall later this week.

The Canaries have picked up seven points of a possible nine in their last three outings to move up to seventh in the table following a run of 10 games which included just one win.

However, the top six sides above have been in fine form themselves and Neil Adams's outfit are still four points outside the playoff places at Christmas.

They extended their unbeaten run to three games on Saturday lunchtime thanks to Steven Whittaker's late equaliser at high-flying Derby County, but Adams was unhappy afterwards and felt that his side deserved all three points.

Cameron Jerome netted Norwich's first at the iPro Stadium to make it 10 league goals this term, one more than the previous three seasons combined. He should continue up front with Gary Hooper, meaning that Lewis Grabban will again be forced to settle for a place on the bench.

Nathan Redmond impressed for the second game in a row off the bench and could be chosen to start on the wing, with Gary O'Neil perhaps the most likely to surrender his place in midfield.

As for Millwall, they play on Friday for the third week in a row. Last week they failed to build on the win at Brighton & Hove Albion as Bolton Wanderers visited The Den and left with all three points - their third home defeat in a row.

Ian Holloway was annoyed with the referee's performance after he failed to send off Trotters keeper Andy Lonergan, but it's now just two wins in 17 games for the Lions, who are just above the bottom three in 21st place.

The fixtures don't get any easier in the coming weeks, with current top two Bournemouth and Ipswich Town visiting The Den either side of a trip to bottom side Blackpool.

These two sides also met on Boxing Day at Carrow Road five years ago, with Norwich coming out on top 2-0 thanks to goals from Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt.

Norwich:

Recent form: LDLWWD

Possible starting lineup: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Cuellar, Olsson; Redmond, Howson, Tettey, Johnson; Hooper, Jerome

Millwall:

Recent form: LDDLWL

Possible starting lineup: Forde; Wilkinson, Shittu, Dunne, Malone; Gueye, Angel, Williams, Woolford; McDonald, Gregory

Sports Mole says: 4-1