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

Stoke City head into Saturday's Championship fixture at Millwall looking to bounce back from defeats to Sheffield United and Bournemouth.

· Sports Mole

While the Potters currently sit in seventh position in the standings, their 11th-placed opponents will move level with them with victory at The Den.

Match preview

© Reuters

On the back of successive defeats to two high-profile clubs, Michael O'Neill will not be panicking about the trajectory of his Stoke squad.

However, regardless of the Potters remaining a win away from fourth spot, they have now prevailed in just three of their last nine league games.

Goals are the biggest issue, a record not helped by O'Neill persevering with a system which places far more onus on defence than attack.

While those tactics were good enough to overcome West Bromwich Albion before the international break, there is a feeling that O'Neill needs to be more versatile to get the best out of a talented crop of players.

Tyrese Campbell was the big plus in midweek after making his first outing since a serious knee injury, but the forward will not be rushed into the spotlight after 10 months on the sidelined.

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Millwall performed better than their next opponents in their showdown with Sheffield United, the Lions netting a last-minute winner to claim a 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane.

The East Londoners have now recorded three triumphs in four games, a run of form which has catapulted Gary Rowett's team into 11th spot.

Like with his former club, Rowett has been left craving more goals from his Milwall side, but they deserve huge credit for conceding just seven times in nine games.

With none of the top six to come until November 24, Rowett will feel that Millwall are capable of moving into the playoff mix by the time that they host leaders Bournemouth.

Millwall Championship form:

  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W

Millwall form (all competitions):

  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W

Stoke City Championship form:

  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L

Stoke City form (all competitions):

  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L

Team News

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Rowett is likely to recall either Benik Afobe or Matt Smith in place of goalless forward Tom Bradshaw.

Maikel Kieftenbeld should come into the Millwall XI as a replacement for George Saville, who is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season.

With Nick Powell going off injured in midweek, O'Neill may take the opportunity to hand another chance to Sam Surridge.

Mario Vrancic is also an option in central midfield with Sam Clucas or Jordan Thompson expected to drop down to the substitutes' bench.

Despite his error in midweek, goalkeeper Adam Davies is likely to retain his place ahead of Joe Bursik.

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Ballard, Hutchinson, Cooper; Leonard, Evans, Kieftenbeld, Malone; Wallace, Afobe, Ojo

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Davies; Wilmot, Souttar, Chester; Smith, Vrancic, Allen, Thompson, Tymon; Brown, Surridge

We say: Millwall 1-1 Stoke City

If ever a game looks like a low-scoring draw, this has to be it, right? With both teams performing better in defence than in attack, we are predicting a competitive share of the spoils in East London.

Top tip

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