Millwall v West Brom: The inside track on the Lions

We spoke with Jake Sanders, Millwall correspondent for Football.London, and Eamonn Barclay of the No One Likes Us Talkin' Podcast, to get a proper look at them.

See what he had to say here...

How have Millwall managed this season? It appears to have been more of a struggle compared to last year?

JS: It's most certainly been a case of 'second season syndrome' for Millwall. They started well, collecting five points from their first three games, but apart from a few spells, it's been an uphill struggle.

I think that's down to a combination of the expectations after last season's 8th-place finish and the fact that too many individuals have struggled to hit the heights of 12 months ago.

They looked to have turned a corner with three consecutive victories over the Christmas and New Year period, but just two wins in 12 games since then leaves them just a point above danger.

Their success last campaign was built on an organised and disciplined back-four, that churned out clean sheets with a matter of ease, along with their incredible form at The Den. But they have already conceded 13 more goals than the whole of 2017/2018 and have only won six times at home, which explains their lowly league position.

EB: It’s been a real struggle this season.

We have not suffered heavy defeats - we normally only lose by the odd goal - as was the case last Saturday at Elland Road.

We are often susceptible to giving away goals late on and roughly 30% of goals against us have been given away in the last 10 minutes of play.

What sort of style of play can Albion expect to come across?

JS: They played 4-4-2 last season and the one before that – with Lee Gregory and Steve Morison up front – it worked so well, playing predominantly long-ball football, but since Ben Thompson returned from his loan spell at Portsmouth in January, Millwall have been playing with just one striker, looking to pack the midfield.

Their biggest threat remains set-pieces, as shown in the FA Cup wins over both Everton and Brighton, but when they get it down and play – especially with Thompson in this kind of form – they can hurt teams.

Millwall average just over 43% possession this term, so they'll be content with the Baggies dominating the ball and then trying to hit them on the counter-attack, just like they did against both Leeds and Birmingham.

EB: We play on the counter attack with one up front and a number ten playing just off the front striker.

We have also scored one of the highest number of goals from set pieces in the Championship - the WBA defence will need their wits about them at free kicks and corners!

Are Millwall dealing with many injuries?

JS: Tom Bradshaw, who ruptured his ACL against Brentford in September and Murray Wallace, who suffered a serious ankle and knee injury against Hull in February are their only two absentees – neither are expected to feature again this season.

Shane Ferguson is in the middle of a three-match suspension for his extra-time red card against Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals.

Other than that, they have a full fit squad available –Thompson is a slight doubt, but I expected him to pass his fitness test.

EB: Millwall currently have two key players out injured.

Striker Tom Bradshaw who we signed from Barnsley has missed out on most of the season and will not return until next season.

Murray Wallace, who is a defender but who was scoring for fun in our FA Cup games, received a knee injury ahead of our quarter final and is not going to be available until the end of this season at the earliest.

We are also missing Left sided winger or full back Shane Ferguson, who sits out his second of three suspensions following a red card against Brighton.

What your predicted XI for the game, and who will be the biggest threats for Millwall?

JS: Predicted XI – 4-5-1: Martin, Romeo, Pearce Cooper, Meredith, J. Wallace, Tunnicliffe, Leonard, Marshall, Thompson, Gregory.

Millwall's most dangerous player and biggest goal threat at present is Thompson. No one has scored more (4) since he returned from Portsmouth, with three of those coming in his last two matches, including a brace at Birmingham.

Jed Wallace – although his statistics don't show it – is always a danger on the right. He loves to beat a man and is full of pace and tricks.

EB: Martin [GK] Romeo; Pearce; Cooper; Meredith. [Back Four] Wallace; Leonard; Tunnicliffe; Marshall. [Midfield] Thompson [Midfield/Striker] Gregory [Striker].

Thompson is the current form goal scorer and is a threat because of his pace and direct running.

Marshall is just finding the form he showed last season and presents a threat from the left and when coming through in to the centre behind the striker.

Both of the two centre backs, Pearce and Cooper, get amongst the goals from set pieces.

Relegation is obviously a real threat for the Lions this season, can they avoid it in your opinion?

JS: I am extremely confident Millwall won't go down. They sit just a point above the drop-zone, but they are far better than Rotherham United, echoed by their thumping at Derby County last weekend.

Saturday is the first of five home games in their remaining eight fixtures, with three of those coming against sides currently sitting in the bottom-half of the table.

Their last three performances have been three of their best this season, and despite the unfortunate defeat at Leeds on Saturday, they are building some much-needed momentum just at the right time and I think they will get the three wins that are required to retain their Championship status.

EB: They can avoid it if they string a few wins together starting against West Brom...

What have you made of West Brom from afar? Do you think they have what it takes to go up and stay up?

JS: I have been really impressed with West Brom.

I think they have the best squad in the Championship, although, with the amount of firepower they possess in an attacking sense, I thought they'd be certainties to finish in the top-two.

Having said that, with one of Leeds or Sheffield United – who have spent the majority of the season inside the automatic promotion spots – likely to be dejected after missing out on a place in the two-two, bouncing back from that setback could work in the Baggies favour and I think they have more than enough to win the play-offs.

In terms of staying up, the amount of Premier League experience they have, along with two strikers that have scored goals in the topflight before, if they go up, they have every chance of staying up.

EB: Undoubtedly West Brom have shown remarkable form particularly since James Shan has taken over as caretaker manager, winning their last three since he took charge.

If you win at the Den on Saturday it will establish your longest winning streak this season, although Harvey Barnes has been a miss!

You are a certainty for the play-offs and if Norwich or Leeds slip up the chance to get into the automatic spots is not beyond your reach.

Your match prediction?

JS: West Brom score plenty, but also concede a fair few – and with both sides in the bottom six in terms of fewest clean sheets in the division, I think both team to score is a certainty.

I'm going with a score draw, let's say 1-1.

EB: Mystic Ted Robinson who is our lead predictor is saying Millwall to win 2-1 for Saturday.

You can follow Jake on Twitter here. Meanwhile, you can listen to Aemonn on the No One Likes Us Talkin' Podcast, who host the Love Sport Radio Millwall Fans Show every Friday, 9-10 PM.