Millwall vs Middlesbrough Prediction: Can the Lions stun Boro?

Things look like they are starting to click for manager Joe Edwards at Millwall. The Lions have won three games on the spin in the Championship against Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City and Bristol City respectively. 

Those games provided challenges but Millwall are about to face an even bigger one as they welcome Middlesbrough to The Den on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

Boro have won three of their last five in the league but there have been two defeats in their last three. Their tails will be up, however, after they defeated Chelsea 1-0 at home in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie in midweek. So this should be an interesting affair to say the least.

Match Odds

There is value to be had in backing either of these sides for victory. Millwall are 13/8 and Boro are 7/5. If you think the two teams won't be separated, a draw is available at 11/5.

Both teams to score is marketed at 4/5, while over 2.5 goals is at the enticing price of EVS.

Team News

Millwall suffered a double injury blow last week. Ryan Leonard was forced off with a hamstring injury which should see him miss several weeks of action. Aidomo Emakhu suffered a dislocated shoulder in training and he too will be sidelined for a few weeks.

They join Shaun Hutchinson and Murray Wallace in the treatment room but there is hope that Brooke Norton-Cuffy could make the squad this weekend. Casper De Norre has returned to training but he is still regaining his fitness and Edwards has confirmed he won't be involved on Saturday. George Saville will also miss out as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension.

Middlesbrough are without Sam Silvera and Riley McGree, who are away at the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup respectively.

They have quite a few players out injured, too. Seny Dieng, Darragh Lenihan, Tom Smith, Marcus Forss, Paddy McNair and Emmanuel Latte Lath are all currently ruled out, making things difficult for Boro boss Michael Carrick.

Millwall or draw (Double chance) @ 8/15

This game is a tough one to call. Both teams have been impressive of late. Millwall have won three on the bounce in the league and so momentum is with them. But Boro have just beaten a Premier League giant at home and so there should be a swagger in their play when they take to the capital.

Backing this double chance market seems like a fair selection for this clash, because we don't know what Boro side we are going to get. While they were fantastic against Chelsea in midweek, they were quite flat against Aston Villa in their FA Cup third-round defeat.

Millwall are at home and have won three matches on the spin in the Championship, including two on home soil. They have also kept four clean sheets in a row which is very difficult to do in this division. They will see the match against Boro as a marker of their progress under Edwards and a victory would be a real signal of intent from the Lions.

However, if the Middlesbrough side that outclassed Chelsea turn up, it will be a very tough game for the hosts, and that is why we feel that the double chance market is a safe selection for this contest.

Under 2.5 goals @ 8/11

This has been a winning bet in Millwall's last five outings in the second tier. Their four clean sheets in a row highlight that they have been defensively solid. Clean sheets can take you far in this league but with two of their last three victories coming by a goal to nil, they cannot rely on one goal being enough for them all the time.

Under 2.5 goals has also landed in four of Boro's last six matches across all competitions, with 1-0 being the scoreline in those results. They were the winners in two of them, so they have largely had a habit of being defensively solid in recent weeks, ignoring their 3-1 home defeat to Coventry City.

Saturday's clash will pit two in-form sides against each other and it looks as though they could be set to cancel one another out at The Den.

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