Millwall will be looking to halt a winless run of four league games as bogey side Sheffield Wednesday visit the Den this evening.
The Lions have won just one of the last ten meetings between the two sides – a 2-1 home victory last season courtesy of goals from Lee Gregory and Steve Morison.
If Neil Harris’ side are to reverse their fortunes they will have to find a clinical edge in front of goal, having scored just once in the league in their past three outings.
And the Jed Wallace goal away at Middlesbrough was one of only two in the last eleven in all competitions to come from open play.
Set-pieces have always been Millwall’s forte but in their weekend defeat to Swansea City they struggled to create anything meaningful from open play, leaving boss Neil Harris bemoaning his players ‘didn’t use the ball well enough’ to find Gregory’s forward runs.
Of course, the recent 4-3-3 formation has seen Millwall improve defensively but often to the detriment of the out-and-out forward with Gregory cutting a lonely figure upfront.
Gregory’s strength has always been his hold-up play and running into the channels, but too often the rest of the side didn’t push up high enough to feed off him and the Swans’ backline had a relatively easy afternoon.
However, with the possibility of Tom Elliott being available for the first time since dislocating his shoulder against Blackburn Rovers, Harris could well have an instant solution by reverting back to two at the top.
Fred Onyedinma’s pace could also breathe new life into a struggling Lions attack and allow Wallace to move more central, with rotation a possibility in a busy month.
The corresponding Hillsborough fixture back in August saw Sheffield Wednesday run out 2-1 winners with the Owls having a new manager at the helm this time round.
Since Steve Bruce’s appointment they have picked up four points in two games and ahead of the encounter, Bruce remarked: “Millwall will ask questions of you. They are a handful, fighting for their lives and it won’t be easy.
“It’s a totally different challenge. If you don’t roll up your sleeves you will get found out.”
Let battle commence.
Prediction: 1-1