Bristol City travel to The Den for a potentially season-defining Championship game against Millwall, with both sides looking to break out of the mid-table and up towards the playoffs. The Lions, 12th on 45 points, host ninth-placed Bristol City, who sit four points above them, in what could prove to be a make-or-break encounter for both clubs come the end of the season.
Recent results make for an intriguing meeting, with both teams displaying patchy form of late. Millwall have only won once in their last five games, though they have been showing some attacking flair by scoring in nine successive games. The visitors arrive with a little more momentum, having won two of their previous five, but their away form remains a worry, having failed to win in nine successive away games.
The head-to-head record between these two only serves to make this encounter all the more interesting, with Millwall traditionally getting the better of The Robins at home, having posted five victories from their last fourteen games at The Den against them. However, Bristol City possess the psychological edge, having secured a 1-0 away victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Surprisingly, both teams have rather frequently played out dour goalless draws at The Den, with this tending to be a tight encounter in years gone by.
The outcome of this clash could very well be determined by pivotal individual performances. Millwall's George Saville is always one to watch, but he must be sure to keep his head to avoid worsening his existing disciplinary record. For the visitors, Scott Twine's goal threat could prove to be the key in unlocking the home defence. With both teams very hard to separate when it comes to goals scored - Millwall 1.19 on average at home and Bristol City 1.08 on the road - this Championship match has the potential to be an evenly contested one with potentially massive implications for both teams' seasons.
Millwall - Bristol City Key Facts
Millwall hold a decent home record against Bristol City, having won 5 of their last 14 matches against them at The Den. It is this confidence when playing in familiar surroundings which could buoy the London club on to win and could make them a solid bet here.
Bristol City have been doing badly away from home, failing to win any of their last 9 away matches. This trend could make punters favour Millwall or bet on a draw.
The two most recent meetings between these two teams ended in 1-0 wins for Bristol City, which could persuade punters to lean towards a low-scoring game. This insight could be useful in total goals or match result margin bets.
Betting Predictions
Primary Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ 7/4
Despite the low-scoring nature of these two teams individually and their most recent clashes ending with few goals, historically, this match serves up a goal-fest more often than not. Longer-term head-to-head analysis of these matches show that an average of 2.4 goals per game are scored when these two teams meet. What's more, the defensive frailty of the visitors could also lead to goals galore.
Secondary Bet: Millwall Win @ 7/4
The Lions' home record is worth seriously taking a look at for anyone wanting to bet on this game, as is Millwall's specific record of five victories from their previous 14 home meetings against the Robins. Bristol City's recent away form is also rather alarming, with City being winless in their previous nine away trips. Most telling, perhaps, is Millwall's very impressive record of converting a 1-0 lead into three points at The Den, as they boast an 81% success rate when they score first - a statistic that speaks volumes about their game management at home.
Editorial Pick: Macaulay Langstaff to score or assist @ 15/8
With Millwall more likely to take all three points from this one, on their home turf, and move closer to Bristol City and the rest of the teams lurking just outside the playoffs, The Lions' target man Macaulay Langstaff should make his presence known by scoring or assisting for this team.
