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Millwall logo
Championship
Mar 1, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Brighton logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-1)
Lopez (39' pen.)

Preview: Millwall vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between struggling Millwall and playoff-chasing Brighton.

Millwall's Championship survival hopes took a huge blow when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Barnsley last weekend, and they will look to rectify that when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

The Lions are currently in a position of safety in the league, but just one point separates them from the bottom three and 22nd-placed Charlton Athletic have three games in hand over them.

That leaves Millwall's fate very much out of their own hands, and if Barnsley and Yeovil were also to win their games in hand then Ian Holloway's side could find themselves bottom of the league.

It has been a struggle for Holloway since taking over, winning just one of his eight matches at the helm to take the club's recent record to one win in 14.

Just as worrying for the former Crystal Palace boss will be his side's goal difference, which is the worst in the division thanks to their league-high 60 goals conceded.

In a relegation dogfight that looks likely to go down to the wire, goal difference could well be key, leaving Millwall at a significant disadvantage.

It is their home form that they will be relying on to keep them in the division, but they have only managed one win in their last six in front of their own fans having previously gone seven games unbeaten at The Den.

Millwall should be able to call upon the services of goalkeeper David Forde, who has returned to training this week despite dislocating his finger during the defeat to Barnsley.

Brighton are in need of three points for very different reasons to their opponents as they look to get their playoff challenge back on track.

The Seagulls suffered a significant setback in the form of a 2-1 defeat to fellow candidates Wigan Athletic at the weekend, while elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Hull City just three days later added insult to injury.

Their recent league form has been disappointing for a team looking to move into the top six, with three defeats and just two wins in their last six Championship outings.

Things are even worse away from home, where they are yet to score a league goal in 2014 and have won just one of their last five matches.

However, Leonardo Ulloa is in fine form having scored the club's last five goals in all competitions, although the lack of goals from elsewhere in the team could be a worry for Oscar Garcia.

The arrival of Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard on loan should give the team a boost, however, and he is likely to play some part on Saturday.

Recent form

Millwall: DLLDDL

Brighton: LWWDLL

Possible starting lineups

Millwall: Forde; Fredericks, Lowry, Shittu, Malone; Woolford, Williams, Abdou, Campbell; McDonald, Morison

Brighton: Kuszczak; Bruno, Upson, Greer, Ward; Ince, Andrews; Lua Lua, Stephens, Orlandi; Ulloa

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Manchester United's Jesse Lingard in action during a friendly match against Yokohama F.Marinos on July 23, 2013
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