National League side Boreham Wood host Championship outfit Millwall in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with the two sides facing each other for the very first time.
The Wood are making their first ever appearance at this stage of the competition and welcome the Lions who have progressed to the fourth round in each of the last four seasons.
Match preview
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Boreham Wood will be hoping to pull off an FA Cup shock at Meadow Park and head into this weekend's tie with form and confidence under their belts.
A 3-0 win over fellow non-league side Canvey Island has rewarded them with a third-round match against a side three divisions above them.
Since their second-round triumph in November, the Wood have won four league matches in a row, most recently beating Barnet 3-0 away from home last weekend.
Luke Garrard's side seem to be finding some form after a difficult start to the campaign and their recent run has seen them rise to 11th in the National League table, just two points off the playoffs.
After being beaten in their first nine FA Cup ties against Football League sides, Boreham Wood have since won two of their last three - against Blackpool in the 2017-18 campaign and a 4-3 victory on penalties over Southend United this season.
A surprise victory this weekend would see Boreham Wood progress to the fourth round of the competition for the first time in their history.
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After a two-week interval due to a coronavirus outbreak at the Millwall training camp, Gary Rowett's side were back in action last weekend but suffered a 2-1 loss at home to Coventry City.
The Lions are enduring a difficult period which has seen them win just twice in their last 13 matches in all competitions. As a result, they have fallen to 17th in the Championship table, just six points clear of the relegation zone.
Millwall are making a name for themselves as draw specialists, having picked up a solitary point in 10 of their 21 Championship fixtures this season, and they are the only side in the top three tiers of English football to have drawn so many matches.
The Lions head into their clash with Boreham Wood having progressed from 12 of their last 13 FA Cup ties against non-league opponents, with the exception being a first-round loss against Woking in 1996.
A victory for Millwall on Saturday would ensure their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup for the fifth successive season.
Boreham Wood FA Cup form: WLLWWW
Boreham Wood form (all competitions): LWWWWW
Millwall FA Cup form: WWWLWL
Millwall form (all competitions): LDLWDL
Team News
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Millwall winger Connor Mahoney is a doubt for this weekend's match as he is still recovering from a thigh injury, while midfielder Billy Mitchell is ruled out with a hamstring problem.
Striker Kenneth Zohore is in contention to start after making his first appearance since October when he came on as a substitute against Coventry.
Boreham Wood's new signing Junior Morias, who joined the club on loan from St Mirren on Wednesday, is unlikely to feature this weekend.
Sorba Thomas is in contention to play despite the club's chairman Danny Hunter admitting that the forward could leave the club in the January transfer window.
Striker Kabongo Tshimanga, who scored a brace against Barnet, is set to lead the line once again alongside experienced target man Matt Rhead.
Boreham Wood possible starting lineup:
Ashmore; Smith, Fyfield, Ilesanmi; Whitely, Murtagh, Mafuta, Champion, Mingoia; Tshimanga, Rhead
Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Romeo, Hutchinson, Pearce, M. Wallace; Thompson, Williams; J. Wallace, Bradshaw, Parrott; Zohore
We say: Boreham Wood 0-2 Millwall
The respective strength of the two squads would suggest that Millwall would be the strong favourites for this contest. However, shock results in fixtures like these are why the FA Cup has such a special reputation. Boreham Wood are expected to work tirelessly and make themselves difficult for Millwall to break down, but the Lions should ultimately have enough quality to pull through and advance to the next round.
Top betting tip
Oliver Thomas
