Millwall manager Ian Holloway has insisted that the club can still avoid relegation from the Championship this season, but their prospects are looking increasingly slim.

A 3-2 defeat to Birmingham City on Tuesday saw the Lions slump to the bottom of the table, with their league-worst goal difference separating them from their fellow relegation zone dwellers.

That goal difference effectively adds an extra point to the three-point gap currently separating them from safety, while 21st-placed Charlton Athletic's three games in hand make that position look even more precarious.

All of that points to Saturday's meeting with Blackburn Rovers at the Den being nothing short of a must-win encounter for Millwall, but picking up three points is something that they have managed just twice in Holloway's 14-game tenure so far.

Eight defeats in that time - including three in their last four matches - have left a feeling of despair and inevitability around Millwall's season, with their relegation rivals picking up points far more regularly than they are managing.

Even The Den, previously an intimidating and unappealing venue for visiting teams, has struggled to draw form out of Millwall in recent weeks, with no win in six in front of their own fans.

Their tally of 67 goals conceded is the worst in the division, a problem not helped by the fact that Danny Shittu is out for the rest of the season.

Holloway could be boosted by the return of DJ Campbell from injury, however, while Steve Morison and Ed Upson could also return to the side.

While Blackburn's troubles are not as worrying as Millwall's, the realisation that their playoff dream is slowly but surely sapping away will still be disappointing for their fans.

Eight points now separate them from sixth-placed Reading and, although they have a game in hand over the majority of the teams above them in the table, the gap appears to be too great to breach at this late stage of the season.

If they are to stand any chance of making a late push then they will need to improve their recent form, which has seen them win just one of their last six matches.

Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Watford, which saw Rovers score an equaliser deep into injury time, may have felt like a win, but still provided Gary Bowyer's side with just the solitary point.

Their away record has certainly improved in the second half of the season, however, having lost just one of their last six games and two of their last 10 in the league.

The visitors have a number of injury worries for the match, with Scott Dann, Ben Marshall, Tom Cairney, Grant Hanley and Jason Lowe all doubtful.

Recent form

Millwall: LWLDLL

Blackburn: LLLWDD

Possible starting lineups

Millwall: Forde; Dunne, Beevers, Robinson, Lowry; Campbell, Onyedinma, Abdou, Upson, Woolford; Morison

Blackburn: Robinson; Kane, Kilgallon, Keane, Spurr; Dunn, Williamson, Evans, Conway; Gestede; Rhodes

Sports Mole says: 1-2

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