Millwall make the trip to Stoke City on Saturday afternoon potentially requiring all three points to retain a spot in the Championship playoffs.
At a time when the Lions occupy fifth position in the standings, the Potters are 17th after a much-needed victory in midweek.
Match preview
© Reuters
With Sheffield United and Burnley lined up in the space of three days, Gary Rowett would have been realistic about the amount of points that Millwall may collect from that double-header.
If he had been offered four beforehand, he would not have hesitated to accept, yet Millwall delivered that on the pitch, helped by a dramatic 3-2 triumph over the former.
Replicating that effort and performance was always going to be difficult versus the runaway leaders, but a late equaliser earned the Lions a share of the spoils.
After scoring just one in six outings, Tom Bradshaw has netted four goals in 106 minutes of action versus the top two teams in the division.
Millwall sit in fifth, two points adrift of fourth-placed Blackburn Rovers with a game in hand, but Rowett will only be focused on trying to earn maximum points at the home of one of his former clubs.
© Reuters
Stoke have endured a disastrous season by all accounts with two wins coming from three matches only moving the club into 17th spot.
On a positive note, Alex Neil's side now sit nine points clear of the bottom three, and they can now afford to look forward rather than over their shoulders.
The Staffordshire outfit needed an immediate response to losing at Blackpool last weekend, but Neil witnessed his side run out 3-1 victors at Swansea City on Tuesday night.
Although Stoke's home form has been the issue this campaign, they head into this fixture on the back of a three-match unbeaten streak at the bet365 Stadium.
Team News
© Reuters
Phil Jagielka will hope to return to the Stoke XI should be recover from the illness that ruled him out of the Swansea game.
Axel Tuanzebe was another notable absentee in midweek, and Neil may be prepared to stick with the team which impressed in South Wales.
Jordan Thompson and Lewis Baker are both options should fresh legs be preferred in midfield.
Despite coming off the substitutes' bench to score versus Burnley, Bradshaw will have an ankle injury assessed to see if he can feature in the side.
Although Oliver Burke may be considered for a start if he has recovered from illness, Rowett could name an unchanged Millwall team.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Sarkic; Sterling, Wilmot, Fox, Hoever; Pearson, Laurent; Brown, Smallbone, Campbell; Gayle
Millwall possible starting lineup:
Long; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Shackleton, Saville; Honeyman, Flemming, Watmore; Voglsammer
We say: Stoke City 1-1 Millwall
Although Millwall will consider themselves as favourites for this contest, it remains to be seen what their last two fixtures have taken out of them. With Stoke having improved of late, a share of the spoils could be played out in the Potteries.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
