West Brom vs Millwall: Match Preview, Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
Mr.Cat > EFL Championship > West Brom vs Millwall: Match Preview, Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
Following a rare defeat earlier in the week, West Bromwich Albion will aim to bounce back when they host Millwall at The Hawthorns for a Championship clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Baggies narrowly lost to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, while Millwall put in a subpar performance, suffering a loss to bottom-placed Cardiff City.
West Brom began the 2024-25 Championship season with a six-game unbeaten run, but their momentum has stalled in the past week, with back-to-back defeats against Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough. These losses have caused them to slip down the standings, losing ground in the race for automatic promotion.
Their latest setback came against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night when Hayden Hackney’s second-half strike handed the visitors all three points. It was also the first time West Brom had conceded at The Hawthorns this season.
As a result of these recent defeats, West Brom have dropped from first to fourth in the table, just one point behind second-placed Burnley and two behind leaders Sunderland as the October international break approaches.
Despite their recent struggles, Carlos Corberan’s side remains a formidable outfit, with star performers like Josh Maja and Tom Fellows combining for 13 goal contributions this season. Both will be key in trying to break Millwall’s defense on Saturday.
Since Corberan’s arrival in October 2022, West Brom have yet to suffer consecutive home defeats in the Championship, giving the Baggies faithful plenty of reason to expect a positive response this weekend.
Millwall, on the other hand, endured a disappointing result midweek, losing 1-0 to Cardiff City despite dominating possession and creating several chances. A first-half header from Perry Ng handed Cardiff their first win of the season, leaving Millwall without a victory in three of their last four league games.
Currently sitting 16th in the standings, Millwall are seven points adrift of sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers and only a point above the relegation zone. Duncan Watmore has been a bright spark for the Lions, scoring five goals this season—already surpassing his total from the previous campaign.
Despite their struggles, Millwall have an impressive record against West Brom, remaining unbeaten in their last six meetings since the Baggies returned to the Championship following their Premier League relegation in 2021.
Team News
West Brom are likely to stick with the central defensive duo of Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley, despite recent defensive lapses. Playmaker Tom Fellows is expected to return to the starting lineup, replacing Jed Wallace, who started in the defeat to Middlesbrough.
Striker Daryl Dike remains out, continuing his recovery from an Achilles injury sustained in February, leaving Josh Maja to lead the attack.
Millwall will be without Aidomo Emakhu, who is serving the second game of his three-match suspension following his red card against Preston. The Lions will also miss Josh Coburn, who is recovering from a leg injury sustained in September.
After a rare home defeat, West Brom are expected to respond strongly, especially with key players like Mikey Johnston, Fellows, and Jayson Molumby potentially returning to the starting lineup. Millwall, with limited attacking options following their scoreless outing against Cardiff, may struggle to break down the Baggies’ defense, leading to another tough game for the Lions.
