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Rejuvenated Millwall Will Provide Stern Test

By Jonathan Northall

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Lee Gregory of Millwall takes a shot from the penalty spot which is saved during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brentford and Millwall at Griffin Park on October 14, 2017 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Lee Gregory of Millwall takes a shot from the penalty spot which is saved during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brentford and Millwall at Griffin Park on October 14, 2017 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images) /
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Millwall visit Villa Park on Saturday and will be difficult opponents to overcome.  Having beaten Sheffield United 3-1 last weekend, the visitors be aiming to win two games in a row for the first time this season.  A thoroughly deserved win ensures that an always physical Millwall side will be trying to steal all three points.  Aston Villa’s focus will be to win the game to move up to at least fourth place.

If last weekend was not a wake-up call to Millwall’s capabilities, a quick look at their past results will do so.  In visits to Bristol City and Cardiff, they took a point from both with goalless draws.  Having played at Molineux earlier in the season, they were only beaten by a single goal.  Despite losing Aiden O’Brien for two bookable offences, Millwall kept Wolves scoreless for 25 minutes.  Millwall’s defensive qualities will pose plenty of problems that will require patience.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 21: Shane Ferguson of Millwall and Ola Aina of Hull City battle for possession during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Hull City at The Den on November 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 21: Shane Ferguson of Millwall and Ola Aina of Hull City battle for possession during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Hull City at The Den on November 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images) /

Millwall’s style is physical which is reflected in a Championship disciplinary record of 4 red cards and 28 yellow cards.  For comparison, Aston Villa’s is 2 red and 25 yellows.  Right back Conor McLaughlin is suspended so youngster Mahlon Romeo could deputise again.  Albert Adomah will pose far more questions, on the wing, than ex-Villa player Enda Stevens did last week. Central defender Jake Cooper may find he’s called into action as Adomah cuts back on his right side.

Millwall’s front men of Steve Morison and Lee Gregory will be a handful in the air and on the ground.  Both played well last week against Sheffield United. Morison is yet to score this season but links the play up.  The main supply of goals (six) has come from midfielder George Saville. Closing Saville’s runs down will be key to stopping Millwall so it will be interesting to see how much this is factored into Steve Bruce’s starting line up.

Next: Squad Rotation is key to success in December

In his pre-match press conference, Bruce was able to deliver positive news that the injury crisis could be over.  The surprising news was Mile Jedinak was back in training despite original assessments of one to three months out. Whether he features against Millwall is partly down to another assessment after training.  Bruce was also able to confirm that Gabby Agbonlahor and Scott Hogan were back in full training too.  They will also be assessed later.

Speculation over the composition of midfield has been around Henri Lansbury‘s performance against Leeds. Has he earned a spot in the starting line up and who will he replace? Glenn Whelan could find himself as the man to make way but his defensive qualities could be needed to quieten the Millwall midfield. The fitness of Mile Jedinak would give more options for the midfield configuration.

Keinan Davis’s position could be in jeopardy if Hogan and Agbonlahor are both fit. Alternatively, he could find he has a partner up front which may mean that Josh Onomah pays for a substandard performance against Leeds.  Profligacy in front of goal could cost Aston Villa on Saturday so chances must be taken to beat Millwall’s obdurate awayday style.

WHEN: Saturday, December 9, 2017 @ 3:00pm GMT / 10:00am EST

WHERE: Villa Park

PREDICTION: 1-0 Aston Villa victory

Patience will be key to taking all three points. Millwall’s resolution will be to not lose the game and hope that Villa make a mistake. It could take another tactical substitution to open up the Millwall defence.

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