Millwall Football Club face a stern test of their perfect start to the season with a trip to Southampton this Saturday. The Sky Bet Championship fixture at St Mary's Stadium, kicking off at 3pm BST, pits the league's top side against the bottom club, according to a match preview from www.southamptonfc.com. The Lions have won all their competitive matches so far, while the Saints are looking to climb out of negative territory following a four-point deduction.
What is the state of Millwall's squad?
Manager Alex Neil has significant selection issues to contend with ahead of the match. The club's current injury list, as detailed on our injuries page, includes Alfie Doughty, Mihailo Ivanovic, Ryan Leonard, Derek Mazou-Sacko, Mathis Servais, and Femi Azeez. This lengthy absentee report comes after Neil made ten changes for the midweek Carabao Cup win at Cambridge United. He is likely to revert to a lineup similar to the one that secured a convincing 3-0 league victory over Norwich City at The Den.
How have both teams started the campaign?
Millwall's form has been impeccable. They opened the league season with a 2-0 win at Bristol City before dispatching Norwich. In the cup, they beat Queens Park Rangers on penalties after a 1-1 draw and edged Cambridge 1-0. Southampton, managed by Tonda Eckert, started the season in deficit but won their last match against Stoke City. Eckert acknowledged the quality of the opposition, stating, "It's a very good opposition, they were fighting for direct (automatic) promotion for a very long time last season." Saints have also bolstered their squad with new arrivals Keven Schlotterbeck and James Ward-Prowse, though Caspar Jander is out with a quad injury.
What is the context of Millwall's recent history?
The Lions finished third in the Championship last season, amassing 83 points from 24 wins, 11 draws, and 11 losses. Their recent form at the end of that campaign was LDWDW, and they scored 64 goals while conceding 49. They ended the season just 12 points behind champions Coventry City, underlining their credentials. Neil's side has developed a very clear attacking identity, frequently utilizing crosses into the box. Their next fixture after Southampton is a home game against Wrexham, who are seventh, on September 2nd.
What are the match details and coverage?
The officiating team for the 29th August clash will be led by referee Adam Herczeg, assisted by Nigel Lugg and Daniel Leach. Alex Chilowicz will be the fourth official. Southampton will wear their traditional red and white striped home shirt with black shorts and socks, while Millwall will be in all navy with white socks. The match is a Category B fixture, and tickets are reportedly still available. A printed match programme will be sold, featuring an A-Z with James Bree, early thoughts from Eckert, and content on the Women's team and Academy. Live coverage is available worldwide on Saints Play, except in the UK and Nordic regions. Fans can follow the team's progress throughout the season on our dedicated fixtures and standings pages.
