Millwall don secure play-off spot for Championship, and dem still dey fight for automatic promotion to Premier League. Dem go face Leicester City for King Power Stadium on Friday night, live for Sky Sports. If dem win or draw, dem go jump to second position, putting pressure on Ipswich wey dey top dem on goal difference with game in hand.
Di Lions, wey get lower mid-table budget and wage bill, don reach dis lofty position through five key factors. First na di manager Alex Neil. Chairman James Berylson provide financial support, while director of football Steve Gallen lead successful recruitment. But Neil na di one wey pull everything together create team wey serious.
Neil get experience for play-off campaigns for Scotland, League One and Championship. E don manage mentality of players wey no get plenty Premier League experience. Millwall squad get only 228 Premier League appearances combined, while Leicester get 1,770. Neil say e never encourage players to read or listen to wetin people talk, dem only focus on wetin dey in front of dem.
Di second factor na team spirit. Di current Millwall crop get strong bonds, dem fight for each other, care for each other, support each other. Captain Jake Cooper set tone as longest-serving player wey still dey first for training ground each day. Cooper rank second for Championship for aerial duels won and fifth for clearances. E carry significant attacking threat from set-pieces and marshal backline wey get joint-best defensive record.
Third factor na solid defence. With Caleb Taylor as regular centre-back partner, and Zak Sturge and Tristan Crama for full-back, Millwall keep most clean sheets for league (17). Dem well protected by midfielder Casper De Norre. Away from home, dem concede only 23 goals for 22 games, and dem top table for away results with club-record 11 wins beyond The Den.
Fourth factor na creativity from Femi Azeez. E dey named for EFL Championship team of year (with Crama), get nine goals and seven assists dis season. Camiel Neghli don also come to party with four goal involvements for last six appearances. Dem pair with tireless strikers Josh Coburn and Mihailo Ivanovic wey get 18 goals between dem.
Leicester City, on di other hand, don suffer relegation to League One after draw with Hull City. Dis be di club wey win Premier League ten years ago. Dem dey on seven-game winless run, and dem dey eight points from safety with two matches remaining. Gary Rowett side go play third-tier football next season.
Millwall go miss Billy Mitchell and Massimo Luongo for midfield due to injury, while Leicester get Caleb Okoli and Ben Nelson absent for defence. Leicester possible starting lineup include Stolarczyk, Pereira, Lascelles, Vestergaard, Thomas, Skipp, James, Fatawu, Mukasa, Monga, Ayew. Millwall probable lineup be Patterson, Crama, Taylor, Cooper, Sturge, Mazou-Sacko, De Norre, Azeez, Neghli, Ballo, Coburn.
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