Right..! I don't do this normally, but I'm going to stick my neck out with confidence and say 4-1 Saints, with Millwall scoring late on as a consolation, when the game is done and dusted. Nigel Adkins will talk about flowing football, and why Guly was taken off, even though he was excellent again, and how Rickie scored a cracker of a goal [maybe two] and all the team were together as a unit. Jose Fonte scores as well, and probably Lallana again. Or Connolly. Adkins will acknowledge through gritted teeth that we need to keep a clean sheet. First time, certainly since WWII, probably much longer, that Saints win their first 4 games of the season. There you go. When I make a prediction, it's a doozy. It's my first and probably my last.
Going with 2-1...we score a couple in the first half and threaten for more, Millwall picks it up after half and produces some nervy moments after reducing the gap to one, but Saints restore order and close it out strong.
Looked at Championship table from last year. Tells you that Millwall were a good team who finished high up the table. Did better at home (but then who doesn't) and not prolific scorers away from home. We were prolific scorers home and away (though in a lower league) and have continued that this season so far. Would guess that Millwall will try and contain us and catch us on the break. We know this can actually work for a while, but we got so many shots on target last year that even with our poor conversion rate we often won. I think we'll get fewer chances because Millwall are abviously better than League 1 defences, so we have to put those fewer chances away. A real test of our credentials on Saturday but I still think we will win.
i dont think chances to conversion rates will count atm, we are scoring pretty much everytime we go forward!!
I think Millwall will score at least once and it will be from a set piece. Darius Henderson is on fire at the moment. Apart from that I think we should be able to contain them as Dany N'Guessan looks about their most creative player at the moment! Trotter's looking good too but I'm optimistic about this one, even though I think this'll be tougher than Leicester or Forest to get the 3 points.
I'll post here, as there seems to be some sort of bizzare forum courting ritual taking place on the other match type thread (not that I have anything against it, free spirits and all that!) Does anyone remember the matches against Millwall in the FA Cup 2003? 4th Round at St Marys, 1-0 down until the last minute and then Kevin Davies grabbed the vital equaliser. Replay at The Den, Oakley bagged a brace in a 2-1 win - scored the winner in extra time. I was at both matches and I remember them being proper epic! Sent us on our winning way, all the way to the final... Of course, just a year later, it was Millwall who had their own great run all the way to the final!
Will be a hard fought battle. I don't think will be any where near the walk over some people are predicting. Millwall are a very good side. Think there will be one goal in it. My heart says win 2 - 1. Head says win 1 - 1 . Can't wait.
Not sure why but I do feel a little nervous about this match.. probably because it's only our second league match at home, the pressure to win will be greater and I can sense a real battle.
None of us believe the run can continue..not lost since beginning of April..not lost a point on a Saturday since January..so bound to worry every match. Ignore the past, take one game at a time. We are a good side playing a match at home against decent opposition, so we have to be favourites but will have to fight for it. COYR
I seem to remember Steve Claridge scoring for them in that cup-tie, then making a right meal of the celebrations. He must have been about 45 at the time. Matty Oakley's brace of goals in the replay at their place were crackers though. Warmed us up on a very cold night. Tomorrow won't be easy imo. I've been a Saints fan too long to be over confident, despite the epic change in our fortunes recently.
He wont be involved; he's out with a hamstring injury . I reckon we will burst you bubble and win 2-0
