Friday, December 10, 2010

FRIDAY ..............


CHAMPIONSHIP

SWANSEA CITY - MILLWALL

I fancy that this will develop into a very tight encounter between two evenly matched teams. Hosts have had the better of the campaign so far, but I saw and was impressed by Millwall earlier in the season, immediately after which they went on the skids a bit, however, boss Kenny Jackett knows how to compete at this level and got busy in the transfer market and with signings like Puncheon, Andrew, McQuoid, Lisbie and Shittu has added to his options with a mixture of talent, youth and experience. The Lions are now three starts unbeaten, collecting seven points and a hat-trick of clean sheets in the process. The first four named newbies give Millwall an increased offensive threat and with the evergreen Neil Harris on the sidelines and top striker Steve Morison back amongst the goals with a brace last time out, his first in five outings, I really feel that the Lions are a team to keep on the right side of in the coming months. I like Morison a lot, his work ethic is fantastic and he will get goals at any level and having some classy providers around him will only help his tally in the weeks to come. Jackett spent a largely successful three years at Swansea and will be ultra keen to get a result tonight as he was not entirely fairly treated towards the end of his reign in south Wales.

Hosts play some very nice stuff, but often take a very long time to get from box to box, playing one sideways pass too many in the process.They do have a big incentive tonight, in that three points would take them above their biggest rival Cardiff and up into second spot. However,City have looked a little fragile defensively recently and dodged plenty of bullets at Ipswich last weekend and Millwall poise much more of a goalscoring threat than Roy Keane's men, they have seemed happier on the road at times and even with Gary Monk returning to the centre of defence tonight, which will give them a more solid look at the back, I can still see these two teams cancelling each other out. I was very close to opting for the draw selection, especially as these two have played nine evening games between them this season without a win under floodlights, but just feel that if anyone is going to steal the points, that it might be the visitors with their more direct style, so, Millwall plus the handicap.

Millwall +0.75 1.98

Good Luck.

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