Millwall v Coventry
Football : England : The Championship
The Den, London
Saturday 28th August 2010 - Kickoff 15.00 BST

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MILLWALL

Millwall's stunning start to the season was brought down to earth with a bump last weekend as Leeds were prepared for them this time. Leeds showed how Millwall can be beaten, with intensity and pressing high up the pitch. It's not easy, but managers will have taken note.

Nevertheless Millwall manager Kenny Jackett will be delighted with his effective, organised and hungry side’s start to the season as they find themselves in 6th place in the early tables.

Home form will be key if the Lions are going to continue to punch above their weight and they will go into this weekend’s game against improving Coventry hoping to prove that last Saturday was a one-off.

COVENTRY

Adie Bothroyd has brought his business management style and percentage tactics into Coventry after a disappointing year with Colchester, and so far so good.

Ignoring the Sky Blues Carling Cup defeat at Morecambe, Coventry have won their two home games (Portsmouth and Derby) and drawn away (Watford), putting the unbeaten side in 5th place in the early tables. Performances have not been fluid but Bothroyd insists this will come.

Coventry have some decent players at this level in Freddy Eastwood and Gary McSheffrey, while Lukas Jutkiewicz has scored two in two now but is doubtful for the trip to the New Den. Bothroyd wants to improve his firepower and has taken controversial striker Marlon King in on trial.

Head to head

The sides haven't met since 2005 when this game ended in a draw.

Teams News

No new injury concerns for Millwall.

Coventry are concerned about the fitness of Lukas Jutkiewicz while goalkeeper Quirke has a dislocated finger.

The Betting Verdict

I expect Millwall to win this but I'm not happy with the odds on prices. This is the Championship after all.

Looking at the over 2.5 goals market, the last time Millwall failed to score at home was November of last year, and in the Championship they have yet to fail to score, scoring 8 in 3 games so if Coventry aren’t on top of things defensively then Millwall could cover this line on their own.

Coventry haven't been playing with any great fluency but they have scored twice in each of their opening three games, so they can contribute to the goals total too.

It doesn’t always work like that, but the stats suggest the teams have enough going forward to beat the 2.5 goal line.

The Pick :

Millwall 2 Coventry 1

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Millwall 50% - Draw 30% - Coventry 20%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Main bet : over 2.5 goals @ 2.05 (bet365)