West Ham v Millwall
Football: English Championship
Saturday 4 February 2012 - Kick Off 12:30pm
This game is live on TV

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West Ham

West Ham United were one of the busier teams in the January transfer window as Sam Allardyce tried to put together a squad that will see the Hammers return to the Premier League after a one season absence. They have proven themselves to be one of the better teams in the Championship already, but the likes of Nicky Maynard, Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison could be the difference between automatic promotion and the Play Offs.

The team are currently top of the Championship having earned 53 points so far this season, but it is still tight at the top as that means they are 2 points better off than Southampton and only 3 points better off than Cardiff in the Play Offs. West Ham have an 8-2-3 record at Upton Park this season, scoring 22 goals and conceding 13.

The Hammers would have been extremely disappointed with their last performance when they were beaten 5-1 at Ipswich Town during the week and Sam Allardyce will be expecting a response from his players after that rout. Before that loss, West Ham had won 3 games in a row in the Championship, including two with the added bonus of a clean sheet. The team have won 4 of their last 5 home games, including the last 3 in a row, and they have conceded 1 goal in 3 games here.

It is likely that at least Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te will play some part in this game, while I am not sure if Ravel Morrison will be given game time immediately and may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Millwall

Millwall have been in terrible form recently, but I fully expect the players to be charged and ready for this fierce London Derby. With the threat of relegation also hanging over the Lions' heads, it is important that they arrest their slide and start picking up points soon.

The team are currently 21st in the Championship, one place out of the relegation zone, but with the benefit of having a 5 point buffer to Doncaster Rovers below them. They have struggled away from home, compiling a 2-3-8 record, scoring 10 goals and conceding 19.

The Lions were beaten 0-2 at home by Watford during the week, a poor result considering their opponents had lost their star striker to Bolton Wanderers and the fact that Watford are struggling at the wrong end of the table too. If you take away their recent FA Cup results, Millwall have lost 4 of their last 5 games in the League, although they did win their last away game at Barnsley 1-3. The team had not scored in 5 away games in the League before those 3 goals at Barnsley.

There is no new team news for the Millwall team.

Head to Head

The two teams drew 0-0 at the New Den earlier this season, but this will be their first meeting at Upton Park since all the trouble that flared up before a Carling Cup game here last season.

On that occasion, the teams drew 1-1 after 90 minutes before West Ham went on to secure a 3-1 win in extra time.

That means Millwall have not been beaten in regulation time at Upton Park in their last 4 visits, their last defeat coming in the 1990/91 season.

Prediction

This is going to be a tough, physical battle as both sides are going to be roared on passionately from the stands.

West Ham clearly have the more quality in their squad and have been in better form than Millwall, despite the 5-1 loss at Ipswich last time out, and I think they have the defensive capabilities to make it tough for their visitors in this one.

The arrival of Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te gives the Hammers a couple of players that know their way to the back of the net in this Division and I think they are rightly favourites for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

I expect those strikers to give Millwall plenty of problems during the course of the 90 minutes and I think it will be enough for the Hammers to secure the 3 points.

However, I think it will be a close game and that the win will be based on West Ham keeping a clean sheet. Millwall have struggled for goals on their travels all season, failing to find the net in more than half of their away games in the League, and I think there has to be a bit of value in picking the home side to win to nil at a standout price of 2.63.

I wouldn't be surprised if it takes a solitary goal for West Ham to get the win here.

The Pick :

West Ham 1-0 Millwall

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll chance West Ham to win to nil @ 2.63 (Ladbrokes)