Eng. Championship
2012-04-14 - Millwall vs Leicester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 14 April 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Millwall
Millwall secured a vital 0-1 win at Portsmouth during the week which has put them in a very strong position to retain their place in the Championship for another season. They can now play this game with a bit of freedom, but they still need a few more points to guarantee their future.
The team are 18th in the Championship and are now 8 points clear of Coventry City in the final relegation position and with just 4 games left to play. They have a 6-6-9 record at the New Den, scoring 23 goals and conceding 27 so far this season.
The win at Portsmouth completed a very productive Easter Weekend for Millwall as they picked up 6 points from their two games. Millwall are unbeaten in 3 games, keeping clean sheets in each, since a 0-1 loss here to Leeds United. The win over Hull City here last week stopped a run of 5 consecutive home defeats in all competitions.
Darius Henderson could return to the squad after missing the last two games. Liam Trotter is doubtful and may return during the week.
Leicester City
Leicester City, under the management of Sven-Goran Eriksson, were one of the favourites to win the Championship, but for long periods this season it seemed they wouldn't even finish in the top 6. However, a late surge has seen them close the gap on the Play Off spots and they still have a chance of making a late entry into that lottery.
The Foxes moved up to 9th in the Championship last week and they now find themselves just 3 points behind 6th placed Cardiff City and will look to put the pressure on by winning their final 4 games left this season. Leicester are 6-6-9 away from home this season, scoring 27 goals and conceding 30.
They have lost just 1 of their last 6 games in the Championship since being knocked out of the FA Cup at Chelsea, and they won back to back League games over the Easter Weekend. Leicester beat Ipswich Town 1-2 last weekend, but they had lost 3 of their previous 4 away games before that win.
Neil Danns has returned from suspension, but he could still miss out through injury. Lee Peltier and Paul Gallagher are both also likely to miss out.
Head to Head
Leicester City dominated a home game against Millwall earlier this season, but they were beaten 0-3.
Millwall won this corresponding fixture 2-0 last season, although Leicester have won on their 2 previous visits before that.
Prediction
Millwall earned their vital win at Portsmouth during the week that should be just about enough to keep them in the Championship and it is possible that they could take their eye just off the ball in this game as the face a motivated Leicester City side trying to get into the Play Off positions.
However, I have been put off by the away win as the price looks slightly short considering they had failed to win in 4 away games before their result at Ipswich Town last weekend.
The one thing that has stood out is that Leicester have scored at least 2 goals in 4 of their last 6 away games in all competitions, including in losing efforts, while Millwall have conceded at least 2 goals in 4 straight home games before their last couple here at the New Den.
The fact that Leicester to score at least 2 goals is almost priced at the same price as a straight win means that is the way I will go at this game.
The Pick :
Millwall 1-2 Leicester City
