Millwall vs Bristol City prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-08-11 14:00.
Millwall got their 2023/24 campaign off to an excellent start last weekend as they returned back from Middlesbrough, who finished fourth last season, with a 1-0 victory. Post-match, manager Gary Rowett was keen for his side to continue to prove the critics wrong, saying “we enjoy that underdog tag”, but his mood will have soured after a 4-0 league cup defeat at home to Reading on Tuesday evening.
Despite being marked up as warm favourites for the visit of Bristol City, Millwall lost their final two home league fixtures last season as part of a run of just four victories from their last 14 Championship games at The Den, form that almost certainly cost them a play-off place. They can take some comfort from a strong H2H record at home across the last seven league fixtures against the West Country side (W4, D2, L1) while fans haven’t witnessed their side fall to a defeat in their season opener at home since 2015 (W3, D4 since).
Bristol City fans are feeling a little more optimistic this season after three straight bottom-half finishes, with some even believing their side might have an outside chance of a playoff place now the squad has had a season to gel. They were denied the perfect start last week at home as Preston North End scored an 86th minute equaliser, prompting manager Nigel Pearson to admit that it was “a bit of a frustrating day”.
Pearson’s irritation levels were likely affected by an injury to club captain Andi Weimann, who lasted only 20 minutes against Preston, when he was already a replacement for much in demand, but injured, attacking midfielder Alex Scott. Both players could return for the trip to South London, a much needed boost for City who were beaten five times from their final eight Championship away games last season, but did win in London at QPR on their final outing.
Players to watch: Zian Flemming reached 15 goals in one league season for the first time last year, with Milwall losing only once when the attacking midfielder scored in 2022/23. After notching against QPR in last season’s finale and opening the scoring against Preston last Saturday, Sam Bell is looking to find the back of the net for the third successive game at this level.
Hot Stat: Bristol City have scored more than once in just one of their last seven league visits to The Den.