Southampton vs Millwall prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-02-23 15:00.
A 2-1 defeat to Hull on Tuesday brought an end to Southampton’s 11-match home winning streak, and rather concerningly, was their second loss in three matches overall. Boss Russell Martin lamented that his side “lacked courage” in their midweek defeat, and he’ll hope that doesn’t become a pattern considering that his side have fallen two points behind automatic promotion rivals Leeds and Ipswich pre-round.
The St Mary’s faithful may be starting to grow anxious too after seeing their side go 2-0 down before half-time in each of their last two home games. The visit of struggling Millwall perhaps comes at an opportune time then, as Southampton have lost just one H2H meeting since December 1989 (W8, D5)!
A resounding 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday last weekend was the straw that broke the camel’s back for the Millwall board, who have parted company with former manager Joe Edwards. Former Lions boss Neil Harris was swiftly re-appointed to the role and now he must try to steer his men away from the relegation zone.
It’s no surprise that a change was deemed necessary, as a seven-match winless run (D1, L6) has plunged Millwall to 21st, just one point clear of the bottom-three ahead of this round. A trip to Southampton certainly represents a baptism of fire for Harris as he returns to second-tier management, but the Lions did emerge victorious on their last trip to St Mary’s in an FA Cup replay back in 2012!
Players to watch: Ryan Fraser netted Southampton’s injury time winner at the Den in November, with the Saints winning all six games that he has scored in during this campaign and six of his eight goals coming after half-time. Millwall have scored just six goals so far in 2024, with Zian Flemming involved in four of them (G2, A2).
Hot stat: Millwall have conceded before half-time in seven of their last eight matches.