Championship leaders Leicester City will visit Milwall in the third round of the FA Cup. The visitors will enter this contest off the back of a 4-1 victory over Huddersfield Town. Millwall recorded a 1-0 win over Bristol City in their last match in the second tier.
Preview (Millwall vs Leicester City)
On New Year’s Day, Millwall defeated Bristol City 1-0 to extend their winning streak in the Championship to five games. Shaun Hutchinson scored the game’s only goal in the closing minutes of play. After back-to-back draws with Stoke City and Huddersfield, the Lions have now defeated Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, and Bristol City in their last three games. This impressive run of play has propelled them into 15th place in the table with 32 points. They are now ten points above the relegation zone.
The last time Millwall lost was against Leicester, a 3-2 loss at the King Power Stadium in mid-December. However, this match will feel different because both managers will probably rest some key players. The London team has never won the FA Cup. They are well-known for making it to the championship game in 2003–04. In that match, they lost to Manchester United 3-0 in Cardiff. In contrast, Millwall has dropped their last three games in this competition. They have been eliminated by Sheffield United and Crystal Palace in the third round of the previous two seasons.
With Leicester’s roster being so formidable, it is not surprising to see the Foxes dominating the Championship table at the top this season. They are by far the greatest team in the division. It would be shocking if Enzo Maresca’s team did not return to the Premier League. They have won 21, drawing 2, and losing three of their 26 league games to accumulate 65 points. This puts them 10 points ahead of Southampton in third place and 13 ahead of Ipswich Town in second. After defeating Huddersfield 4-1 in the league on January 1, the Foxes haven’t lost since November 11.
Team News
Due to a calf issue, Millwall will be without Casper De Norre on Saturday as well. Wes Harding is also anticipated to be out for selection with a knock. Another player missing for the home team this weekend is midfielder George Saville, who is serving the second of a two-match suspension. Although there haven’t been any new problems from the match against Bristol City recently, head coach Joe Edwards is expected to make changes from the starting lineup that was unveiled on New Year’s Day. Among those expected to be added are Aidomo Emakhu, Kevin Nisbet, Danny McNamara, Joe Bryan, and Bartosz Bialkowski. Jamie Vardy and Kasey McAteer will once more not be eligible for selection for Leicester.
Along with several other changes from the match against Huddersfield last time out, head coach Maresca has Conor Coady, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Hamza Choudhury, Marc Albrighton, and Callum Doyle all vying for starting positions. Additionally, Jakub Stolarczyk ought to have a place between the sticks, and Thomas Cannon, who scored two goals against Huddersfield, ought to continue at center forward.
Millwall 1-2 Leicester City
For more football previews, click here
