Millwall vs Hull predictions: Tigers can earn their stripes at the Den
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- Millwall have lost three of their five home games this season
- Hull have won three of their five away games in 2023-24
- Recommended bet: Hull to win
Hull had their eight-match unbeaten run broken in ruthless fashion by Ipswich in midweek but the Tigers should not be too disheartened.
The scale of Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat — which sent the Tractor Boys to the top of the Championship — was harsh given the balance of play.
While in-form Ipswich deserved the win, it was inspired finishing from the hosts that separated the teams rather than any gulf in class.
But while Hull supporters are looking to build upon last season’s 15th-placed finish, Millwall fans again find themselves floating just beneath the play-off places in Gary Rowett’s fifth season in charge.
The Lions’ continued presence in mid-table is an excellent achievement for a club with one of the smallest wage bills in the division, but Millwall supporters would love a bit of Hull’s forward momentum to propel them into the play-off picture.
Team news
Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw has an outside chance of returning from a hamstring strain but centre-back Shaun Hutchinson (calf) and goalkeeper Matija Sarkic are both expected to again miss out.
Hull midfielder Regan Slater is out for eight weeks with a hamstring tear but fellow midfielder Greg Docherty returned from a lengthy layoff in midweek to make his first appearance of the season.
The stats
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While Millwall have a decent record of four wins and two draws from 10 league games, all four victories have come against teams from the bottom half of the Championship.
Playing at home has not given the Lions much of an advantage this season, with Rowett’s men losing three of their five home games to nil and only beating struggling Rotherham and Stoke in front of their own supporters.
Hull had been frustrated by a string of home stalemates in their recent eight-match unbeaten run but those draws came against decent opponents in the shape of Leeds, Bristol City, Coventry and Plymouth.
Away from home the Tigers have been largely impressive — since losing their opening weekend trip to Norwich, Liam Rosenior’s side have won at Blackburn, title-favourites Leicester and Stoke.
Prediction
Hull are heading in the right direction under Rosenior and could earn a fourth win in five away games when they visit the Den.
Despite a frustrating run of four draws in six games, the Tigers have been the better team in most of their league games in 2023-24.
And while Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Ipswich might have come as a blow, supporters should not be unduly concerned.
Rosenior’s men were not outclassed by the title chasers and were instead undone by some impressive, clinical finishing — something Millwall have not shown much evidence of possessing so far this season.
Millwall are getting enough points to keep themselves ticking along in mid-table but their victories have come in games they would be expected to win — aside from the opening weekend defeat of Middlesbrough, who started the season terribly.
Hull do not fit into the category of teams that Millwall should be beating and it could be the Tigers rather than the Lions who claw their way to all three points this weekend.
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