Millwall vs Aston Villa Predictions

After a public dressing-down from manager Neil Harris following their wretched start to the season, Millwall responded in the correct fashion, drawing 2-2 away against a quality Nottingham Forest team. They were the better team throughout the match, having 20 shots on goal and utilising the long-ball tactic to devastating effect. What will have pleased Neil Harris the most is the way his side did not give up at 2-0 down. They can surely use this performance as a springboard to climb up the table.

It would be ironic that Millwall’s spark to a recovery would come after a late comeback in a game. Throughout the season, they have been heartbroken in multiple games to drop two or more points. Indeed, over the weekend, they conceded two late goals to lose at home to Sheffield United after playing doggedly for most of the match but breaking concentration for two key moments. Moreover, they have conceded last-minute equalisers to table-toppers Leeds and Middlesbrough to drop yet more points, yet at the very least, showing the potential this team has to succeed in the division.

In other games though, they have looked toothless, particularly in attack. They lost to Rotherham, QPR, and West Brom without scoring, whilst were defeated by Swansea at home, despite the visitors having ten men for 85 minutes. In addition, the defence that was so strong last year has disintegrated, with the team conceding the second-most goals.

However, wins against Derby and the draws against the stronger sides in the division suggested that Millwall should be able to rise up the table once they got out of this slump.

They face an Aston Villa side who have made the headlines this week with their performance against Preston and the subsequent sacking of manager Steve Bruce. After two years in charge, Bruce lost his job after a run which saw Villa only win once in nine matches. It has come after a summer of turmoil, in which the threat of administration loomed large for the club.

The draw at home to Preston was the final straw, which was marred by cabbage being thrown at Bruce before the match in protest at his management. The game was actually going well for Villa until James Chester brought down a Preston player through on goal to get sent off when the home side were 2-0 up. Preston duly scored the penalty and made the man advantage count, turning things round to make it 3-2 going into the final minutes. However, an injury time goal from Yannick Bolasie levelled things up before Glenn Whelan missed a penalty in the 97th minute to mean points were shared and Bruce lost his job.

Bruce has paid for what has been perceived as a negative brand of football and a lack of tactical nous in putting players in the wrong positions. For example, Mile Jedinak has been playing centre-back, despite being a midfielder, after Tommy Elphick was allowed to go on loan to Hull and no replacement was brought in. In contrast, Villa’s attack was boosted to an almost Premier League standard, with Bolasie and Tammy Abraham coming in.

Moreover, the team has not been dominating games that their line-up suggests they should. Injury-time goals have had to be scored to rescue points against Blackburn, Preston, and Brentford, and in a couple of games Villa have not been able to finish off the match, or been well-beaten, such as the 4-1 loss to Sheffield United. Whilst Villa had won a few games like a 2-0 victory against Rotherham, it was simply not good enough and although Villa are two points of the play-offs, their football simply hasn’t been good enough.

With Villa in turmoil in this week and no new manager appointed, we think Millwall can take advantage of the strife and win this game. They had a great performance in midweek and will be more confident coming into this match of their ability to win matches. Villa have looked shaky in recent matches and until a new manager comes in, they will be less organised. Thus, backing Millwall to win holds real value, whilst backing them with a 2-1 correct score-line seems apt, given Villa still have a formidable front-line.