Lions 'deflated' ahead of Birmingham test
- Published
Saturday's last-gasp equaliser for Oxford and disappointing injuries to our talisman Femi Azeez and the experienced warhorse Ryan Leonard combine to send the Lions to St Andrew's tonight feeling slightly more deflated than might have otherwise been expected.
Unbeaten away from The Den, with four straight wins and sitting in fourth position, this is Millwall's best start to a season since the League One days of Kenny Jackett in 2008-09.
Alex Neil is a wily operator at Championship level and will take his depleted Lions to Birmingham with the same confidence that so nearly bagged a win at the Kassam Stadium.
'Nearly' is such a big word though, isn't it?
Injuries have bedevilled our season so far and Saturday's hard-fought grind of a game in the Oxfordshire rain hasn't helped on that front.
Brum will be on a high after their four-goal thumping of Portsmouth, so I'm expecting a 'backs to the wall' approach from Millwall tonight.
Team selection changes will be forced after a period of relative consistency so expect Wes Harding to start in place of Leonard on the right side of defence and possibly the pace of Aidomo Emakhu in Azeez's attacking midfield role.
The big question for me will be whether the enigmatic Camiel Neghli gets the creative 'number 10' role that many are calling for online.
I for one hope he does...
