Millwall hoping that home form can secure three points against Reading

Millwall will be keen to make it three wins from three at the Den this season when they play host to Championship surprisers Reading.

The Lions’ start to the campaign has been far from quiet, with two of their recent games featuring a late winner and a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time.

Gary Rowett’s side finished 9th and six points behind Luton in the final play-off position last season, with the south-east London club having aspirations of reaching such a position come the end of the current campaign.

Saturday will see them welcome a Reading side who have shocked many in the Championship so far this term. After narrowly avoiding such a fate last season, the Royals have been tipped for relegation, but currently sit third in the table after five matches.

A mixed opening set of results

Having come close to finishing in the top six at the end of last season, there is belief at Millwall that they could potentially tease the prospect of a play-off run next summer. Rowett is now in his fourth season as manager of the Lions and has done well to maintain the club’s progress in the top half of the Championship table.

The league’s unpredictability could bode well for them later in the campaign, but they will need to improve on their current set of results and find some consistency if they really wish to challenge some of the division’s tip sides.

Millwall, who currently sit 10th in the table, got off to the best possible start in the opening round of fixtures. Leeds United loanee Charlie Cresswell scored a brace at the Den, the first being a header and the second a volley. Such a result saw them sit top of the table at the end of the weekend.

However, two defeats would soon follow. The Lions travelled to League One outfit Cambridge United for the first round of the Carabao Cup and lost 1-0, with new signing George Honeyman seeing red just two minutes after his side conceded in the second half.

Upon their return to Championship action, promotion favourites Sheffield United beat Millwall 2-0 at Bramall Lane. Poor and careless defending would prove to be their downfall for both of the goals, with the result being decided shortly before the break.

Two minutes into their match against Coventry City, the situation did not become any easier. Kyle McFadzean netted in the opening stages before Matt Godden added the second for the visitors. However, a spirited comeback saw Millwall take all three points at the Den, with George Saville scoring with five minutes to go to ensure a 3-2 win.

Dramatic events would follow them on their trip to Wales to face Swansea City. Millwall conceded early once again and were preparing for the long trip back to London with nothing to show for their efforts. This would soon change though, as two own goals in second half stoppage time saw the Lions snatch a point.

Norwich City would soon dampen their spirits three days later, with the Canaries winning 2-0 at home to kick-off last weekend’s Championship action.

Considering how well they have done on home turf so far this season Millwall will feel as though they could win all three points in the capital, but they will come up against a Reading side who have impressed in the opening stages of the campaign.

Royals revelling in success

Last season was one to forget for Reading, having finished just four points above the relegation zone. They had the joint worst defensive record in the Championship, a title they shared with Peterborough United.

The Royals conceded 87 goals in 46 games, a statistic that largely contributed to their poor finish. Paul Ince’s side have been widely tipped to be one of the sides fighting to keep their place in the division come the end of the campaign, but their set of results so far could suggest otherwise.

An opening defeat away at Blackpool was a disappointing start to proceedings, but they soon made amends when they returned to home soil. Reading beat Cardiff City 2-1 thanks to a Shane Long penalty and a Tom Ince worldie after the visitors took an early lead.

Like Millwall, they exited the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle, falling to defeat against League Two side Stevenage. A trip to newly promoted Rotherham United would see a lack of improvement as they were thumped 4-0 by the Millers.

However, Ince’s side soon tasted victory once again with back-to-back home wins. The first saw them secure the three points against Blackburn Rovers courtesy of goals from Tom McIntyre, Junior Hoilett and Lucas Joao. Three days later, Tyrese Fornah’s finish was enough to beat Middlesbrough, a result that now sees them sit third in the table behind Sheffield United and Watford.

Point differences at the start of the season are always slim, and a loss on Saturday could very easily see them slide down the table and out of the top six. However, two wins on the trot will surely give them confidence and the belief that they can continue to prove their doubters wrong.

The Royals have not won at the Den since 2014 and Millwall have claimed victory in their previous three meetings, but results in the Championship are never guaranteed and a hotly contested affair could be on the cards in the capital.

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