It’s a big test for both sides this evening at the swansea.com stadium as Swansea City host Millwall in their second home game of the championship season. The swans are looking to turn on the style and erase the memory of their last home game against Blackburn Rovers. Millwall on the other hand are looking for away consistency after looking very good in their home games.

Millwall have scored five goals at home in two matches this season so far. However in their two away games, one against Cambridge United in the League Cup, the other at Sheffield United they are yet to score. The lions have received a huge boost with defender Danny McNamara signing a new deal. Mason Bennett is out and that’s a huge blow for Millwall as well as Tom Bradshaw and Zion Fleming both of whom won’t play tonight. Talking yesterday Millwall boss Gary Rowett said “It’s disappointing because we’re sat here at the moment with Mason Bennett, Zian Flemming and Tom Bradshaw all unavailable — any team would feel that a little bit. Hopefully it won’t be too serious but it didn’t look brilliant. It’s a shame for Mase. But the challenge always, as a manager, is could we get one of them available for Friday’s game? Even if it is just for 15-20 minutes off the bench. We have to temper me wanting extra options to putting them at risk for the next 41 games. We’ve got to make a sensible call on those. If we had them both back next week, fully fit, then certainly our options are going to look far, far stronger.”

Swansea City fans will expect to see more composure in front of goal from Michael Obafemi but credit to him he has found himself in some tremendous positions of late. Every game he has played this season he has either found himself in great positions or worked them out himself. Swans manager Russell Martin knows he will come good, and it has to be said his fitness is the best it has ever been in his career, testament to Swansea City’s careful management of him in training and that is showing on the pitch.

Joel Piroe on the other hand has been quieter in the last three league games, but we started to see more of him and his agile link up play at Blackpool. Both forwards will want to see some goal returns if not tonight come the end of Saturdays game against Luton Town at the swansea.com stadium. Both Obafemi and Piroe will most certainly be targeting both of these games to get their season underway.

We also expect Ben Cabango to start with Harry Darling at the back, the only real dilemma as we said yesterday will be choosing Jamie Paterson’s replacement as he is out with a groin injury. It’s a toss up between Jay Fulton in a more advanced position or possibly Joe Allen alongside Matt Grimes. As much as swans fans are keen to see Cameron Congreve start it’s more than likely he will be on the bench. In yesterdays press conference Matt Gill did intimate they have been working on numerous defensive positions and formations so would it surprise anyone to see a fluid 442 ?

Time will tell as the swans look again to defeat Millwall and carry on their form from the first half on Saturday. The lions have only defeated the swans on three occasions in the last twenty one years, last season the swans won at the new den and drew at home. The last time Millwall beat Swansea City was six games ago in 2019. Gavin Ward is tonight’s match referee, always an unfortunate name to be given, however he will be assisted by Mark Russell and Greg Read. Ollie Yates will be the fourth official.

It is expected that an appreciation of the life of Lenny Johnrose will be held prior to kick off. Lenny died early yesterday from motor neurone disease after a lengthy battle, he made forty appearances for Swansea City.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm tonight and is not televised.

Photographs licensed from Reuters & Open Source

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