We haven’t had a very good record against Millwall in the last couple of seasons, but Simon Grayson is insisting that his team won’t be intimidated by that special New Den atmosphere.
This is the third season in a row that Leeds and Millwall have been battling each other for promotion. Two years ago they beat us in the play-offs, and last then managed to the double over us last season before we finally clinched automatic promotion at their expense on the final day of the season. This time round they find themselves in eighth place and still are still clinging to their hopes of closing the six point gap that is keeping them out of the play-off places.
We haven’t won at the New Den since 2005, but Simon Grayson told our official site that his side has no reason to fear the trip to South-East London. "Millwall is a close ground and it's a passionate place. Their crowd try and get their team to win games, and our players know they will have to stand up and be counted They know it will be lively, but Elland Road can be lively as well so we're used to it. Everywhere we go it's sold-out and hostile so this will be no different."
And as far as the Millwall team is concerned, Grayson thinks that they don’t take after their notorious fans. “There's a huge amount of respect between us both, and people will see two good footballing teams who work hard for their fans. It's a big afternoon for both sides because we both need the points. "In years gone by these games might have had a physical edge,but this Millwall team are not a physical side. They are a good team who like to play.”
And in return, Millwall manager Kenny Jackett was quite complimentary about Leeds when he spoke to his own club’s official site. "We've done very well to keep pace with what is a very good club. I'm pleased to say that we, alongside Leeds, are competing together at the top end of the Championship. They have been successful in the last couple of seasons, as we have. We've done well to still be talking about the Play-Offs with seven games to go and we have a great opportunity to close the gap with two home games against very good opposition."
Neither side has any new injury problems going into this game, but Leeds will again be missing Billy Paynter as he serves the second game of his suspension. Millwall are likely to be unchanged, although defender Darren Purse could return following a calf injury. Jack Smith will continue at right-back in place of the suspended Alan Dunne .
However much Simon Grayson puts a brave face on it, this will be a difficult game for Leeds, bearing in mind our recent wobbles in our away games and the unconvincing performance in the first half against Forest. Meanwhile Millwall have earned ten points from their last four games and have won seven and lost only one of their last 10 home league matches. So I think the best Leeds can hope for tomorrow is a draw, but I reckon we’ll get one.