BLACKBURN Rovers boss Tony Mowbray is worried about Millwall’s direct play – and their “huge” centre-backs.
Mowbray expects Lions boss Neil Harris to pick Jed Wallace and Connor Mahoney on the wings with Matt Smith the central target up front.
Jake Cooper is set to partner captain Alex Pearce in the centre of Millwall’s defence at Ewood Park.
Harris and Cooper have been critical of referees this season, feeling the side have been penalised at attacking set-plays but that the opposition have got away with fouls defending Millwall’s set-pieces.
Cooper, who scored seven times last season but has yet to open his account this term, believes he should already have had three penalties this season.
Mowbray has been impressed with Millwall so far in this campaign.
“Millwall have already been to West Brom and got a 1-1 draw, they’ve gone to Middlesbrough and got a 1-1 draw, they’ve beaten Preston, beaten Sheffield Wednesday,” he told Blackburn’s media.
“They’ve only lost to Fulham and are a decent team. Normally, you play against some teams and the fans say ‘we should be beating them’.
“But it’s not the reality, because it’s 11 v 11 and you have to find a way to beat them. They have a work ethic, they stick together and we have to be mindful of them.
“But it’s an opportunity to be aggressive, be attacking and look to get the three points.
“I think Neil Harris has done a remarkable job there. When I look at the statistics I don’t see a club that want to build up the play.
“They have Matt Smith, who scored against us for QPR last season and can go direct to him.
“They have Connor Mahoney on one wing and Jed Wallace on the other, so that proves that they do have agile, technical, quick footballers.
“They have players who they can go direct to and have a good balance to their team. They can fight and battle for every second ball and have two huge central defenders.
“They carry a threat and their results show that they are a good side.”
Image: Millwall FC