THERE may be eight points between them in the league and West Brom have scored nine more Championship goals than Millwall this season, but Baggies manager Darren Moore and midfielder Gareth Barry weren’t about to give their opponents this weekend any added motivation by dismissing their challenge.
Neil Harris’ Lions go to The Hawthorns just a place and a point above the bottom three, after four defeats in five league games, to face the Championship’s top scorers with 20, who have already hit four goals in two games and seven in one.
Millwall haven’t kept a clean sheet in five games in all competitions since Shaun Hutchinson got injured, and have looked vulnerable to crosses into their box, though they have conceded one goal fewer than Moore’s side in the league this season.
West Brom could climb into the top two with a win on Saturday, while another defeat for Millwall could send them bottom.
“We have a tough game against Millwall on Saturday,” Moore told West Brom’s official website. “They are a big, strong, organised team. They’ve also got some very good players.
“Neil Harris has done a superb job there and he has made the club very solid.
“They’ll pose a stern test and we will have to be at our very best if we are going to win. It’s a game we are really looking forward to.”
Millwall lost 2-0 at QPR on Wednesday night, after the Baggies defeated Bristol City 4-2 at home with goals from their trio of dangerous attackers Jay Rodriguez, Dwight Gayle and Harvey Barnes.
“The team spirit seems good in the group,” Moore said. “We are playing football here which seems to be entertaining.
“The fans like to see goals being scored and we have certainly scored our fair share of them.
“We have people at the top end of the pitch who are composed and clinical when the chances come their way.”
Veteran midfielder Barry is wary of a reaction from Millwall after their midweek loss. “I’m expecting a tough, gritty performance from Millwall. They’re probably not overly happy with the start they’ve made.
“They finished the season really strong last season.
“I listened to their manager after their last game and I don’t think he was happy with their performance. They’ll be hungry to put that right here.
“We’ve got to be wary of that and respect Millwall. We will keep doing what we’re doing and that’s take the game to them.”
Harris is set to make changes to his side after admitting he got his selection and the tactics wrong at Loftus Road.
Mahlon Romeo, Byron Webster, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jiri Skalak, Steve Morison and Tom Elliott all have claims to start after the Lions’ poor performance against the Rs.
Possible Millwall starting XI:
4-4-2: Amos; Rome, Webster, Cooper, Meredith; J Wallace, Leonard, Williams, Skalak; Gregory, Morison.
Match odds:
West Brom 4/6 Draw 11/4 7/2
Last league meetings:
First Division (2003-04): West Brom 2-1 Millwall; West Brom 1-1 Millwall.
Image: Millwall FC