'Highly Unlikely': Millwall given Burnley reality check as play-off dreams bloom

Millwall face the small task of beating Championship title contenders Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday to give themselves a chance of a place in the play-offs.

Alex Neil’s side sit seventh in the second tier and are competing for the two remaining play-off spaces, currently occupied by Bristol City and Coventry City. Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough could also leapfrog Millwall into the top six on an enticing final day of Championship action.

There’s plenty of reason for Lions’ supporters to be excited but Scott Parker’s brilliant Burnley side at Turf Moor is about as tough a way to end the campaign as possible. The Clarets are second in the league, level on points with leaders Leeds United, and have the trophy to play for.

There is room for optimism - the last team to beat Burnley was Millwall. The London outfit picked up a well-earned 1-0 victory at The Den in November but that was also the last time that Parker’s team, who have not lost at home all season, were defeated.

Burnley ‘close to complete team’ in Championship

LondonWorld has spoken to Burnley Express reporter Matt Scrafton, who has followed the Clarets’ impressive Championship campaign this season. For Scrafton, Burnley are “as close as you’ll get to a complete Championship team” who can dominate matches both with plenty of possession and through flash moments of quality.

He said: “Of course Millwall fans will remember Burnley’s dire display at The Den back in November, but they’ve come a long way since then and let’s not forget that remains their last league defeat. One or two teams have frustrated them by getting in their faces and going a bit more long and direct, as we saw during the recent 0-0 draw against Derby County. But even when they were miles off it, they still managed to grind out a point.”

A point is unlikely to be enough for Millwall this weekend. As it stands, that would lift them above Coventry City if Frank Lampard’s side lost, but they are playing 9th placed Middlesbrough who would leapfrog the Lions with three points. A draw would also bring Millwall level on points with Bristol City, should the west country side lose, but the Robins would need to be hammered by Preston North End to lose their goal difference advantage of four.

Millwall may cling to some hope that the pressure to lift the Championship trophy and attention on the Leeds United result could unsettle Burnley, but that could be unlikely. The hosts look well up for the final fight, having put five past QPR at Loftus Road last weekend.

Scrafton said: “You could tell at QPR they played with a real freedom now promotion was signed, sealed and delivered, so if anything I think there’s likely to be the opposite effect. Of course they want to sign off with the league title, but the overarching objective has been achieved so there’s no pressure on them whatsoever.

“Instead, they’ll want to put on a real show in front of their home fans for the final time this season. If it’s enough to seal first place, then great. If not, they’ll become the first side in EFL history to miss out on first place with 100 points to their name, which isn’t exactly bad going. Either way it’ll be a party atmosphere at Turf Moor.”

Millwall given ‘pretty slim’ reality check ahead of Turf Moor visit

Burnley will be without Bashir Humphreys but Lucas Pires has stepped up to the plate since mid February and while 14-goal man Zian Flemming is ineligible to face his parent club, Manuel Benson is a ready made replacement.

Given their situation, Neil’s side must attack the game at The Den. A draw will not be enough, so getting on the scoresheet is an absolute must. Unfortunately, Burnley have conceded just 15 goals in their 45 matches this term.

Can Millwall get the better of that defence? Scrafton said: “It’s highly unlikely, it has to be said. Even if Millwall manage to do it once, the chances of them scoring twice are virtually nil, because Burnley have still yet to concede more than once in a single league game this season, which is frankly ridiculous.

“Of all the records they’ve broken this season, that might be the one that stands out the most. But conceding 15 goals in 45 games and keeping 30 clean sheets, which matches the all-time English league record, proves just how difficult it will be for Alex Neil’s side to breach that backline on Saturday. Even if they do, the chances of them keeping Burnley out at the other end is pretty slim too.”

In other news, Championship play-off race: How Millwall get in, predicted table and permutations for final day.