Match Preview | Millwall (H)

27 February 2023

Luton Town host Millwall at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night live on Sky Sports.

The Hatters returned to winning ways against Birmingham City at the weekend, whilst Millwall also recorded a win on the road at Stoke City.

Rob Edwards said:

(Click HERE to watch his post-Birmingham reaction)

“Two teams that are in there at the moment and deservedly so. We’ve got to make it a really good game and these are the games we want to be involved in.

"Our fans are going to have the place rocking so it’s one we’re really looking forward to. We’ve got to recover well now, assess everyone tomorrow and see how everyone is. Millwall will be the same, they’ve obviously had a really tough fixture away at Stoke, so it’s one we’re really looking forward to.”

The opposition:

Millwall, alike the Hatters, are vying for a place in the play-offs this season and are well in contention for the top six come the end of the season.

Manager Gary Rowett has been in charge at The Den since 2019, which to date makes him the second-longest serving manager in the division. After a playing career spanning more than 350 matches with the likes of Everton, Derby County and Birmingham City, Rowett is now looking for his first promotion as a manager.

Striker Tom Bradshaw is their joint-top goalscorer this season along with Zian Flemming and has now made over 100 appearances for Millwall since signing for the club in 2019. He scored his fourth goal in two games against Burnley a week ago following a hat-trick against Sheffield United, taking his tally to 11 for the season.

Last time we met:

The two sides contested an entertaining 2-2 draw at Kenilworth Road in April last year. Tom Bradshaw put the away side ahead before Elijah Adebayo replied with a cool finish after combining well with Amari'i Bell.

Benik Afobe looking to have sealed victory for the Lions with nine minutes remaining but Robert Snodgrass' late free-kick was turned into his own net by Jake Cooper in the 88th minute.

Travel information:

For supporters travelling to the game, please be aware that Arriva have agreed to run an F70 Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard service from the Clifton Road stop, leaving from there at 10:15pm.

Ticket information:

Tickets for the rearranged fixtures remain on sale and are availabel online and via the Ticket Office to supporters with a previous booking history.

All tickets purchased for the original fixture on 18^th December are valid for the rearranged date. If any supporter is unable to make the new date, they can contact the Ticket Office for a full refund when giving at least 24 hours notice.

How to follow:

Text updates on the Match Centre
Twitter and Facebook updates
Watch live on Sky Sports

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Supporters not attending the match at Kenilworth Road can follow live match centre updates or listen live to iFollow Hatters commentary from Simon Pitts.

For supporters who want to watch or listen to all available iFollow matches this season and have access to exclusive content, including pre-match press conferences and player interviews, subscription details can be found HERE.

The officials:

Referee: Geoff Eltringham

Assistant Referees: Philip Dermott and Akil Howson

Fourth Official: Andy Davies

The man in the middle on Tuesday night is Geoff Eltringham.

He recently took charge of Luton Town's 1-0 home win against Cardiff City at the end of last month.

So far this term, Eltringham has taken charge of 18 matches - 7 of which in the Championship - dishing out 65 yellow cards and three reds.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Luton Town 2-2 Millwall

28 February 2023

The Hatters fought back from two down to earn a deserved and valuable point in the Championship play-off battle with Millwall at a packed Kenilworth Road.

Elijah Adebayo and substitute Luke Berry, with a stunning 87th-minute equaliser, pulled the Town back from conceding early goals in each half from Zian Flemming and Tom Bradshaw in a pulsating match between the fifth and sixth placed teams in the table.

Manager Rob Edwards made one change from Saturday's 1-0 away win against Birmingham City with Reece Burke, who suffered an injury at the weekend, replaced by Tom Lockyer as the Welshman returned from his one-match suspension as skipper.

Morris was also forced off but was good to start alongside Adebayo, just three days after scoring his 13th goal of the season at St Andrew's.

Club captain Sonny Bradley was back amongst the substitutes for the first time since November as Luton Town go in search of a second successive league victory.

The Hatters couldn't have got off to a worse start, as Millwall took the lead with their first attack in the fourth minute, Tom Bradshaw flicking on a long ball forward and Flemming letting fly with a first timer that slipped through Ethan Horvath's grasp and agonisingly crossed the line.

Adebayo headed over from a Doughty corner as Town responded, then referee Geoff Eltringham waved away appeals for a penalty for handball against Flemming, instead awarding Millwall a free-kick for a foul by Osho that caused the Dutchman to fall and handle as he went down.

The Hatters were making all the running, and after Millwall midfielder Ryan Leonard had become the first into the book for a foul from behind on Morris, Clark quickly had two efforts.

The first one the midfielder hit over the bar from the edge of the box after Mpanzu and Adebayo had combined well to set him up, then he saw George Long save a cross-shot at his near post as the midway point of the half approached.

Town were playing some lovely football, Clark and Adebayo instrumental in trying to prise an opening while Mpanzu twice sent in crosses that were an inch too high to put a real chance on a plate for Doughty and then Morris.

Millwall survived another penalty shout on 36 minutes when Clark got to a bouncing ball ahead of Leonard, only to be felled by the Lions midfielder kicking his boot.

Two minutes later Drameh zipping an inviting ball across the Millwall six-yard box, with Mpanzu just missing a connection as he slid in at the near post with Long.

Town were dominating with wave after wave of attacks, but couldn't find the final touch to bring the scores level before the break.

They came close within four minutes of the restart as Doughty's inswinging corner came back off the crossbar with Long grasping at thin air.

Town had come flying out of the traps, but by the 52nd minute the Lions doubled their advantage as Andreas Voglsammer's scuffed shot was helped on by Bradshaw to McNamara, who slid the ball across the six-yard box for Bradshaw to tap in as the Hatters' defence appealed for offside against the right-back.

Town were deservedly back in it in the 58th minute when Bell's cross from the left angle of the box found Cody Drameh, whose first time effort was somehow tipped onto the bar by Long, only for Adebayo to be in the right place at the right time to flick the loose ball home with the outside of his right boot.

Millwall's attacks were few and far between, and after Flemming had hit a 40-yard free-kick high over the bar, Edwards made his sceond sub, bringing Cauley Woodrow on for Mpanzu after introducing ex-Lion Fred Onyedinma for Drameh moments earlier.

Millwall had the ball in the net with 15 minutes to go, but Jake Cooper's finish was ruled out with Flemming - who had been denied by a brilliant Horvath save - flagged offside from the initial free-kick delivery.

Woodrow skimmed a 30-yard shot straight at Long on 78 minutes, then Millwall sub Oliver Burke headed wide five minutes later as the visitors tried to ease the pressure.

They broke in the 87th minute when, after a spell of Town possession, Clark found Berry in the D on the edge of the box and the midfielder span and hit a left footed shot that was perfectly placed into the bottom corner to send the Kenny into raptures.

Goals:

LT - Adebayo 58', Berry 87'

M - Flemming 4', Bradshaw 52

Att: 10,060 (1,032 away)