After our win on the long journey to Norwich on Wednesday evening, the Baggies are back on the road again as they travel to London to face Millwall on Saturday afternoon.
After writing the match review for Norwich, now I am previewing our next away game as we prepare another away trip less than 72 hours from our 1-0 win over Norwich. Can the Baggies carry on from where they left off and come with another 3 points this time at Millwall?
Millwall have suffered a 4-0 home loss on Wednesday night as Coventry defeated them 4-0, with one side who are on a poor run of results and the other who have picked up 4 points after strong performances back to back, I think I am positive we can get something out of this but we haven’t beat Millwall in the last 8 meetings and have drawn our last 5 to Millwall.
Player To Watch – Millwall
The one player I’m going for to watch for Millwall is someone who has not got of the mark yet, as most strikers who are suffering a goal drought whenever they face us they go onto score so this time I’m going for Mihailo Ivanović.
I did go for Josh Sargent in the last encounter but he failed to score past us for once, this time can Ivanović do it against us? I do expect some surprises in this game though as I think Millwall have something about them and with Ivanovic I do think he could break his drought against the Baggies.
He could cause problems in the upcoming game by using his pace to run in behind West Brom’s defence, stretching their backline and creating space for teammates. His physicality and hold-up play could disrupt their centre-backs, drawing fouls or dragging them out of position. If he presses aggressively, he may force mistakes in possession high up the pitch. His movement between the lines could also exploit gaps if West Brom push their full-backs forward, making him a constant outlet on the counter.
Player To Watch – West Brom
The player to watch for West Brom in this away encounter to Millwall, I’m going for one name it’s Josh Griffiths. He has shown quality in this last game at Norwich in midweek by saving a free kick that looked like it was going in and a few other remarkable saves.
At this moment, he is certainly one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship, he did have some doubts from fans before the seasons started but I thought it be his breakthrough year as he has shown potential in his loan spell at Bristol Rovers earlier last season and did have some great games when Alex Palmer was injured a few seasons ago.
For this game against Millwall, he would be one of the key players as Millwall do score goals and he would be looking to keep Ivanović quiet and keep his goal drought going, he did the same with Sargent the other night but can he do with Millwall’s top goalscorer of last season and help us get a result here?
My Line Up V Millwall
The line up for Millwall, I go for it might not be the line up Ryan Mason would make on Saturday but this is what I’d go for, I have Josh Griffiths in goal and should be our number 1 keeper for the season, in the back four I bring Styles back in for Charlie Taylor.
In midfield I would give Toby Collyer his first start as I do think he needs to get at least 65-70 minutes experience for the Championship and believe he is one of the best midfielders in the club at the moment. In attack I keep the same front four from Wednesday night as I keep Josh Maja in attack ahead of Aune Heggebo.
Prediction V Millwall
Last time out I predicted a 3-1 victory for the Baggies but a 1-0 win it was and I defiantly would take it, predictions for this season is going well so far but for this one I think it could be a very close encounter and having drawn our last 5 games to Millwall it could be a game where the result would go either way.
I think Millwall would try and frustrate us in the first 15 minutes but a corner for Millwall would break away a Baggies counter attack with Isaac Price making a pass for Iling Junior to then set up another excellent piece of play that would fall for Josh Maja to score his second goal of the week to put us ahead.
After the Baggies have scored, then we would be all over Millwall as they would lack confidence and around 10 minutes later Isaac Price would go past one of the defenders to double our lead to 2-0 with 25 minutes on the clock. Then before half-time Millwall would try and score with Ivanovic hitting the post to put the scores 2-0 to the Baggies at the break.
In the second half, Millwall would try to find a way back to the game but around the 56th minute mark they luck would come as Will Smallbone would score from outside the box to give them hope and make the Baggies worry.
It would the same as the Norwich game as it be end to end for the next 30 minutes as West Brom want to finish the game by getting another goal but Millwall would try and get one back but a few misses from both sides would see the game out as I think we would scrap through another away victory as the Baggies would get another needed 3 points at the Lions Den.
Prediction: Millwall 1-2 West Brom
Goalscorer for Millwall: Will Smallbone
Goalscorer for West Brom: Josh Maja, Isaac Price
I’m going for a 2-1 win, I do think we have enough quality to see off Millwall on Saturday and hopefully get the needed three points on the road. I think it be a very tight affair and expect it to be like it was on Wednesday evening at Norwich but an early goal for one of these sides would be an advantage for both, however lets see what happens and I am backing another win for the Albion.