Match Preview
Fulham away at Millwall
Sky Bet Championship Match Day 03 2021 at The Den
Tuesday 17th August 2021 KO: 19:45
Referee:
Geoff Eltringham (County Durham)
Live on Sky
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Fulham make the short trip to Millwall on Tuesday evening looking to strengthen their position at the top of the Championship standings.
While the Cottagers are one of 10 teams on four points, Millwall will move above their London rivals with victory at The Den.
After failing to hold onto a lead at home to Middlesbrough in their opening game of the season, Fulham boss Marco Silva would have spent the week ahead of the trip to Huddersfield Town feeling a certain level of frustration.
However, his squad produced the perfect response, running riot at the John Smith's Stadium either side of having Harry Wilson sent off in the 72nd minute.
Changes to this group of players before the end of the summer transfer window are inevitable, but Silva will be delighted with the current strength-in-depth.
Bobby Decordova-Reid stood out in Yorkshire with his three assists, while Ivan Cavaleiro contributed a late double after his appearance off the substitutes' bench.
Even though a strong-looking backline are yet to keep a clean sheet, everything is moving in the right direction as they bid to earn a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Each of Millwall's fixtures have been far less thrilling with 1-1 draws having been earned against Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers respectively.
While letting slip a lead against the latter of those clubs came as a disappointment, Gary Rowett will be relatively satisfied with remaining unbeaten.
Jed Wallace will require assistance in the final third if Millwall are to mount a playoff push this season, but the signs are there that a three-man backline could prove to be one of the more sturdy defences in the division.
Although that perception will be put to the test against the division's best frontline, Rowett will be optimistic that their undefeated streak in all competitions can be extended to four matches.
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Fulham are unbeaten in seven away matches in all competitions against Millwall (W3 D4) since losing 4-3 in April 1982.
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Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has found the back of the net in all three of his league appearances against Millwall, scoring three goals in the process.
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During his time in charge of Hull, Watford and Everton, current Fulham boss Marco Silva won just one of his 14 away games in all competitions in London (D4 L9), with this run including a 3-2 defeat at Millwall in the FA Cup in January 2019.
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Millwall have won one of their last nine matches against Fulham in all competitions (D2 L6), a 1-0 away win back in August 2014.
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Millwall are without a win in their last six London derby matches in league competition (D4 L2) since a 1-0 win at Charlton in July 2020.