Lions Den test for Burnley

The last time we were on our travels, to Peterborough ,was after the disastrous home defeat against Middlesbrough and there was very little optimism in the camp, but things can change quickly and the results since, particularly the 5-1 defeat of Nottingham Forest, have given us a real lift.

Junior Stanislas can expect a reception from Millwall

Players will be able to go into tomorrow's game with much more confidence and none more so than Jay Rodriguez who finally got his first league goals of the season with the first two against Forest. With the Carling Cup it is seven in total for Jay and that's the same number as Charlie Austin has scored.

Eddie Howe has spoken about that partnership, one that really was only put together at the beginning of this season. Howe is delighted with the start they've made and said: "It's good and I think it can get even better.

"They haven't played a great deal of football together and the more they play the more they will understand each other's movement. They are two young players who are very hungry to succeed. They want to have good seasons and it has certainly been a good start for them."

Rodriguez has already scored at the Den, and Austin will be keen to get one over on the side he last played against in the 2010 League One Play Off Final at Wembley when he was with Swindon. Austin missed a late chance as Millwall won promotion to the Championship.

Austin will be looking forward to it as will Junior Stanislas. He's settling into the team now and he's bound to get a reception from the home crowd having previously played for rivals West Ham.

Maybe a week or so ago this would have looked a worrying fixture, but we go there knowing that we can come back with a win if we maintain the sort of form we've shown in those recent away wins.

It's going to be a warm afternoon down at the Den tomorrow and that will bring back memories of our last win there in August 2001 when the Moores, Alan and Ian, scored in a 2-0 win on what must have been the hottest day of the year.

There won't be a Moore in the team tomorrow and the likelihood is that Howe will go with the same team. Keith Treacy is still struggling with the hamstring injury and is expected to miss out again. Junior Stanislas suffered a dead leg but should be ok.

We are expected to name: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Andre Amougou, David Edgar, Brian Easton, Ross Wallace, Marvin Bartley, Chris McCann, Junior Stanislas, Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez. Subs: Jon Stewart, Ben Mee, Dean Marney, Zavon Hines, Alex MacDonald.

Our Opponents - Millwall

Millwall ended last season right behind Burnley in the league. They finished 9th with 67 points, a good return in their first season following promotion.

They suffered a blow during this summer with the sale of leading scorer Steve Morison. He netted 15 league goals for them last season but moved up into the Premier League in a big money move to Norwich.

Goals have been more difficult to come by this season and they've scored just seven times in their nine games with Darius Henderson, signed from Sheffield United to replace Morison, and Liam Trotter both having scored twice.

That lack of goals has meant they've won just once in the league, a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at home when both Henderson and Trotter scored. It might have been their only win but they remain unbeaten at the Den with the other three games, against Peterborough, Barnsley and West Ham, all drawn.

It's away from home where the results have been particularly poor with just one point from five games, that in a 2-2 draw at Reading on the opening day of the season.

So, in the bottom three they may be, but at home they are still a tough nut to crack where only Swansea have beaten them in the last eight months.

Millwall have been boosted this week with the loan signing of former Barnsley and Sheffield United midfielder Brian Howard from Reading. He made his debut at Watford in midweek and this will be his first home game for Millwall.

They have also had the good news of two players, recently out injured, returning to training this week and both will come into contention. They are Therry Racon, a summer signing from Charlton, and  Tamika Mkandawire. Racon hasn't played since the first week of the season but Mkandawire has missed just the last two games.

The game will probably be too early for former Bournemouth forward Josh McQuoid. He's back in training after illness but has lost a lot of weight and is unlikely to be risked and Henderson remains out with a calf injury.

Millwall are expected to add the two returning players to the squad on duty at Watford which was: David Forde, Alan Dunne, Tony Craig, Nadjim Abdou, Paul Robinson, Darren Ward, Liam Feeney, Brian Howard, Liam Trotter, Dany N'Guessan, James Henry. Subs: Steve Mildenhall, Darren Purse, Hameur Bouazza, John Marquis, Scott Barron.

Last Time We Were There

It is exactly one year since we were at Millwall, 2nd October 2010, and we went there full of confidence, certainly defensively, having kept four successive clean sheets against Crystal Palace, Bolton, Bristol City and Hull.

Clarke Carlisle was harshly sent off

The central defensive partnership of Clarke Carlisle and Andre Bikey was doing really well but at the Den it was never given a chance courtesy of Keith Stroud and Steve Morison.

In the opening exchanges, Bikey was caught in the ribs by a stray elbow from Morison. Somehow referee Stroud missed it and thankfully Bikey was able to continue after treatment.

Stroud might have missed that but he didn't miss the challenge by Carlisle on the touchline. He saw it, misinterpreted it, and sent off the Burnley defender who had slipped going into the challenge. We quickly brought on Michael Duff with Dean Marney sacrificed but worse was to come.

Bikey was struggling and with only 14 minutes gone he was forced off too with Leon Cort coming on to join Duff in the centre of defence.

I'd have settled for a 0-0 at that point and had just said it when we actually took the lead. Tyrone Mears and Chris Eagles combined following a throw in and the latter crossed for Jay Rodriguez to score, his first ever goal in the first team not at the Jimmy Mac end at Turf Moor.

The lead was short lived, just four minutes to be exact, when Scott Barron equalised. Still, we got to half time level and then turned in a brilliant backs to the way performance in the second half.

Millwall did hit the woodwork twice, but we deserved every bit of luck going and by the end the home side had run out of ideas. I don't think we ever threatened to win it but when the final whistle went it felt like a win, it was certainly a point against the odds.

The teams were; 

Millwall: David Forde, Alan Dunne, Tony Craig (Danny Schofield 45), Nadjim Abdou (Darren Carter 79), Paul Robinson, Darren Ward, Tamika Mkandawire, Chris Hackett, Steve Morison, Scott Barron, Theo Robinson (Neil Harris 69). Subs not used: Steve Mildenhall, James Henry, Jack Smith, Marc Laird.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Andre Bikey (Leon Cort 14), Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Wade Elliott, Dean Marney (Michael Duff 9), Chris Eagles, Chris Iwelumo (Steven Thompson 76), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Lee Grant, Graham Alexander, Ross Wallace, Martin Paterson.

Previous Games against Millwall

Click HERE to see all previous results against Millwall