Preview: Millwall vs Leicester

Leicester head to the Den on Tuesday afternoon hoping to end a dismal run of three straight defeats on the road.

The Foxes have won just twice on their travels all season in the Championship and know they must improve their disappointing away form if they are to mount any kind of serious promotion bid.

Andy King's superb equaliser rescued a point for City on Boxing Day with a 2-2 draw against Leeds, but yet again the Foxes gave themselves work to do by falling behind by two goals.

Meanwhile opponents Millwall are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten run of the season so far following their draw at Fratton Park on Sunday.

Dave Nugent's second-half strike denied Kenny Jackett's side all three points on the afternoon, but a useful point stretched the Lions' current unbeaten run to five matches.

The two sides head into the match level on points after similarly indifferent campaigns, but a tight division table means that both still harbour play-off ambitions despite their mid-table positions.

Last time Leicester visited the Den it was Steve Howard's solitary strike which handed City all three points during their triumphant League One campaign of 2008/09.

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett: "Leicester have high expectations and have spent a lot of money so it will be good to pit ourselves against a very good footballing side.

"We are playing against top-class opposition all the time and that's where we want to be. We've got to turn our point against Portsmouth into a good point by putting in a good home performance."

Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson: "We showed that we can fight and showed a lot of character and it was very good to come back against a good team.

"We didn't start very well and, when we cannot pass the ball well, we are not that good. Leeds were aggressive and did not allow us to play our normal game.

"The pitch was difficult but that is my fault because we have been training on it every day because the training ground is frozen. But we showed that, even if pitches are not perfect, we can work and get back into games."

Millwall again face defensive issues with first-choice centre-backs Danny Shittu and Paul Robinson both sidelined.

The pair missed the Boxing Day trip to Portsmouth, meaning Ton Craig and Darren Ward will continue to deputise.

Neil Harris is set to miss out once again with a back injury, while fellow striker Kevin Lisbie could make the bench.

The Welsh international has proved his higher league credentials since his move from Stevenage in the summer of 2009, first firing Millwall to the Championship last year before continuing his respectable goal tally with 8 for the current campaign.

The bullish striker should provide the Foxes with their biggest threat at the Den, and will needless to say they will be particularly wary of the 27-year-old.

Roman Bednar is battling for a start after returning to fitness from a knock, while Lloyd Dyer could also make Sven-Goran Eriksson's first team.

Centre back Miguel Vitor is hoping to return to the side despite a problematic groin.

If anybody needed a reminder, his goal against Leeds on Boxing Day proved just why he is one of the Championship's brightest young prospects. Not only that, but arguably one of the division's best players.

His second-half leveller notched up nine goals for the current campaign, and once again highlighted the potent attacking threat that the young midfielder possesses.

- Millwall have not lost their final match of the calendar year since 2003.

- Leicester have won their last two matches by a goal to nil at the Den.

- The Foxes have conceded the first goal in a match 13 times this season, second only to Sheffield United.

- A win for Leicester would give them a winning end to a year for the third time in a row.

Michael Russel

Matches: 7
Yellow: 11
Red: 1

Three in a row? Millwall 0-1 Leicester

Saturday 1st January: Hull (A)

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