Millwall vs Leeds City

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Millwall and Leeds United are set to face off in the Championship this Sunday, with both teams currently occupying mid-table positions in the league.

Millwall is positioned at 12th place, while Leeds United is in 15th place, having recently put together a three-match unbeaten streak. However, their past performances had raised concerns. Millwall suffered three consecutive defeats to Bristol City, Reading, and Norwich City in various competitions, conceding eight goals during this period, which hinted at a potentially challenging season for them.

Nonetheless, they've managed to accumulate four points from their recent fixtures against Stoke City and Birmingham City, with a notable 1-0 victory over Stoke. Despite having one of the lowest-scoring records in the division, Millwall boasts one of the strongest defenses, with three of their five goals conceded occurring in a 3-1 loss to Norwich. The recent additions of Allan Campbell and Ryan Longman from Luton Town and Hull City, respectively, before the summer transfer window closed, are expected to bolster Millwall's offensive efforts.

Leeds United also made significant moves in the transfer market, replacing Cody Drameh, Sam Greenwood, and Luis Sinisterra with Ilia Gruev, Glen Kamara, and Jaidon Anthony. The effectiveness of these swaps remains to be seen, but head coach Daniel Farke is pleased to have a more settled squad now.

Despite accumulating only six points from their initial five games, including a dramatic 4-3 comeback win against Ipswich Town, Farke's squad is gradually finding its footing. They secured their first clean sheet of the season with a goalless draw against Sheffield Wednesday, although it was met with disappointment by their fans before the international break.

Injury-wise, Shaun Hutchinson's calf injury opens the door for Wes Harding to start in Millwall's defense. Gary Rowett, while content with his squad's depth, may stick with the rest of the starting lineup from the last game, but he'll consider giving Campbell and Longman full debuts, especially the latter, possibly in a flank position.

Farke is expected to make minimal changes to his lineup, with Djed Spence as an option at right-back but unlikely to replace Luke Ayling. Kamara might get the nod over teenager Archie Gray.

The upcoming match at the Den is crucial for both Millwall and Leeds, with the latter having not won there since the 2011/12 season. In recent history, home advantage has played a significant role in this fixture, with the home team winning 13 of the last 16 league games between the two sides. It remains to be seen if Leeds can break this trend given their current form.

Both teams had active summer transfer windows, and the international break provided them with time to settle in. The outcome of their immediate impact on the match remains uncertain, and The Hard Tackle examines the potential lineups and tactics for this Sunday's encounter.

The home team has encountered difficulties in finding the back of the net this season, managing to score only four times in their first five games. To provide some perspective, only the team at the bottom of the table, Middlesbrough, has scored fewer goals than Millwall thus far.

Currently, Millwall occupies the 13th position in the Championship standings, securing two wins in their initial five matches. They hold a one-point advantage over Leeds, who have shown signs of improved consistency recently. Millwall will be missing Shaun Hutchinson due to an ankle injury sustained against Birmingham City, and George Honeyman remains sidelined with a muscle injury.

New acquisitions Allan Campbell and Ryan Longman are poised to make their full debuts, and it remains to be seen if Gary Rowett will include them in the starting lineup. It's likely that Rowett will employ a 3-4-2 formation, with Matija Sarkic expected to start in goal behind the defensive trio of Ryan Leonard, Wes Harding, and Jake Cooper.

Billy Mitchell and George Saville will be tasked with controlling the midfield, allowing Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Murray Wallace the freedom to advance on the flanks. Zian Flemming is expected to lead the attack on Sunday, with support from Tom Bradshaw and Kevin Nisbet.

With five points garnered from their last three games, Daniel Farke has somewhat stabilized the Leeds team, which had been struggling. However, if they intend to compete for promotion, they'll need to perform significantly better.

Injuries have further complicated matters, with several key players unavailable, including Daniel James, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford, and Junior Firpo. These absences have prevented Farke from fielding his strongest lineup.

Despite losing Cody Drameh, Sam Greenwood, and Luis Sinisterra towards the end of the summer transfer window, Leeds made several signings such as Ilia Gruev, Glen Kamara, and Jaidon Anthony to bolster their squad.