Preview: Millwall vs. Bournemouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Bournemouth will look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat when they return to action with a trip to Millwall on Wednesday.

A loss to basement side Derby County at the weekend saw Scott Parker's men slip from the summit of the Championship table, while their hosts sit ninth and have not suffered a defeat in any of their last three outings.

Match preview

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After a concerning start to the Championship season, Millwall have managed to find a far more consistent run of form recently, losing just two of their last 14 league outings.

In that time, Gary Rowett's men have picked up six victories and collected 24 points to climb up to ninth spot.

They now head into Wednesday's game in a three-game unbeaten run in the second tier, having firstly bounced back from a defeat to Huddersfield Town by beating Reading 1-0 on home turf.

The Lions then played out a draw with Derby County prior to the recent international break and returned to action on Saturday with a commendable draw away at Middlesbrough.

A Sol Bamba own goal saw Rowett's men leave the Riverside with a 1-1 draw, and, now sitting just three points outside of the top six, they will be keen to stretch their unbeaten run on Wednesday.

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That will be no easy task though, as they welcome a Bournemouth side looking to quickly rebound from a disappointing defeat at the weekend.

After 15 games of the campaign, Scott Parker's men sat atop the Championship table, having not fallen to a defeat, but that unbeaten streak was eventually put to an end by Preston North End.

The Cherries quickly bounced back with a 4-0 thrashing of Swansea City before the break, with Dominic Solanke and Jaidon Anthony each netting braces, but they suffered another defeat upon their return on Sunday.

Parker's men took on basement side Derby County, and, despite goals from Solanke and Anthony, they were handed a 3-2 loss due to Jason Knight's early opener and a Tom Lawrence double in the second half.

While that saw them leapfrogged by Fulham, Bournemouth still sit eight points clear of the playoff places, and they will be confident of quickly correcting their form to ensure their position in the promotion race remains strong.

Team News

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Millwall should come into the game with a clean bill of health, and Rowett is unlikely to make too many changes to his established core.

Shaun Hutchinson returned to the back line last time out, and he will again line up alongside Jake Cooper and Daniel Ballard.

Key man Jed Wallace, who has registered five goals and five assists in the league this season, should again support lone striker Benik Afobe.

Bournemouth have several selection issues to deal with, as Jordan Zemura, Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas remain sidelined by injuries, while midfielder Ben Pearson is still a doubt.

Dominic Solanke will continue to lead the line, with only Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic topping his tally of 14 Championship goals so far this term.

Young winger Jaidon Anthony has also impressed since his rise into the first-team squad at the beginning of the season, and he continues to be a key man in their front line.

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Ballard, Hutchinson, Cooper; Leonard, Mitchell, Saville, Malone; Bennett, Afobe, Wallace

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Stacey, Cahill, Kelly, Davis; Lerma, Cook; Christie, Billing, Anthony; Solanke

We say: Millwall 1-1 Bournemouth

Bournemouth have shown their eye-catching quality this season, and they will be as determined as ever to get back to winning ways, but the hosts are by no means easy to beat.

The resilience of Rowett's men could see them earn an impressive point against a wounded Cherries side.

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