Millwall (H) | Match Preview
The Game
Argyle v Millwall. Home Park. Tuesday, 3 October. 7.45pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Millwall have an identical win-loss-draw record as Argyle so far this season, gaining 11 points from their nine league games.
The Lions began with a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough before losing at home to Bristol City (1-0) and away to Norwich City (3-1). They got back to winning ways with a 1-0 win at home to Stoke City, then drew at Birmingham City (1-1) before suffering a 3-0 home defeat against Leeds United.
For there most recent three games, Millwall repeated the previous pattern. A win, 3-0 against Rotherham United, was followed by an away draw (0-0 at West Bromwich Albion) and then, most recently, a 3-0 defeat at The Den, against Swansea City.
The Gaffer
Gary Rowett, approaching four years in the Lions' hot seat, is now the eight longest-serving manager in the top fours division of English football. He took over from club legend Neil Harris in late October, 2019, and guided Millwall to an eighth-placed finish. In the seasons since, Millwall have finished 11th, ninth and eighth.
As a player, Rowett represented several clubs, but most notably Derby County, Birmingham City and Leicester City, establishing himself as a steady Premier League player.
As a manager, he cut his teeth with Burton Albion, before taking charge of former teams Birmingham and Derby. He departed Pride Park for Stoke City, but lasted under a year before being sacked by the Potters. After nine months out of a job, he took the role at Millwall.
The Squad
Millwall have found goals hard to come by this season. They have scored just seven times, the second lowest total of the division, behind only bottom side Sheffield Wednesday.
Two of those goals have come from Scottish international Kevin Nisbet. Having scored goals regularly for Raith Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic and Hibernian, he moved south of the border in the summer to join Millwall.
There are two former Pilgrims in the Millwall squad. Ryan Leonard played just once for the Pilgrims when coming through the ranks but, now 31, he has gone on to have an excellent career. He played more than 250 times for Southend United, moved to Sheffield United, and after a successful loan spell at The Den, moved to Millwall in 2019. He has now played 118 times for the Lions.
Joe Bryan (below) came through the ranks at Bristol City and would play 230 times for them, but not before he had an educational loan spell with Argyle in 2013, aged just 19. He impressed in 10 games with the Greens, before establishing himself at Ashton Gate. He would later move to Fulham, playing over 100 times for them, and signed for Millwall this summer.
Fancy a Stat?
Of all the teams that Argyle have ever played against, we have only met Bristol Rovers and Brentford more times that we have played against Millwall.
The History
Argyle have played Millwall 118 times. The Greens have won 40 of those encounters, 35 have been draws, and Millwall have won the other 41.
The last three meetings between the sides have been in cup competitions - Millwall have won each of them - with the last league encounters coming in 2005/06. Both games that season finished level, with a 0-0 draw at Home Park being followed by a 1-1 draw at The Den, in which Vincent Pericard scored for Tony Pulis's Argyle.
Tickets
A small number of tickets in blocks 20a and 21 were put on sale on Monday. These are expected to sell out.
If you have a season ticket and cannot attend, you can make your ticket available via the Ticket Exchange and receive face value credit if your ticket is resold. Find out more about the Ticket Exchange.
Argyle TV
Commentary for the game will be provided by Charlie Price and Marc Edworthy.
Argyle TV’s pre-match show, hosted by Erin Black and Aaron Cusack, will begin at 6.45pm, and is available to watch for free on YouTube.
Match passes to watch this game, wherever you are in the world, can be purchased here.
