Three ways Millwall can beat Blackpool to keep play-off dream alive

The Lions are currently seventh and are level on points with Sunderland who sit sixth, but are one place below the Black Cats on goal difference.

Millwall have lost their last two games against Birmingham and Wigan, so tonight’s game is incredibly important if they want to keep the pressure on Sunderland and Coventry (who are one point above Millwall and Sunderland).

Blackpool are 23rd in the league, and they face a difficult challenge avoiding relegation.

Realistically, Blackpool have to win both of their remaining two fixtures to avoid the drop, and hope that Reading and Huddersfield slip up along the way too.

Tonight’s game is huge for both ends of the table. Millwall could move into the play-off places with a win, whereas Blackpool would only be in the bottom three on goal difference.

So how do Millwall, who have lost their last two games, beat Blackpool and leapfrog Sunderland and Coventry into fifth?

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Possession and Taking Chances

Over the season Millwall average just 45.5% possession per game, which is the 19th lowest in the league (according to fotmob.com).

But in their two most recent losses, Millwall have had much more of the ball, which indicates the Lions struggle to utilise possession when they have it.

Against Birmingham, Millwall had 66% of the ball, and against Wigan the possession was more evenly split at 50%.

But in both games Millwall couldn’t find a way to beat their opponents. Although the Lions created and missed three big chances against Birmingham, Millwall have created the sixth lowest big chances in the league all season.

In order to win their last two games, Millwall really need to create more chances in order to score more.

The Lions already have the seventh most clean sheets in the league, so it’s just about creating more chances now.

Crossing and Long Balls

According to Fotmob.com, Millwall have the highest crossing success rate in the league, and are second in the amount of crosses they attempt per match.

Against Wigan, in Millwall’s most recent defeat, they recorded nine accurate crosses with a completion rate of 47%, but they only completed 37% of their long balls.

Millwall are going to have to utilise the success they have from crossing and from long passes to be able to finish in the play-off places.

On average, in the Championship, Millwall are seventh for most accurate long passes per match and second for accurate crosses per match.

Even with these positive stats, Millwall sit 18th in accurate passes per game, which you would expect to be a lot higher.

In order to get through Blackpool, Millwall are going to have to make use of the success they have from long passes and crossing.

Set-Pieces

Millwall are among the league leaders in terms of goals from set pieces in the Championship this season.

The Lions have scored 23 goals from set-pieces this term, which is 45% of their goal tally.

Millwall have struggled for goals recently, scoring just three goals in their last seven games, so making the most of their set plays may be very important for the Lions if they want to finish in the play-off positions.

Blackpool will be desperate for a victory against Millwall in their hopes to avoid relegation, and in their last home game of the season, the Tangerines will give everything they have.

Despite the difference in league placement, it will most likely be a difficult game for Millwall, in which they have to rely on set-pieces to create their chances.