Luton Town – Millwall

Luton Town outplay their direct play-off rivals

Tuesday's game will be a missed encounter of the 23rd round of the Championship, which to date has claimed the status of the centrepiece of any Championship game day. No, Luton Town and Millwall are not in contention to win the championship, but at the top of the Championship the intrigue is already so weak that a 'showdown' between teams in the play-off zone comes to the fore. The opponents approach the head-to-head encounter with an almost identical record. Both teams have played 33 games, each with 53 points. The only difference is that Millwall have scored one more goal and conceded one more. Bookmakers for the meeting between the fifth and sixth teams in Championship offered odds in favor of the home team, apparently, identifying the factor of the home stadium as one of the key. Luton Town have had a poor start to the current season, but a taste of the play-offs, which the team tasted in the last championship, did not allow for relegation. Systematically the Hatters picked up points until they found themselves in the top six, where they are now struggling vigorously. Luton Town resumed the season well in December but faced a mini crisis in February. After falling to Grimsby in the FA Cup 1/16 final, the team failed to beat Coventry City and Preston, while Burnley lost at home. Given that the Hatters broke their losing streak last round with an away win over Birmingham City, the upcoming match will be crucial for them: either Luton Town will play well and the crisis can be considered over, or lose and start to move away from the play-off zone with the accompanying psychological problems of the players. Millwall have not shone with great stability since coming off holiday in December, but have shown a desire to improve. Of their thirteen games in the Championship during this period, the London club won six, lost three and drew four more. Of the six opponents the Lions have beaten, only Sheffield United and Watford are based in the top half of the standings. In the last three head-to-head meetings between Luton Town and Millwall, played between 2021-2022, the London side have not won once. Let's bet that this unlucky streak for Millwall will continue on Tuesday.