Round 22: Millwall vs Bolton

We're almost at the halfway point in the season which means its time for my customary look back at the season so far.

And I can't think of any better way of describing it other than as a season of two halves. We had a start to the season which, points wise at least, was just as bad as last season, which was our worst in a century, the solitary extra win this season over the same period preventing Dougie Freedman from having the even more embarassing honour of not only overseeing the worst start, but then matching it! Quite simply we were a club going in only one direction, and it sure as hell wasn't upwards!

Then came the appointment of Neil Lennon, and what a difference that has made. The same squad which couldn't get a win for love nor money is now unbeaten in 6, managed to win 4 on the bounce at home and is more solid at the back than I have seen a Bolton team since Allardyce's time. It is clear we need to add some firepower up front, even more so now that we have lost Clayton for the season, but we knew that anyway.

However we shouldn't completely malign Dougie, like Coyle before him results have ultimately cost him his job, but also much like Coyle he has done some good work. We all understand that Dougie was working under almost impossible financial conditions, struggling with a "one out, one in" transfer policy and the need to reduce a massively over-inflated wage budget. His results on the pitch may have cost him his job, but the work he did off the field has clearly worked as we have avoided any censure under FFP, and for at least he deserves our gratitude.

But on to more immediate issues, we face a Millwall side tomorrow with whom we are level on points (albeit ahead of on goal difference). A win would, over night at least, put us 8 points clear of the trapdoor and put us within 9 points of the playoffs. That being said, The New Den is never an easy place to go, you'll struggle to find a more vocal, passionate set of fans than Millwall's and the atmosphere at a pre-Xmas game under the floodlights should be a good one.

Team News

Millwall winger Lee Martin could miss out again with a toe injury.

Defender Danny Shittu will line up against his former club, but Nicky Bailey and Carlos Edwards are still recovering from injury.

Bolton striker Eidur Gudjohnsen could make his first start for the club since 2000, with Conor Wilkinson vying with him for a place.

Max Clayton (knee) is out for the season and Craig Davies and Joe Mason (both hamstring) are still out.

Prediction

Hard to call this and I think a draw is the most likely result considering Millwall's inconsistent form of late and our mounting injury list. I'll go for 1-1, Danns opener.