Resolute Lions present big test

SHARP . . . Millwall's Lee Gregory (left) will take on the scoring responsibilities

THERE can be few tougher nuts to crack than Millwall, but as two of the form sides in Sky Bet League One prepare to do battle, Athletic have been warned that there is plenty of work to do yet in securing their status.

Though Neil Harris's side were left disappointed not to take three points from their home game with struggling Chesterfield this week, the goalless draw still represented a 14th game unbeaten.

And the Lions' resolute nature can be seen through their not letting in a single goal in the last ten-and-a-half hours of play.

FORM

Millwall sit second in the divisional form table with 12 points from their last six outings.

Athletic are seventh with 10 points in that same period, but despite the good run of late remain only only point clear of the bottom-four.

"The lads were saying, we have taken seven points from a possible nine, which is promotion form really - yet we still only find ourselves a point above the relegation zone," said Athletic's former Millwall star Chris Taylor.

"From where we were a month or two ago, you would still have snapped someone's hand off if they had offered you this position we are in now.

"We have given ourselves a really good chance. But just because we have done well recently doesn't mean we can sit back and take anything for granted.

"There is still a lot of work to be done before we can put our feet up, definitely."

Millwall boss Harris is expecting to be without three key men for the trip to SportsDirect.com Park.

Captain and top scorer Steve Morison, goalkeeper and reigning player of the year Jordan Archer and on-loan Wolves midfielder Jed Wallace are all set to miss a fixture their side need to win in order to stand a chance of climbing into the top six.

"Jed, Steve and Jordan won't be available Saturday," said Harris, after the Chesterfield draw. "I'm not sure when they will be - it's too early to tell at the moment.

"There were so many aspects of the game I was pleased with. We dominated probably 95-per-cent of the game. The shot count would be telling - it would be a cricket score. But we've got to be clinical.

"If we want to get promoted we have got to be winning games like that."