Mark Bonner’s men face Championship opposition next as they look to build on Saturday’s win over Burton Albion…
Gary Rowett’s Millwall, who are looking to kickstart their season following a winless start to the league campaign, are the U's opponents.
- Form
United travel to the Den in high spirits after emphatically ending Burton Albion’s 100% start to the league season, as goals from Sam Smith and two Thomas Hamer own goals earned the U’s their first league win this season.
Beforehand, United had earnt respectable draws against Oxford and Plymouth, only tasting defeat in Accrington, with Joe Ironside proving to be settling into League One life well, bagging three goals in the process.
United were set up with a trip to the capital following victory over Swindon Town in the First Round. It could have so easily been a different story however, had it of not been for Dimi Mitov coming up trumps during the penalty shootout, after the game ended as a stalemate. With the Bulgarian saving two spot kicks; earning himself the Carabao Cup Round One Player of the Round award in the process.
Gary Rowett would have been hoping to hit the ground running this season, following two seasons of being within touching distance of the Championship play-offs – but a winless start has already put those dreams into jeopardy. Defeats against London rivals Fulham and Cardiff City most recently, and two draws mean the Lions sit just above the relegation zone in the second tier, with their only success this season so far coming in the Carabao Cup.
George Saville and Scott Malone’s goals for the Lions against Portsmouth were enough to secure their Second Round tie against the U’s, despite falling a goal behind after just four minutes.
- Memory Lane
United travel to the capital having never met the Lions in this trophy, despite facing off against each other on 16 occasions. Millwall hold the edge over United, winning on seven occasions, with United running out victorious five times.
The last fixture between the two clubs came in an FA Cup third round fixture back in 2003, with it taking two legs to determine an eventual winner. Despite a 1-1 draw at the Abbey in the first leg, and United finding themselves ahead twice in the replay thanks to goals from Dave Kitson and Tom Youngs, it wasn’t to be enough as it was the Lions who progressed into the next round, where they would bow out to Southampton.
- Quick Quotes
Mark Bonner expects a tough battle against Gary Rowett’s Millwall but will have to freshen up the eleven: “These are tough games to prepare for, it is hard to get an idea of what a team is going to do but Gary [Rowett] has said about how he wants to win this game and go into the international break after next weekend in a good position. They may make a one or two changes but not huge amounts, and teams at that level, the changes they make are strong ones.
“It is a game we want to be competitive in, but we know, obviously, our priority is the league. With the run of games we are in at the minute, there’s players we will not want to risk but the team we put out will be competitive. We must look at the big picture.”
Lions’ manager Gary Rowett is also expecting changes to his side: “We’ve got players that have been waiting for an opportunity. The team have lost the last two games, albeit in different circumstances. I still look at the Cardiff game and think there’s a result to be had there, we just let the game slip away in two or three moments of poor concentration or defending.
“If you’re a player on the sidelines your thinking ‘when do I get my opportunity to show I can get in this team?’ It gives players a chance to stake their claim. Of course it will be a blend, but there might be slightly more changes for this game than we did for the Portsmouth game.”
- The Officials
Neil Hair will head up Tuesday’s fixture at The Den, having come off the back of Saturday’s League One game between Bolton and Oxford. Nicholas Cooper and Samuel Ogles will assist him – with Paul Kelly being appointed as fourth official.
- How to Watch
Kick-off is at 7:45pm, and tickets can no longer be purchased in advance of the fixture, only being available at the Den on the night.
Ticket prices for the upcoming fixture have been confirmed as follows:
- Adults: £12
- Over 62s: £10
- Under 18s: £5
Online sales have now ended, but U's fans can buy their tickets from the Millwall Ticket Office on the day of the game.
The game is not available to watch on iFollow, but fans unable to make the trip can listen to live commentary with an Audio Match Pass.