Millwall suffer double right-back blow ahead of West Brom trip
The Lions head to The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon for a final clash before the November international break.
Millwall have been dealt a double right-back blow ahead of Saturday’s clash against Albion at The Hawthorns.
The Lions slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s on Tuesday night and face a second clash in the West Midlands in five days when they visit the Black Country this weekend.
The heavy defeat to Blues, with three goals inside the opening half hour, came with Millwall struggling for availability on the right side of Alex Neil’s defence.
Influential defender Tristan Crama, 24, suffered an ankle injury during last weekend’s victory over lowly Derby, Millwall’s only win in the last five games.
Frenchman Crama, who can also play at centre-back, has been a star for Millwall for the last couple of years and one of the division’s standout defenders.
To add insult to injury for Neil’s mid-table side, the experienced Ryan Leonard, 34, is struggling with a knee injury and did not feature in the clash at Blues. He, like Crama, is expected to be sidelined against the Baggies.
Millwall started with summer signing from Bolton Jordi Osei-Tutu at right-back against Blues.
The absence of Crama and Leonard could be a welcome boost for James Morrison’s hosts on Saturday, who have excelled down the left flank this season.
Albion’s combination down that flank between Callum Styles, formerly of the Lions, Isaac Price and Jimmy-Jay Morgan - who both have seven goals in all competitions - has been particularly impressive.
Visiting boss Neil also left left-sided player Alfie Doughty out of his ranks to face Blues in midweek.
The Lions have endured a poor run of form with just two victories in their last 10 games in all competitions, coming against sides slumped at the bottom of the division in Derby and Preston.
The Den side remain mid-table thanks to a bright start to the campaign.
Summer signing Scotland international frontman Lydon Dykes has four goals this term, with three from lively attackers Kyrell Lisbie and Camiel Neghli.