Millwall vs Rochdale. The FA Cup Fourth Round.
The DenAttendance8,346.
Saturday 27 January 2018 08:25, UK
Jason Shackell is expected to be involved for Millwall in the FA Cup clash with Rochdale after arriving at the club on loan from Derby.
Tom Elliott is also pushing to start, having scored as a substitute in last week's victory at Leeds. Shane Ferguson came off the bench in that match too on his return to fitness, and is therefore in contention for a place in Neil Harris' starting XI, particularly with Aiden O'Brien missing with an ankle injury.
Fred Onyedinma has returned to training after a groin injury, and could yet also feature in Harris' squad.
Rochdale new boys Sam Hart and Alex Dobre will hope for debuts after being thwarted last weekend by the postponement of the club's League One clash with Southend. Defender Hart joined the club from Blackburn and winger Dobre from Bournemouth, both on loan, last week and have had to attempt to stake their respective claims in training.
Midfielder Billy Knott made his debut as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Gillingham on January 13 following his temporary move from Lincoln and is pushing for a first start. Manager Keith Hill hopes to have striker Steve Davies back after a knock, but midfielder Joe Thompson is still several weeks away and Niall Canavan and Keith Keane are long-term absentees.
This will be the first domestic cup meeting between these two sides, with their 12 previous meetings coming in the league - Millwall winning six, drawing three and losing three.
The Lions have lost just one of their six home games against Rochdale (W3 D2), although the Dale won on their most recent visit to the Den in September 2016 (3-2).
Millwall have won each of their last six FA Cup games hosted at the Den, including five games last season and a 4-1 win against Barnsley in the last round.
Rochdale have lost three of their last four FA Cup games against teams from a higher division (W1), including each of their last two games in the fourth round.
Aiden O'Brien has scored in three successive appearances for Millwall (four goals).
Rochdale have won one and lost five of their last six games in all competitions, with their solitary win in this run coming in their 3rd round FA Cup clash with Doncaster Rovers (1-0).
