Millwall vs Everton preview: Neil Harris plotting FA cup shock
Tom Bradshaw absent for hosts, while Phil Jagielka is still injured for the visitors
Saturday 26 January 2019 00:05, UK
Neil Harris has urged his Millwall team to continue their momentum against Everton in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round fixture (kick-off 5.30pm).
The Lions have been inconsistent to the point of struggling against relegation this season, sitting only six points clear of the bottom three.
Four successive victories since Boxing Day eased the pressure but a defeat and a draw in their last two games has contributed to Harris' concerns they are still at risk.
"I don't feel we are in a position where we have turned the season around," he said. "We had a relatively good first few weeks then we had a spell where every error we made, the ball went in the goal.
"I have never really had that before when I have been in charge. This year has been the first time and we had a dip in individual players not being at their best. Certainly had more injuries than we have ever had. It has culminated in us not winning as many games as we should have.
"Coupled with the number of late goals we have let in, it has put us in a position we are not used to being in, the lower half of the division. It has been a good learning curve.
"Since Christmas we took 10 points in five league games, beat Hull and the league game we lost was at Blackburn in the last minute. That was a frustrating one. We have got a long way to go to get back to our best which we showed at the end of last season but we are certainly showing signs of improvement, and that brings momentum and confidence."
Meanwhile, Everton manager Marco Silva says he shares the club's majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri's commitment to winning the FA Cup.
Speaking after Everton's third-round win against Lincoln City, Moshiri declared to shareholders at the club's General Meeting: "The FA Cup has become extremely important, not just for Everton, but for every single club including the elite. Only one club can win the Premier League and, as happened last year, the FA Cup and League Cup went to a top six club.
"So winning the FA Cup is now a major achievement and it's a big prize. We spoke with Marcel (Brands) and Bill (Kenwright) and I expressed our commitment to the cup. Marco, you can do it!"
Silva insists his side will do their best to win the competition this season, starting at Millwall.
"It is different types of competition," he said. "The Premier League is open for us to achieve our goal. We keep with this ambition. The FA Cup is a different competition. Each game will be a final for us because we want to play the next round.
"We will do our best to win."
Team news
Harris remains without the injured Tom Bradshaw, Tom Elliott, Ben Amos and Conor McLaughlin, and recent signing Ben Marshall, who is cup-tied.
Fellow new arrival Alex Pearce is expected to make his second appearance for the club.
Everton manager Silva may look to make changes for the match.
With only defender Phil Jagielka sidelined with a muscle injury, the Portuguese has plenty of options at his disposal and is likely to freshen things up after a disappointing defeat at Southampton last weekend.
Defenders Leighton Baines and Yerry Mina could come in, most likely for Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne, while forwards Theo Walcott and Dominic Calvert-Lewin could also get recalls.
Opta stats
- Millwall and Everton haven't faced in any competition since their meeting in the 2005-06 FA Cup third round, with the Toffees progressing after a replay.
- Everton haven't lost away from home against Millwall in all competitions since September 1988, a 1-2 defeat in a top-flight fixture (W1 D2 since then).
- Millwall have won their last four home FA Cup matches against Premier League sides, with two of those in the fourth round (2012-13 against Aston Villa, 2016-17 against Watford).
- Everton have progressed from their last 10 FA Cup ties against non-Premier League opposition, last losing in March 2011 against Reading.
- In all competitions, Millwall manager Neil Harris won his first three matches against Premier League opponents without conceding but has since lost his last two by an aggregate score of 1-9 (0-6 v Spurs, 1-3 v Fulham).
Merson's prediction
There will be a raucous atmosphere for this one on Saturday night but as long as Everton match Millwall's physicality, they will be fine. They are my favourites for the trophy. I think they will get through this dangerous fixture.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
