Kick-off: 1130, 18/12/2022
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
TV: Sky Sports
Rob Edwards will take charge of Luton at Kenilworth Road for the first time with a rare morning kick-off against Millwall on Sunday.
His first match in charge ended in a last-gasp defeat at Middlesbrough while Millwall have failed to win either of their two games since the World Cup break.
A close contest looks likely and Luton have already drawn seven of their 11 home games – the most in the division – so the points to be shared at 9/4 is our opening Luton vs Millwall prediction.
Luton Odds
Edwards was appointed Luton manager during the World Cup break after being brought in to replace Nathan Jones, who quit the Hatters for Southampton.
Given his previous role at Luton’s bitter rivals Watford, Edwards will be keen to impress quickly and at least saw his new team take the lead at the Riverside last weekend.
They went ahead thanks to a brilliant individual effort from Jordan Clark but in-form Boro levelled almost immediately through Chuba Akpom.
Luton made life even more difficult for themselves when Amari’i Bell was sent off with 18 minutes to play and the hosts made their opponents pay as substitute Matt Crooks struck a stoppage-time winner.
Edwards said: “I’m bitterly disappointed. I’m not saying we deserved to win the game by any stretch but I thought the effort and the endeavour of the lads was different class.
“The first half was really good, I was really pleased. We didn’t create loads of chances but we retained a real threat and the individual goal from Jordan was brilliant.
“I was disappointed to concede the equaliser but we were relatively pleased at half-time.
“There are bits to learn from the second half. We need to be slightly better with the ball when we win it back in transition. That allowed them to gain momentum and control.
“Obviously you add the red card in and it made it really difficult for us. We almost got there, so it does feel sore.”
Luton are unbeaten in seven home games but five of those were draws including the last three.
They have failed to score more than one goal in any of their last eight games too so a draw and under 2.5 goals at 27/10 is another solid pick from the Luton vs Millwall odds.
Millwall Odds
Millwall returned to action a week earlier than their Championship rivals but have failed to make the most of it, losing 3-0 at Sunderland and then being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Wigan.
They fell behind against the Latics after 33 minutes but it did not take long for the home side to respond and Zian Flemming smashed home with a sensational volley after Tom Bradshaw’s clever chest down.
Lions boss Gary Rowett said: “It was a lovely move and a lovely goal but I think the frustrating thing was it was probably the main bit of quality in the game and I think if you are going to open a game up and win a game like that you need to show a bit more.
“We just lacked quality and, as I said to the players after, we got a point and that is really all we deserved, it is no disgrace but we now need to do a little bit more than that.”
That adds to our belief this will be a tight affair and Draw HT/Draw FT has paid out in the last three meetings between these teams at Kenilworth Road so a repeat at 18/5 completes our Luton vs Millwall betting tips.
Additional stats
Last result:
Middlesbrough 2-1 LUTON – Jordan Clark
MILLWALL 1-1 Wigan – Zian Flemming
Head-to-head: Luton 2-2 Millwall, Millwall 0-2 Luton, Luton 1-1 Millwall, Millwall 2-0 Luton, Millwall 3-1 Luton, Luton 1-1 Millwall
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