Prior to last weekend’s postponement against Barnsley, Blackpool were one of eight teams who suffered defeat in the third round of the FA Cup to lower league opposition, as they were beaten 2-1 away at League Two outfit Hartlepool United.
Keshi Anderson’s eighth-minute opener was cancelled out by second-half strikes from David Ferguson and 18-year-old Joe Grey, condemning the Tangerines to their third exit in four years at this stage of the competition.
Neil Critchley would have welcomed a cup run, but now he and his side will prepare to resurrect their Championship campaign, which has derailed over the past few months.
Early-season hopes of a playoff push seem to have faded after a run of just two league victories in their last 11 matches. Such form has seen them slip from sixth place in October down to 15th and 11 points behind the playoffs.
Following a 1-0 win over Hull City in their first Championship game in 2022, Blackpool will be looking to start the year with successive league victories for the first time since 2001, when they take on a Millwall side who they are unbeaten against in each of their last five home meetings.
Millwall suffered their third successive defeat in all competitions when they lost 1-0 at home against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
The hosts were on course to claim a point before former Lions striker Lewis Grabban bundled the ball home in stoppage time to claim all three points for the visitors.
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Gary Rowett’s men have now slipped down into the bottom half of the table, level on points with Saturday’s opponents Blackpool and 11 points behind the top six.
Millwall travel to Bloomfield Road this weekend having already lost away at the two other newly-promoted clubs this season, suffering 2-1 defeats at both Hull City and Peterborough United.
However, the Lions are unbeaten in each of their last three meetings with Blackpool, including the 2-1 win at The Den in August, so Rowett and co can take some confidence up to the North-West
