Plymouth have strong home record – as Millwall boss talks about challenge of facing Championship new boys

Millwall’s attempts to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Swansea sees them travel tonight to a Plymouth side with one of the best home records in the Championship.

Only three clubs – Cardiff, Norwich and Preston – have taken more points (all 12) on their own patch in the Championship campaign.

The Pilgrims have banked nine points at home, the same as Ipswich and Leicester City – and have a plus-eight goal difference. They have scored 13 goals in four home matches, including a 6-2 win over Norwich and 3-0 against Blackburn. Their only defeat came at the hands of Southampton (2-1) in the middle of August.

“We have done it to a lot of team – you think back to Watford last season,” Millwall boss Gary Rowett told the South London Press. “A relegated team from the Premier League – they came to The Den and it is a horrible experience for them.

“At the moment teams are coming to The Den and it’s actually a quite nice experience. We’ve got to stop that happening and make teams try and work to beat us – and if they do then fair play to them, they will have deserved it.

“Sometimes you are going to play well and lose and sometimes you’ll play badly and win, there are so many variations. It’s about the consistency of effort and performance.

“Going down to Plymouth, they have had that. They are a team that is hungry and wants to stay in the division – and do better than that. Their home form is a big part of it.

“There are certain things you have to do there and also just generally for us to do regularly. We’ll be looking at that balance of energy, effort, composure on the ball and causing them one or two tactical problems. They are a good side who work hard – they don’t make it easy for anyone. You’ve got to match that.”