THE last time Millwall visited Turf Moor the Clarets were on the back of a seven game winning run, top of the table and the Lions were one of the teams in the chasing pack.

Tonight, after sluggish starts, the two sides are in the bottom half of the table.

Clarets assistant boss Sam Ellis remembered the game well as he recalled: "It was 0-0 but it was a good 0-0 draw.

"They came up here with a game plan and did a very good job. They always looked dangerous on the break and if they were successful that way once they might try it again.

"What we do know is that we have a great deal of respect for them and they have got good players."

Mark McGhee's men were unlucky to lose to first division pacesetters Portsmouth at the weekend where they paid for an error by right back Matt Lawrence.

That gave Pompey the only goal and left Millwall ruing a succession of missed chances.

Having lost to Birmingham City in the play-off semi-final last season, the new campaign got off to the worst possible start with a 6-0 home defeat by unfancied Rotherham.

The ship has steadied since then but they have just one point more than the Clarets having played an extra game.

The loss of influential defender Sean Dyche to Watford has meant the end of his impressive partnership with skipper Stuart Nethercott who is now joined in the heart of defence by Darren Ward.

The side has been further weakened by the absence through injury of Republic of Ireland internationals Richard Sadlier and Steven Reid.

The poor start prompted McGhee to add former Blackburn Rovers striker Kevin Davies to his squad in a loan deal from Premiership Southampton. He looks set to continue in attack alongside the veteran Steve Claridge.