BY JAMES KELLY
Millwall kick off their 2023/24 league campaign this Saturday as they travel to the Riverside Stadium to take on Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough.
The lions will be hoping to go one better this season and finally make it into the playoffs after cruelly missing out on the final day last season, losing 4-3 at home to Blackburn Rovers.
To make sure lightning doesn’t strike twice, Gary Rowett has strengthened his squad. Acquiring the services of striker Kevin Nisbet from Hibernian, defenders Joe Bryan and Wes Harding as free agents and defensive midfielder Casper De Norre from Belgian side OH Leuven.
In the opposite dugout, Middlesbrough had a better season last campaign. They finished 4th in championship after boss Michael Carrick took over a depleted Boro side in 21st and saw them ultimately losing 1-0 on aggregate to Coventry City in the playoffs. He will be hoping to lead them back to the Premier League this time in his first full season as a manager.
They have recruited heavily this summer. Bringing in 10 signings including goalkeeper Seny Dieng from QPR, wingers Morgan Rogers and Sam Silvera from Manchester City and Australian side Central Coast respectively and centre back Rav van den Berg from PEC Zwolle.
Ones to watch
Provided he plays, the main man Millwall will hope to keep quiet is talisman Chuba Akpom who won the Championship golden boot last season, netting 28 goals in his best ever goalscoring campaign.
Another familiar face the lions will want to watch out for is forward Marcus Forss who scored the only goal in last season’s 1-0 defeat in this fixture. As well as Forss, midfielders Riley McGree and Dan Barlaser will be aiming to give the Millwall defence a tough afternoon as they look to get their own campaign off to a winning start.
The difference makers
For the first time in a while, Millwall’s attack is full of potential sources for goals this season. Winger Duncan Watmore and former Middlesbrough player will hope to come back and haunt his former club. Similarly forwards Romain Esse and Aidomo Emakhu will look to grab their chances should they get them after very solid pre-season campaigns. New striker Kevin Nisbet will also look to make a name for himself by hopefully popping up with a goal to help ease the burden on main striker and last season’s top goalscorer at the club Tom Bradshaw.
However, the Bermondsey Bergkamp; Zian Flemming will be the one Carrick’s men will hope to suppress after scoring 15 goals in his debut season in English football last season for Rowett’s side. As well as long serving striker Tom Bradshaw who has a knack for popping up with a goal in games like this.
What the bookies think:
Bookmakers SkyBet made the home side the odds-on favourites at 10/11 with a Millwall win coming in at 3/1.