Millwall begin their Championship fixtures with a game against Leeds who they beat 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last season. Manager Ian Holloway will be aiming to avoid a repeat of the last campaign when his team flirted with the relegation zone. They drew six of their final ten matches at the New Den but eight unbeaten games at the
end of the season coupled with a final day home victory ensured their survival. They won two of their three club friendlies in the summer, whilst drawing the third.
Holloway has been keen to boost the firepower of the Lions during the summer as his team scored more than two goals in a match on only one occasion, and Ricardo Fuller has
been signed to add some experience to the forward line. Martyn Woolford netted eight goals last season and is likely to start on Saturday whereas Carlos Edwards remains at the club following a successful loan spell from March onwards.
Jermaine Easter has performed well in attack during pre-season but midfielders Nicky Bailey (calf), Ed Upson and Richard Chaplow (both hamstring) will miss the opening fixture. Leeds will arrive in south-east London under the expectant
watch of new president Massimo Cellino and he will be demanding an improvement on the mid-table finish of last season. The Yorkshire team won their final two games but overall, inconsistency blighted their campaign and for the forthcoming campaign, they must cope without Ross McCormack who was leading divisional scorer last season. Despite his move to Fulham, Leeds won four of their five friendlies during the summer, drawing the fifth.
Manager Dave Hockaday will look elsewhere for firepower but several imports from Serie A in Italy have recently arrived to bolster the squad. Souleymane Doukara is expected to start in attack alongside Tommaso Bianchi while Marco Silvestri may make his league debut in goal.
After an injury plagued campaign during 2013-14, Noel Hunt returned to action in the final pre-season friendly and may appear on the bench. Hockaday has confirmed that new signings Nicky Ajose and Zan Benedicic are in contention for a spot in the matchday squad. Matches between these two teams are usually fiery encounters and Ian Holloway will be keen to impress upon his team the importance of this first match.
Leeds may take time to blend with several Italian recruits
unaccustomed to the intensity of Championship football and they may struggle to secure a result. Home win by a one goal margin I guess.
Verdict: Millwall to win
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