Middlesbrough vs Millwall predictions: Boro can edge opener
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- Middlesbrough finished fourth last season but failed to make play-off final
- Millwall ended up eighth in Championship
- Recommended bet: Middlesbrough to win
Middlesbrough will have high hopes of promotion from the Championship this season and they should start the campaign with a home win over Millwall on Saturday.
Boro impressed under Michael Carrick in the second half of last season, finishing fourth to secure a play-off place, and there will be optimism on Teesside that they can again challenge among the top six this time around.
Millwall also enjoyed a solid season in 2022-23, ending up only two places and a point off sixth in eighth, so will have similar overall aims this term to their opening-weekend opponents.
Team news
Boro striker Chuba Akpom, who scored 28 league goals last season, is a major doubt after missing the entire pre-season due to a knee injury so Matt Crooks could deputise up front.
Knee issues are also affecting midfielder Jonny Howson, who has not trained freely in recent weeks, and forward Josh Coburn, with both players set to be absent for the hosts.
Boro have brought in some exciting young talent over the summer, though, and new arrivals Rav van den Berg, Sam Silvera and Morgan Rogers will all be battling for a starting place against the Lions.
Another new signing, goalkeeper Sany Dieng, who has been drafted in from QPR, looks set to begin the season as new first-choice No.1.
Millwall also appear to have conducted some sound summer transfer business and new signings Casper de Norre, Joe Bryan and Kevin Nisbet are all vying to be involved from the start at the Riverside.
Zian Fleming was left out of the recent friendly defeat to Fortuna Sittard but boss Gary Rowett confirmed afterwards the winger was fine and he should start on Saturday.
The stats
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Middlesbrough had a strong home record last season, winning 13 of their 23 league matches at the Riverside, drawing seven games and losing just three times.
Last season, Boro won this fixture 1-0 at home, while the Lions were 2-0 victors in the reverse game at The Den.
In pre-season, Carrick's side have won just twice — beating Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes and Rotherham — while they have drawn with York City, Bradford City and French outfit Auxerre, and lost to Hartlepool and Spanish side Real Betis.
Over the summer, the Lions have beaten Gillingham and Sutton United, drawn with Charlton and lost to Dutch top-flight team Fortuna Sittard.
Prediction
Boro ended up seven points better off than Millwall last term and there does not appear to be too much to choose between them again heading into the new campaign.
Akpom's expected absence is a big blow for the home side but they still have plenty of match winners and Carrick's men can edge what is likely to be a tight opener at the Riverside.
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