SuttonSutton Unitedvs.Millwall

The Lions are working towards their season opener away to Middlesbrough on August 5, while Sutton will begin their League Two campaign with a home game against Notts County on the same afternoon.

Match preview

Sutton made it three straight seasons in League Two by finishing 14th in the fourth tier last term, some 15 points clear of the relegation zone, and they are currently working towards their 2023-24 opener, which will come against promoted outfit Notts County on August 5.

Matt Gray's side have made a positive start to their pre-season schedule, beating Havant & Waterlooville 3-2 on July 11 before recording a 2-0 victory over Reading on Saturday afternoon.

Sutton have another four friendlies against Millwall, Farnborough, Woking and Aldershot Town to come before the real business begins, and it will be interesting to see how the team performs in the coming season.

Gray's side have been very active this summer in terms of incomings, boosting their squad with the arrivals of Ryan Jackson, Craig Clay, Harry Smith, Steve Arnold, Omar Sowunmi, Christian N'Guessan and Josh Coley.

There have also been a number of departures, so there will be a new look to the squad next season, with the Yellows looking to potentially challenge for a playoff position in League Two.

Millwall, meanwhile, only just missed out on a spot in the Championship playoffs last season, claiming eighth position, just one point behind sixth-placed Sunderland.

The Lions will again operate in the second tier of English football during the 2023-24 campaign, and their season opener will take place on August 5 against Middlesbrough.

Millwall opened their preparations for the new campaign with a 2-0 victory against Gillingham on Saturday afternoon, and they will also take on Charlton Athletic and Fortuna Sittard in friendlies this summer.

Gary Rowett's side have made two signings during the summer market, bringing in Kevin Nisbet from Hibernian, while Joe Bryan has made the move to the club on a free transfer from Fulham.

Millwall are expected to be more active in the coming weeks, with Rowett looking to put together a squad capable of again pushing for a playoff position next season.

Team News

Sutton are once again expected to have some trialists on display in this match, but the likes of Harry Beautyman, Rob Milsom, Craig Eastmond and Lee Angol should all make the XI.

Joe Kizzi is set to continue from the start at right-back, while Ollie Khinda will hope to receive more action off the bench against the Championship side.

Harry Smith was a half-time substitute against Reading last time out, but the forward could now come into the XI, while Ben Goodliffe is also expected to start.

Millwall boss Rowett, meanwhile, fielded two different XIs against Gillingham on Saturday and that is again expected to be the case on Tuesday night.

New signings Nisbet and Bryan should retain their spots in the starting side, while Duncan Watmore should also keep hold of his position from the first whistle.

George Honeyman has emerged as a doubt for the contest, though, as the midfielder was withdrawn in the early stages of the clash with Gillingham through injury.

Sutton United possible starting lineup:

Arnold; Kizzi, N'Guessan, Sowunmi, Goodliffe; Eastmond, Clay, Milsom; Beautyman, Angol, Smith

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Bialkowski; McNamara, Cooper, Hutchinson, Bryan; Esse, Mitchell, Saville; Watmore, Nisbet, Emakhu

We say: Sutton United 1-2 Millwall

Sutton are further ahead in terms of their preparations for the new campaign, and they were impressive in their 2-0 win over Reading last time out. Millwall, though, will be expecting to win on Tuesday, and we are backing the Lions to emerge victorious in the pre-season contest.

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