Millwall v Preston North End team line-ups: Fielding, Mahoney and Smith all start in Lions’ Championship opener

BY JAKE SANDERS

Neil Harris has named no fewer than three of his summer signings in his starting line-up for the Millwall’s Championship opener against Preston North End at The Den this afternoon.

Frank Fielding starts in goal, whilst Connor Mahoney, who signed from AFC Bournemouth, joins Matt Smith in a new-look Lions attack, with Aiden O’Brien playing just behind the former Queens Park Rangers striker.

It means that despite suggesting otherwise, Harris picks the same side that drew with Real Sociedad last Saturday, with Shaun Williams partnering Ben Thompson in midfield.

Elsewhere, Murray Wallace is given the nod at left-back, whilst Jiri Skalak is on the bench despite an impressive pre-season, but there is no place in the matchday squad for Jason McCarthy.

Former Charlton Athletic defender Patrick Bauer starts for the Lilywhites, who have lost each of their last three Championship matches on the road, but achieved a league double over the Lions last season, including a 3-1 victory at The Den in February.

Millwall: Fielding, Romeo, Cooper, Pearce, M. Wallace, J. Wallace, Williams, Thompson, Mahoney, O’Brien, Smith.

Subs: Bialkowski, Hutchinson, Leonard Ferguson, Skalak, Bradshaw, Bodvarsson.

Preston North End: Rudd, Pearson, Clarke, Davies, Browne, Gallagher, Hughes, Bauer, Maguire, Barkhuizen, Potts.

Subs: Ripley, Fisher, Storey, Johnson, Green, Bodin, Stockley.

PICTURE BY BRIAN TONKS