MILLWALL will be looking to build on their brilliant start to the season by getting past League One Reading in the first round of the Carabao Cup tomorrow night.
The Lions overcame Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday to pull off an impressive away day win on the opening weekend of the Championship.
But now all thoughts turn to a potential cup run in a competition where Millwall have not enjoyed the best of luck in recent years.
In fact the London side have failed to get beyond the third round of this competition every year since the 2006-07 season.
Last season saw George Honeyman sent off in a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Cambridge United in the first round.
Other exits in recent years have come at the hands of Premier League opponents such as Leicester City, Burnley and Fulham, with new Lions defender Joe Bryan scoring at The Den for the Cottagers during a 3-1 win in 2018.
Reading were in the top-flight themselves just 10 years ago but are now fighting it out in League One after off-the-pitch issues destabilised the club.
The Royals went top of the Championship after winning 1-0 at The Den last August but fell away as the season went on.
They might have survived the drop if not for a six point penalty for breaching EFL financial rules.
Paul Ince was sacked not long after the points deduction and Reading could not save themselves.
Ruben Selles is now charged with turning things around after his brief stint running doomed Southampton last season.
Things did not get off to a good start at the weekend as the Berkshire-based club lost 1-0 at home against Peterborough.
But despite their goal-shy showing, they have threats to trouble Millwall tomorrow.
Andy Carroll will always be a handful when balls come into the box while the club have brought in exciting players during the window like Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs who have the ability to make things happen.
As for Millwall, changes can be expected – Gary Rowett made six for the Cambridge match last year.
Following their Teesside heroics, both Aidomo Emakhu and Romain Esse will be pushing for starts to continue a relentless, youthful momentum that has been building since pre-season.
Tom Bradshaw will also be vying for his first start after missing out on being in the line-up against Middlesbrough due to illness. The striker surprisingly has just one goal in seven League Cup appearances for the Lions, fewer than the two defender Murray Wallace has in this competition.
Other squad players such as Ryan Leonard and Andreas Voglsammer will also be keen on minutes to get their seasons up and running, while Wes Harding will be hoping for a debut after signing from Rotherham.
The previous four games between Millwall and Reading have finished 1-0 – three times in the Lions’ favour.
The London club can also boast of eight wins in the their previous 12 encounters.
They last met in the League Cup in 2017, when Reading won 3-1 thanks in part to a goal after extra-time by George Evans, who now dons Millwall colours.