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When Bristol City host Ipswich in their opening game of the 2011-12 Championship season, many fans will be expecting a high scoring affair, writes William Taylor.
Both sides appear to have considerably better attacking options than they have in defence this year.
Ipswich manager Paul Jewell will be able to call upon the likes of Michael Chopra, Nathan Ellington and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who he has signed this summer.
That is in addition to midfielder Lee Bowyer, who joined from Birmingham, while Jason Scotland, who scored against City last season is also in the Ipswich squad.
Meanwhile former Town forward Jon Stead is one of a few exciting attacking options for Bristol City manager Keith Millen to call upon.
Stead joined from the Tractor Boys last season, having scored on the opening day against Middleborough.
Nicky Maynard is widely considered to be one of the best forwards outside the Premier League, too.
However, neither of the games last season were exactly goal fests.
Town did the double over City. The first of the two meetings was a 2-0 win at Portman Road, while young Josh Carson fired in a stunning winner in the 1-0 victory at Ashton Gate.
You have to go back to the 2007/08 season to find a big scoring game, when a Jon Walters hat-trick saw Ipswich to a 6-0 home win.
Millen says opening day games can be difficult for a manager to deal with, and expects there to be some opening day surprises.
“The start to a campaign is so important because we don’t want to be playing catch up again like last year,” Millen admitted.
“Opening day can often throw up some weird results but it would be nice to get the win. If we can get a performance to go along with that then it would be a great start.
“Ipswich are going to be up there and I’m sure there are big expectations there like there are here at Bristol City.”
Ipswich’s Ivar Ingimarsson says he is looking forward to the game and believes his side are ready for the new season.
He said: “I think everyone is in a good frame of mind and really looking forward to it, I know I can’t wait to get started.
“You have pre-season but at the back of your mind you are always thinking about the main thing and we all can’t wait to get going.”
The referee for Saturday will be Mark Haywood from West Yorkshire. In 36 games last season, he showed 63 yellow cards and only two reds.
Bookies marginally make the home side favourites for the win, at 6/4. However at 2/1 Ipswich will also fancy their chances. The draw is available at 12/5.
