STEVE Coppell has warned his new-look Bristol City side to expect a rough ride against Championship newcomers Millwall today.

Promoted via the League One play-offs at the end of last season, Kenny Jackett's team are accustomed to winning and will arrive at Ashton Gate brimful of confidence.

City will feel equally upbeat following the signing England goalkeeper David James and defeating Premier League Blackpool 2-0 in their final pre-season friendly.

But Coppell knows better than to read too much into that result and performance, no matter how encouraging.

He warned: "Playing Millwall will be a totally different kettle of fish. There is no way they will have a pre-season mentality, and we have to prepare ourselves for a very tough game.

"As you would expect from any side from the south east of London, they will be very competitive and will make life hard for us.

"Millwall have just won promotion, are used to winning games and will be dangerous opponents. I'm sure they will come here and have a go."

Certainly, there is no shortage of belief in a dressing room which has become accustomed to success under Jackett's management.

Last season's top-scorer Steve Morison reflects that confidence when he talks of matching last season's 23-goal haul in League One.

Morison is sure to pose a threat to a City defence which is likely to include three new signings this afternoon, and Morison is targeting a minimum 20-goal return this season.

"My expectations are exactly the same," said Morison, who has been attracting interest from Hull City. "I don't want to get less than 20 goals. That is my aim and now I've just got to go out there and achieve it.

"There will be probably be more pressure on me this year because people now know what they expect of me – they will expect me to get 20 goals, and I don't want to disappoint them.

"I've proved myself as a League One player and now I want to do it as a Championship player. It all bodes well for myself and for the team, so if I can do what I want to do then I'm sure we'll be heading in the right direction."

Having helped the south London club achieve promotion, the 26-year-old striker is understandably optimistic about the Lions' chances in the Championship.

"We know what we want to do this year and what our expectations are for the season, and I think we'll give a few teams a few surprises," said Morison.

"The training has stepped up from last year, anyone can see that, and the lads have all looked good. We've got almost everyone fit now and we're certainly moving in the right direction.

"A lot of the lads here have played in the Championship before, while the players we have brought in and are looking to bring in are of Championship quality.

"We'll just have to wait and see what happens, but the manager is very shrewd – and I think whoever he brings in will do really well."

Although Morison is likely to be paired alongside veteran frontman Neil Harris, Jackett has several attacking options following a busy summer in the transfer market.

Millwall's manager was forced to bolster his squad when he lost striker Shaun Batt to injury during pre-season – and he admits he may have made the mistake of not strengthening his attack otherwise.

"After Shaun went off at AFC Wimbledon, I got a call from the physio over that weekend telling me that, despite what we had said in public, he was really concerned about the injury.

"Once the swelling had gone down, it became clear that Shaun was in trouble," said Jackett, who subsequently signed winger James Henry from Reading and striker Kevin Lisbie on loan from Ipswich Town. "Since that diagnosis, I've felt that right along our frontline we lack competition, creativity and goals. We have players that provide all of those things – but quite simply, we needed more.

"In many ways, his injury has crystalised things for me. Before I was thinking we would sign him from Peterborough, which we did, and then maybe one more. But now I feel that, with the two we've brought in, the situation is a long way to being addressed.

"In Henry and Lisbie we have two players at the opposite ends of their football careers, but they both have good goalscoring records. In terms of creating and scoring, they will improve the squad."