Millwall have “nothing to fear at all” as the battle for promotion from the Championship intensifies, says manager Alex Neil.
The Lions are third in the league’s surprise package with four games remaining and could move up to second with a win against QPR, which will be shown live on Sky Sports+ at lunchtime on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s game between Ipswich and Middlesbrough.
A win would also see Wrexham qualify for the play-offs if they fail to beat Stoke.
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However, Millwall have been on a roller coaster in recent weeks, moving into the automatic promotion ranks for the first time with a win over promotion rivals Middlesbrough, but a home loss to Norwich and a draw with West Brom put Ipswich in control, moving them into the top two with Coventry.
But there was more to come on Tuesday, when Ipswich, who had a game in hand, surprisingly lost to Portsmouth.
Neil said the result was “very open for everyone”, but urged Millwall’s players to enjoy the situation rather than get overwhelmed by the pressure, given the club finished bottom of the Championship play-offs in 2002.
Asked for a message to his players, Neil said: “You never know when this opportunity will come back. Don’t let it pass you by without being a passenger.” “Enjoy every moment and do your best.
“From our point of view, we shouldn’t have any fear at all. We need to accept the situation, give it everything we have and see where it takes us.”
Arsenal’s nerves have been in the spotlight as they bid to win their first Premier League title in more than 20 years, with Neil admitting some “nerves” crept into his team’s performance against the Hawthorns last week.
Neil, who led Norwich and Sunderland to promotion to the play-offs, spoke about the mentality needed to get over the line. “Having fire in your belly but staying calm when it matters is what allows you to decide the important moments of the game. It’s never more important than in the business end of the season when you need to find a way to be effective and win.”
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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between West Brom and Millwall
As Millwall fans debate whether they will achieve automatic promotion or have to settle for the play-offs, Neil also wants to put the club’s position into context, saying the team “gave Millwall fans one of the best seasons in decades”.
He said: “If you said at the beginning of the season that we were going to get into the play-offs, everyone would go crazy because that’s a goal the club has wanted to achieve for a long time.”
“So does that mean we’re happy with it? Absolutely not. And I think we need to get a little perspective on things here.
“Do you automatically want to climb it? Of course you do. Who wouldn’t?”
“But are we going to be disappointed in the playoffs? Absolutely 100 percent not. Because it gives us an opportunity to see how far we can go in the playoffs, fight in the corners and hopefully produce a strong performance and try to win some more games.”
“So as far as we are concerned, we are in a very good position.”
