Football Apr 22, 2026

Millwall: Alex Neil urges Lions to embrace Championship promotion battle as race for second automatic spot and play-off places heats up

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Millwall: Alex Neil urges Lions to embrace Championship promotion battle as race for second automatic spot and play-off places heats up

Millwall should have "zero fear" as the race for promotion from the Championship heats up, says boss Alex Neil.

The Lions are the league's surprise package, sitting third with four games to play, and can go second with victory over QPR on Saturday lunchtime, live on Your Site+, ahead of Ipswich's showdown with Middlesbrough on Sunday.

They will also seal a play-off place if they win and Wrexham fail to beat Stoke.

But Millwall have been on a rollercoaster in recent weeks, moving up into the automatic promotion places for the first time with a win at promotion rivals Middlesbrough, before defeat at home to Norwich and a draw at West Brom saw Ipswich take the initiative in the chase to join Coventry in the top two.

However, there was another twist on Tuesday, with Ipswich - who have a game in hand - surprisingly beaten at Portsmouth.

That is a result which has "left things quite open for everyone", says Neil, but he is urging Millwall's players not to be overwhelmed by the pressure and instead enjoy the situation, given the club were last in the Championship play-offs in 2002.

"You never know when this opportunity is going to come back round again. Don't be a passenger and let it pass by you," said Neil when asked what his message to his players is. "Make sure that you enjoy every moment of it and give it your best shot.

"From our perspective, we should have zero fear. We should embrace the situation and give everything we've got and see where that takes us."

There has been focus in the Premier League on Arsenal's nerves as they try to secure their first title in over two decades and Neil admitted some "tension" had crept into his team's performance at the Hawthorns last week.

Speaking about the mentality required to get over the line, Neil - who has steered Norwich and Sunderland to play-off promotions - said: "Keeping a fire in your belly but a cool head when it matters most can determine key moments in games and no more so than at the business end of the season when you need to find a way to be effective and to win."

Amid discussions among the Millwall fanbase on whether they will achieve automatic promotion or have to settle for the play-offs, Neil is also keen to keep the club's position in context, stating his team have "given Millwall fans one of the best seasons they've had in decades".

He said: "At the start of the season, if I said to anyone that we would get into the play-offs, everyone would be absolutely buzzing because that's been an aim we've wanted to try to achieve for the club for such a long period of time.

"Now, does it mean that we're satisfied with that? Absolutely not. And I think this is where we need to get a bit of perspective on things.

"Do we want to try and go up automatically? Of course we do. Who wouldn't?

"But would we be disappointed with the play-offs? Absolutely 100 per cent not, because it gives us an opportunity to see where we can go in that and fight our corner and hopefully produce some strong performances and try and win some more games.

"So, as far as we're concerned, we're in a really good spot."

Tags:

football news

Share this article

Related Posts

Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins double fires Unai Emery's side to Europa League quarter-final first leg win

Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins double fires Unai Emery's side to Europa League quarter-final first leg win

Aston Villa took control of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Bologna, as England stars Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins fired Unai Emery's side...

Brentford 0-0 Fulham: Keith Andrews' side miss chance to go into Premier League top six after Bernd Leno makes last-minute wonder save

Brentford 0-0 Fulham: Keith Andrews' side miss chance to go into Premier League top six after Bernd Leno makes last-minute wonder save

Brentford missed the chance to go into the top six for a few hours at least as Fulham held them to a forgettable 0-0 west London derby draw - thanks t...

Tottenham 2-2 Brighton: Georginio Rutter slams in 95th-minute equaliser as Seagulls leave Spurs stuck in Premier League relegation zone

Tottenham 2-2 Brighton: Georginio Rutter slams in 95th-minute equaliser as Seagulls leave Spurs stuck in Premier League relegation zone

Tottenham’s Premier League survival hopes were hit by a crushing 95th-minute Georginio Rutter equaliser as in-form Brighton left Spurs languishing in...

Elliot Anderson: Man City believe they have won race to sign England midfielder - Paper Talk and football transfer gossip

Elliot Anderson: Man City believe they have won race to sign England midfielder - Paper Talk and football transfer gossip

The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday's newspapers... Manchester City believe they have won the race to sign Manchester United, Chelsea...

Jermain Defoe: How did new Woking manager fare in his first two games in charge of National League club?

Jermain Defoe: How did new Woking manager fare in his first two games in charge of National League club?

A six-goal thriller followed by a lifeless stalemate - Jermain Defoe experienced the full rollercoaster of management during his first weekend at Woki...

Aaron Ramsey retires: Former Arsenal and Wales midfielder announces end of two-decade playing career

Aaron Ramsey retires: Former Arsenal and Wales midfielder announces end of two-decade playing career

Aaron Ramsey has announced his retirement from football, bringing the curtain down on a 20-year playing career.The 35-year-old made more than 250 Prem...