Millwall are in the Championship play-offs for the first time in 24 years – but they have something of a specialist in this format on their side in boss Alex Neil.
The Scotsman has steered three teams to promotion through play-offs in his managerial career, guiding Hamilton to the Scottish Premiership, Sunderland to the Championship and – in 2015 – Norwich to the Premier League.
His current side Millwall are favourites to see off Hull City in their semi-final and make it to Wembley to face either Southampton or Middlesbrough. The Lions finished third in the Championship and in 17 of the past 20 Championship seasons the third-placed team has beaten the sixth-placed team in the play-offs.
But Neil knows it is about delivering in the key moments that matter at this point – regardless of what has gone before.
“I’ve been in both ends of play-offs, where we’ve been regarded as favourites or we’ve been regarded as underdogs. I don’t think it really matters,” he told Sky Sports at Millwall’s training ground, where final preparations for Friday’s trip to the MKM Stadium were being made.
Friday 8th May 7:00pm
Kick off 8:00pm
“It boils down to who plays well on the day. We played Hull twice this season. They beat us at their place. We beat them at their place. And there wasn’t a lot in the games. So I don’t read into it that way [of Millwall being favourites].
“It’s going to be the moments that matter.
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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Oxford United.
“Does somebody have a moment of magic, a bit of quality? Making sure you try and limit the mistakes and errors that you make across the game, or somebody might come up with a big save.
“We’ve certainly got guys across our squad that have got that quality and that bit of magic, but equally we’ve got guys who defend their box brilliantly in big moments, and we’ve got [Anthony Patterson] in goal, so we can make a big save when required.”
Goalkeeper Anthony Patterson won promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs with Sunderland last season
Patterson was Neil’s goalkeeper when he took Sunderland up from League One via the play-offs, and the shot-stopper was a hero for Sunderland again in the Championship play-off final win over Sheffield United last season. Tommy Watson, who scored the winning goal in that match at Wembley, is also on loan at Millwall this season.
Millwall also have the likes of central midfielder Barry Bannan in their ranks, who has had play-off success with Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday, and that experience could be significant with the stakes so high.
“I do believe as a coach, as a player, the more big games you become accustomed to and you play in the better it is for you because they’re big atmospheres, they’re big moments,” said Neil. “When there’s intensity and there’s pressure and there’s scrutiny, you can cope with it.
“The more exposure you get to that, the better.”
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast looks ahead to the Championship play-off semi-final.
Millwall finished the regular Championship season with the best away record in the division.
Those performances and results on the road give them the confidence to “attack” this first leg in Hull before Monday’s return game at The Den, says Neil.
“Our away form has been the best in the division, so we’re hoping to get a positive result in the first leg and then bring it back to The Den. The key thing is making sure the occasion doesn’t get the better of you, that will be crucial for both teams.
“I think the biggest difference is that we now play without fear [away from home].
“Whether we’re home or away, we approach games the same way. There’s no major change in style depending on the venue, and that consistency has helped us pick up some brilliant away results.
“From our perspective, we’ve got nothing to lose. It’s about attacking every game and giving our best, just as we’ve done all season.”
Watch Hull City vs Millwall live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm on Friday; kick-off 8pm.
