Neil Harris: Millwall-Bolton match is huge – my players have to step up again in a big moment
Millwall manager Neil Harris has not tried to soften the importance of Saturday’s trip to Bolton Wanderers – describing it as “huge”.
Their opponents are wracked by financial problems and had to close their training ground on Monday.
Bolton’s players and staff had not been paid their February wages on time with Greater Manchester Police negotiating over money owed for policing.
Wanderers are due to appear in the High Court on March 20 after being issued a winding-up petitions by HM Revenue & Customs.
If Bolton were to go into administration then the subsequent points deduction would effectively seal another drop slot – with Ipswich already looking doomed.
“It’s a huge game for us but it is a game that Bolton have to win,” said Harris. “For us, it’s an opportunity to derail one of the teams below us and that’s hugely important.
“I mean it in the nicest possible sense, but I don’t want Bolton to gain any points from us. We have got to be ruthless in our approach.
“I expect us to go to Bolton and put in a Millwall performance – fight for every ball. I expect us to be winners.
“It’s a huge game because the last three results haven’t been good enough for us.
“We’ve put ourselves in the situation we’ve had to win big games over the last few years and this is a group who have won them at key moments.
“They have to step up. There is no hiding from the fact it is a six-pointer. I can’t wait to see my troops battle and fight. We have to make sure that we’re dogged and resilient against a big, physical Bolton team.”
IMAGE BY BRIAN TONKS