Gary Rowett: Millwall’s Premier League hopes are like Indiana Jones’ famous temple run

Gary Rowett has likened Millwall’s attempt to win promotion to the Premier League to Indiana Jones’ famous temple run in the 1980s hit film Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The Lions are in one of the box seats for a remaining Championship play-off place and know that victory over Blackburn Rovers on Monday will seal their progression.

Millwall have not played in the English top flight since 1990.

Rowett used the analogy of actor Harrison Ford’s daring navigation of a trap-filled tomb when asked about the prize at stake.

He said: “It’s like watching Raiders of the Lost Ark and you can see the artefact ahead – 100 metres – and there are arrows flying past. If you purely focus on what it is and don’t have your wits about you, think about the obstacles in the way, (then you are going to have a problem).

“You can’t focus on the Premier League. There is one game in front of us, 90 minutes in front of us. Even thinking about the game, we have to think about the steps in training and the preparation – what is the right level of that and motivation for the players.

“I’m sure there are going to be plenty of ups and downs between three o’clock and four forty-five. After that we have a plan in action, a rough idea what we’re going to do training wise. The easiest thing is to say you all want to be in the Premier League – but you’re four steps away from that.

“For me it is focusing on the step we can control at the moment.

“I’ll be really honest – I couldn’t care two hoots about me being a manager in the Premier League. I want to see where this team can step up in these kind of games. That is the first thing we can control. I have played in there (the Premier League) for quite a number of games, so I kind of know what it is about.

“Of course that is the prize, but if you focus too much on the prize then you’re going to lose your footing along the way.”