Alex Neil: I’ll be more happy for Millwall fans and owner James Berylson if we can make play-offs a reality

Millwall head coach Alex Neil has revealed his thoughts will be about other people – like owner James Berylson, his squad and the fanbase –  if the South Londoners make the Championship play-offs.

The Lions need to inflict a first home Championship loss of the season on Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday and hope other results go their way. If Bristol City or Coventry City were to be defeated then that would then guarantee a top-six finish.

One bookmaker has Millwall as 30/1 for promotion.

Asked how he would feel if the Lions made the play-offs, Neil told the South London Press: “I’d probably be more proud for the players, the club, Jimmy and the people that gave me the opportunity to come here and manage this team.

“And the fans, of course who have been travelling up and down the country. In the first month I think we did 3,000 miles and that’s a lot of expenditure, time and sacrifice that people have to make to come and follow us.

“I don’t overly think of myself  – it’s more everybody else. I’m just here to help and try to get us there, if we can.”

Neil succeeded Neil Harris as head coach at the end of 2024. Harris was at the helm when Burnley lost 1-0 at The Den, the last time they have been bested in the Championship.

The Scottish boss, asked if that carries any significance, said: “It’s completely different, based off the context of the game. It’s the last game of the season, so there are nerves for every team. They have got the opportunity to win the league and we’ve got an opportunity to potentially get in the play-offs.

“They have not lost at home all season. They have conceded seven goals at home all season and I think they’ve kept 30 clean sheets, which is ridiculous. I said it 10 games ago, if we’re going to do it we were going to do it the hard way and I don’t think it gets much harder than going to Burnley and trying to win.

“Our players won’t care what Burnley are playing for. All our players will be doing is looking at what we want to achieve.”

Neil will not be checking scores elsewhere.

“The simple fact is we need to a win a game and it’s been the case for a number of games now,” he said. “What happens elsewhere, I can’t control. We can control what our scoreline looks like.

“We have been up against it. People count us out and that’s probably when we’re at our best.”

PICTURE: ALAMY