‘Big 21 games left’ – Millwall’s sole focus now is on Championship promotion challenge

Millwall’s focus is solely on their Championship play-off push, but manager Gary Rowett was keen to point out that he had every desire for them to progress in the FA Cup.

Sheffield United won 2-0 at The Den yesterday to knock the Lions out of the competition at the third round stage.

Millwall now resume their league campaign at Middlesbrough next weekend.

The South Londoners are sixth in the table and have a fixture in hand of all of the clubs above them.

Asked if being out of the FA Cup stopped any congestion or shift of focus, Rowett said: “We wanted to go through – that’s a fact. Otherwise I’d have made seven or eight changes.

“We didn’t play well enough to do that, that’s what happens sometimes. Now we have to put that behind us and focus on the league.

“It’s a big 21 games left. We want to strengthen in January because we’ve got a couple of gaps in the squad where we need a bit of help. We’re working very hard as a club to do that.

“That’s not me saying it, to put any pressure on at all, because we’re all working hard to get the same things. We believe we will strengthen.

“That will be important. We’re in a really good position. Today wasn’t a good day for us but we’ve got to make sure we kick on and move forward.”