Championship final day: Millwall, Boro, Sheffield United and Luton managers all have their say on dramatic finale
Millwall are in a four-way race to make the play-offs – with Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Luton Town fighting with them to make the top-six on the final day of the 2021-22 Championship campaign.
The South Londoners need to beat Bournemouth and hope Luton lose to Reading and Middlesbrough fail to beat Preston North End.
The other way Millwall could make the play-offs is if Fulham can beat Sheffield United by a big goal swing, Boro fail to win and the Lions beat the Cherries.
Here are what the four managers have said about the play-off race going into the final day:
GARY ROWETT (MILLWALL)
“It’s still out of our hands, we know that, but a 10-goal swing [after the latest round of matches] certainly changes one or two things. The last day is going to be exactly the same as any other last day. There’s lots of different permutations.
“It’s going to be about who can go and hold their nerve under pressure when it really matters. We’re not going to probably know that until about 2.30 on Saturday afternoon. It is very, very exciting.”
Odds to make play-offs: 18/1
NATHAN JONES (LUTON TOWN)
“We’ve got to dust ourselves down and make sure we’re ready for the home game and we’ve got to win one home game. That’s basically what we have to do.
“We would’ve taken that in terms of being in the mix. We have to make sure we don’t dwell on it [Monday’s 7-0 loss at Fulham].
“Hopefully we’re not too depleted and we go into the game knowing what we need. We know if we get a win we will be in there, a point may do it you never know but we can’t be relying on that.”
Odds to make play-offs: 1/6
CHRIS WILDER (BORO)
“We’ve got to win. We take it to the 46th game of the season which we’d have taken that 100 per cent before we walked in.
“You can’t control stuff like that [other results], I don’t think it’s any good getting caught up in trying to work out who does what or who doesn’t, the psychology aspect of it.
“The biggest thing is that we are going into the 46th game of the season and our season is still alive.”
Odds to make play-offs: 13/8
PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM (SHEFFIELD UNITED)
“Pressure is a privilege. We are in this position because we have earned it. You have got to enjoy it. How many times have we spoken about when you are not playing for anything at this stage? This is different, we want to be doing this.
“It’s how we want to play. We try all the time but different things trigger these performances and it will all come down to mindset.
“But my message won’t be any different. Care-free is the wrong word but it appears that way when you are gung-ho and relentless.”
Odds to make play-offs: 1/7