‘In there fighting’ – Millwall boss has positive message after dramatic victory cues up huge final day against Blackburn

Gary Rowett has described his Millwall side as “in there fighting” for the last two Championship play-off spots after tonight’s 3-2 win at Blackpool.

The Lions are now set up for a seismic final day of the season at home to top-six rivals Blackburn Rovers.

But first the South London club’s attention will be on the results of the likes of Coventry City and Sunderland over the remainder of the weekend.

Both will move back ahead of Millwall if they win.

Asked about the high-pressure stakes, Rowett told Sky Sports: “You look forward to these games, you embrace them.

“As a manager I’ve been in the play-offs with Derby and Burton, so I know what the games are all about.

“I keep reminding the players that our aim this season isn’t to get in the play-offs – our aim this season is to try and get promotion. So this is the first step. We’ve got to go and beat Blackburn. It’s going to be a very tough game.

“There are games tomorrow and it could be out of our hands.

“Utimately you have got to embrace these moments and look forward to these games.

“Blackpool did themselves proud and made a real game of it.

“It was about winning the game today. That should give the players a little bit of confidence and belief – but it guarantees nothing.

“In these games someone has got to win and someone has got to lose – someone is going to get in the top six and someone is going to get disappointed.

“We’re in there fighting.”

Rowett is the second longest-serving boss in the Championship behind Coventry’s Mark Robins.

They also still had a chance of the play-offs last season although were firm outsiders as they needed teams above them to drop points as well as attempting to beat Bournemouth in the previous campaign’s finale.

“We should be proud of where we are – because we’re having a strong season,” said Rowett. “That’s all you can say.

“When I walked into the football club on my first day, my aim was that I felt we could challenge for the top six. The club had done it under Neil (Harris) and just fell a little bit short. It was the next season that then the team struggled. It was that swing (in fortunes) and I just wanted that consistency.

“I feel now we’re a very, very strong top Championship side. What we’ve got to try and do now is take the next step. That’s not an easy thing to do but we’ve given ourselves a fantastic chance.

“Whatever happens, it has been a good season. The top six is what we want and that’s always been our aim.”