Is Fulham game make-or-break for Millwall? Lions chief Gary Rowett gives his verdict

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Gary Rowett has played down talk that Millwall’s game tomorrow against Fulham is pivotal to their Championship play-off dreams.

The Lions have taken one point from a possible nine and there is a five-point gap to sixth-placed Preston.

Millwall lost 2-0 to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, only their third league reverse in SE16 this season.

“Everybody tries to make out that a game is a must-win or you must get something out of this one,” said Rowett. “But if we beat Fulham and everyone around us wins then we’re in the same position – just like if we lose and everyone around us loses.

“It is about recognising what we need to do well and get back to that performance level which got us into the position in the first place – from being not far off the bottom three to getting into the top six for a period of one game.

“It shows the progress which has been made. The challenge was to maintain it when you have to play Leeds, West Brom and Fulham – three teams who you will struggle to live with if they are at their best.

“Millwall found that out at Craven Cottage when they lost 4-0 [when Neil Harris was still in charge].

“I want us to show a reaction. If you look at the home games against Forest and Brentford we made it very uncomfortable for them. It is about any team coming here having to be at their max and playing really, really well to have any chance of beating us. That’s why I was disappointed with the West Brom game – I didn’t feel they had to be quite at their max to win the game.

“I don’t think any game is must-win but we have the mentality that every game is a must-win, regardless of where we are in the division.”

PHOTO BY KEITH GILLARD