Millwall have a “chance” of the Championship play-offs – and that was always the aim of boss Gary Rowett

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Gary Rowett reckons his Millwall side have performed to a level to put them in with a chance of the Championship play-offs – Shaun Hutchinson’s goal earning a 1-0 victory at Preston North End today.

Only the Lions, Leeds and Blackburn Rovers won in the top 10 on Saturday and the South Londoners are only four points adrift of a top six spot.

“It was a big result for us – a result we deserved against a tough, tough side and a tough place to come,” said Rowett.

“Our performances have warranted us being up there challenging – I’m not suggesting that our aim or target. The aim is to win as many games as possible and stay in the mix, because we’ve worked incredibly hard to get there.

“We’ve played a couple of teams where I’ve felt the level was a bit too much for us and a lot of others where I’ve felt the level is fairly even.

“We’ve only lost once away from home, at Leeds, since the first one at Reading. We’ve been to some difficult places and beaten Derby, Bristol City, Swansea and now we’ve beaten Preston. We have drawn at Stoke, Cardiff, Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday.

“There have been some really difficult games and it’s been on the back of a really tough run in the last five. I felt if we got through those five and were still in touch of the top six we at least give ourselves a chance and something to be excited about.”