Millwall midfielder expecting Championship play-off pursuit to go to final day of the season

George Honeyman is expecting the Championship play-off race to go right to the wire, with Millwall’s prospects set to be further scrutinised in the West Midlands tomorrow.

The Lions are sixth in the table and have a three-point cushion over seventh-placed Norwich City.

But this weekend’s match at West Bromwich Albion is set to be gripping viewing.

If Millwall were to inflict defeat on Carlos Corberan’s side, who have 10 wins in an 11-game unbeaten streak at The Hawthorns, it would open up an eight-point lead over their opponents with only seven fixtures to go. Clear daylight.

Norwich host second-placed Sheffield United while Coventry, in seventh, are at home to a Stoke City side who lost to Millwall last month but are sixth in a form guide for the last six games.

Compelling. Intriguing. And, for some, stomach-churning.

Honeyman, asked if he felt the play-off battle will still be unresolved going into the final day, told the South London Press: “I think so, just purely because of the amount of good teams in and around us.

“You’d be silly to bet against it with how up and down the Championship is.

“I’ll be very surprised if it is sorted out before the last game of the season, but we’re going to try and win as many games as we can and not make it as nervous.”

Honeyman has had one promotion in his career. His  Hull City side lifted the League One title in 2020-21 and finished nine points clear of Blackpool, in third. A 2-1 win at Lincoln secured a return to the Championship with two games to go.

“That was a huge bonus because I’d been on the other side with Sunderland,” said Honeyman. “We were going for automatic and ended up slipping into the play-offs and we had one of our lowest attendances in the play-off semi-final.

“You don’t want to be one of those teams in the automatic spots and slipping down because you feel like you haven’t achieved what you set out to do. Whereas if you aim to get into the play-offs then you have a different sort of mentality going into it. You enjoy the experience a lot more than thinking you have missed out on the chance of getting automatic.

“Mentality-wise you want to be streaking into the play-offs rather than falling into them.

“There are still eight games to go and a lot of twists and turns to come yet.”

Former Millwall winger Jed Wallace, who is set to line up against his old club for the second time this season, has described this weekend’s encounter as “massive”.

“West Brom away is always a tough game – no matter where they are in the league,” said Honeyman, who has made 38 appearances in all competitions this season.

“Of course it is a big game in regards to where we want to end up at the end of the season – but so is Luton, which is coming up, and just about every one we’ve got left.

“We’re not going to get in the play-offs now by not winning our games and hoping for other results. We’ve got to go out there and produce the results ourselves.

“Their home record is testament to the job their new manager has done since coming in. They have been very similar with their trajectory to Middlesbrough, in how they have risen up the table.

“It maybe makes it a little bit bigger because they are in and around us, but we’ll have the same approach to every game coming up until the end of the season – to come away with three points to get to where we ultimately want to be.

“This match coincides with us picking up a good away run, I think it’s going to be a really good game. Hopefully we can edge them and make that light at the end of the tunnel seem a bit more realistic.”

Honeyman, 28, has played 275 first-team matches. One of his release valves from obsessing over the game is to walk his dogs, a Labrador and German Shepherd called Arthur and Willow.

“I go out for an hour and it is good meditation,” he said. “You’re not doing any more than checking on the two to make sure they are staying out of trouble.

“We’re lucky being at Millwall and living in a fantastic city. There’s plenty to keep you occupied if you ever feel it is getting a bit much or you need a distraction. With the amount of games coming up I probably can’t get a round of golf in yet, but with the lighter nights now it doesn’t feel far away.

“You don’t play this long without having little tips or things to do so you’re not thinking about the job 24/7. It will just wear you out.

“Just because you aren’t thinking about it 24/7 doesn’t mean you care any less, it just gives your mind a bit of a rest before you give it your all at the weekend.

“It was something I struggled with a lot in my early career because I was given quite a lot of responsibility at a young age. I took everything so to heart and everything so literally.

“It’s just exhausting if you are living it 24/7. It doesn’t do you any good. You’re not going to play as well at the weekend, so it’s not going to help your team-mates, your management staff or the fans.

“You need to make sure come game time that you’re in the best place, mentally and physically. It’s definitely part of the Championship because there are so many games and so much turnover. You’ve got to get yourself right and recover in the right way.”

Millwall are set to be boosted by the return of Billy Mitchell, Mason Bennett and Tyler Burey – the trio had all been ruled out for an extended period due to injury.

Tom Bradshaw, February’s Championship Player of the Month, is one of a number of international players to head back to Calmont Road at the end of the week, the in-form striker’s displays rewarded with an recall by Wales.

“It really is testament to him and how well he has been doing,” said Honeyman.

“We were all a bit surprised when he didn’t get called up for the World Cup, as well.

“I think even he will admit that he thought his ship had sailed with it.

“I know he has been really good this side of the season but he has been pretty consistent throughout the year. I’m glad he has finally got that recognition. Who wouldn’t want to go and play for their country?

“As he has alluded to himself, hopefully the boost of getting called up is something he can take into the last eight games – to keep doing what he has been doing for us.”