Millwall’s target this season – improve on 11th and challenge for play-offs

BY TOBY PORTER
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Millwall manager Gary Rowett is targetting a top-six finish as he prepares for tomorrow’s season-opening contest at QPR.

But he has cautioned that it will not be easy to overhaul clubs with much bigger resources.

The Den side are 12th favourites for promotion with the bookies, on odds of 7/1, while their hosts are only a marginally shorter wager.

An away allocation of 2,500 for Millwall at Loftus Road should give the visitors a big lift as they bid to win for the first time there in 32 years.

The Lions boss said: “It won’t be easy to say top two for us but I think top six is a target. That’s a really strong aim and what we are working hard towards.

“We’ve finished in and around the top 10 the last two years – but a lot of clubs will feel they are capable of making the play-offs. And there will not be many Championship teams who would fancy playing Millwall in a packed Den.

“It is a difficult division. But if you have not got ambition, there is no point in taking part.

“We want to be strong and start well. There is always excitement around a derby on opening day, but they are saying exactly the same thing. We want to go and be reallycompetitive and do exactly what we have done in pre-season.

“If it comes off, great – but if it does not, we won’t get too agitated. It will be a tough game but we want to get a result.”

Rowett revealed at Tuesday’s fans forum he is looking for an attacker after revealing Mason Bennett (ankle) will be out six weeks to play in a front two or three or behind two strikers – “if it’s sensible and fits our perameters”.

Zian Flemming, of Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie was offered a move in the summer, he revealed.

“Unfortunately our values didn’t fit theirs,” he said.

Rowett reiterated his gratitude to chairman John Berylson, whose investment in the club since first joining the board in 2007 is close to £100million.

The manager said: “He has said all along he wants me to get the side I want as quickly as we can. George Saville and Benik Afobe were at the top of our target list and we got them. [chief executive] Steve Kavanagh and [head of recruitment] Harvey Bussell worked really hard but John helped us get them over the line. He has tried not to let the team suffer without the income from fans.

“Not many chairmen have maintained that mindset over the pandemic. It will be nice to get him and the fans back to The Den.”