Different protagonists but the same breathless scramble. Gary Rowett struck a chord when, asked whether the Championship’s essence had changed in almost a decade of guiding some of its contenders towards the run-in, he alighted on the perfect descriptor. “It’s pretty much the same,” the Millwall manager began. “You get a lot of different nationalities, styles, different ways people run their clubs. But ultimately ‘carnage’ is probably the one consistent word I would use.”
Rowett has taken Millwall through 41 games of what, for most behind the runaway leaders Burnley, has been the standard rollercoaster ride. They are fifth and holding on in a chase for top-six spots that have come to resemble the hottest of potatoes. The Lions have won only once in their past five games; incredibly that goes for every side between fifth and 13th, except one.
Preston are the outliers. Their form is, by contrast, red hot and they are the opponents Millwall must subdue at The Den on Saturday. Ryan Lowe’s team are behind their hosts, and a place outside the playoffs, only on goal difference; they have taken 15 points from their past available 18 and, in the Everton loanee Tom Cannon, have a forward in exceptional nick.
It may prove a decisive afternoon for both clubs’ seasons. “We need to put in a big performance against a very good side in very good form,” Rowett said. “But at this stage of the season I don’t necessarily think form matters that much. It’s about who can get the job done.”
Given Millwall have drawn blanks in their past four games, albeit while creating openings and by Rowett’s estimation being the better side each time, a wiping-clean of the slate looks sensible. Their progress under Rowett has been steady; two of his previous three campaigns have brought playoff pushes and, if they make it, it will be their first appearance on that stage since 2002. Millwall were last a top-flight club in 1990 and the opportunity in store is tantalising. It is no wonder they, and those around them, are feeling the pressure.
“I think it’s inevitable,” Rowett said of the stuttering pack. “It’s usual at this stage in the season for clubs in the bottom six to pick up as many points as those fighting at the top. Nothing comes easy and we’re used to that at Millwall. We’ll have to fight, scrap and try to get in there. I’m confident we can do enough if we start finishing our chances.”
The dash for those four playoff berths has, to date, given the lie to notions that wealth and parachute payments offer a failsafe key to promotion. Luton, temporarily down to fourth after Middlesbrough’s win over Norwich, proved last season that being unglamorous is no barrier to heaving oneself into the mix and have doubled down this time. Millwall were able to add quality last summer, including the outstanding Dutch No 10 Zian Flemming, but are hardly sitting on a pot of gold. The same goes for Preston, who are seeing careful stewardship reap rewards.
“If you haven’t got the resources you have to do what the likes of us, Preston and Luton have tried to,” Rowett said. “Incrementally building a good structure and having a club where everyone pulls in the same direction: a clear strategy, a clear focus and trying to take those baby steps. At this stage of the season, maybe none of us have lots of those individuals who can just turn a game on a knife-edge so we have to work incredibly hard to get those last little bits. In the Championship continuity and consistency are not things that come along very often and I think our clubs have benefited from that.”
Will modesty have prevailed when the music stops? Anyone above Watford, six points adrift in 12th, can probably be counted as genuine contenders. They, like eighth-placed Norwich and West Brom in 11th, can feel their Premier League yo-yo becoming decidedly less elastic. Poor decisions by the three clubs during, and since, their most recent attempts to stay at the top tier may well mean they stay down and face uncertain futures. But perhaps this is the time of year where a Teemu Pukki, or in extraordinary circumstances an Ismaïla Sarr, justifies Rowett’s fears about proven matchwinners.
There is fine work being performed elsewhere in a pack whose sheer diversity excites. Middlesbrough have had to wait for their moment but, fired by Chuba Akpom’s goals and the astute management of Michael Carrick, are all but assured of their place in the shake-up after their convincing win over Norwich. Jon Dahl Tomasson and Mark Robins have cut through the years of chaos at Blackburn and Coventry to stand on the brink of success; if the latter can bridge a three-point gap and steer his side home it would be as fine an achievement as any throughout the leagues. Tony Mowbray has weathered injuries and ensured Sunderland, using the momentum of last season’s promotion, are not out of contention.
It will be a test of nerve and Rowett hopes his experience can help at an expectant Millwall, who neared a sell-out in their last home game with Luton. “I was at Derby [in 2018] with six games to go and we lost three on the spin, all hell broke loose, but we had enough to make the playoffs in the end,” he said. “I’ve been here many times before. It doesn’t necessarily make it easier to get in there but I think it at least allows you to know what’s in front of you.” A certain word springs instantly to mind.
