WILL Smallbone expects “twists and turns” as play-off-chasing Millwall head into the run-in.
The Lions are on the cusp of a top-six finish after a strong run of form, winning seven of their last ten to climb to fourth.
With eight games left in the season, Smallbone urged the squad to take it one game at a time.
“That is the old cliché, but it is eight cup finals,” Smallbone told NewsAtDen. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing.
“There’s a case that you can make for every game being tougher than the next one because of X, Y, and Z. Some teams are going to be fighting to stay up, other teams are going to be fighting to go up, and other teams their seasons are perceived to be over from the outside, but they’ve obviously got that freedom of just playing without any added pressure.
“It’s important for us to focus on ourselves. The gaffer has been very vocal about just focusing on ourselves, everything else will take care of itself.”
The midfielder knows what it takes to succeed at the level, having been a key first-team member of the 2023-24 Southampton side that were promoted via the play-offs.
Asked what advice he would give to team-mates yet to experience a promotion run-in, Smallbone said: “There are going to be lots of twists and turns – results that you don’t expect to happen. The main thing is just to focus on ourselves and treat each game as it comes – every game is as important as the next one.
“Keep on focusing and on a straight line. The league table’s going to be the league table after 46 games. Doesn’t matter where you are after 39, 40 [games].”
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Smallbone had a promising start to his Millwall career after signing on loan from the Saints on deadline day, starting three games before a hamstring injury ruled him out until earlier this month.
Since his return, he has made three substitute appearances and hopes to have an impact in the final two months of the season.
“Unfortunately, it was a tough time with the injury,” Smallbone said. “But I’ve really enjoyed the past week being back and bedding back into some good games and coming off the bench.
“Personally, I want to kick on and try to help the team as much as possible over the next eight games to make up for lost time.”
