Alex Neil: Millwall head coach loving life at ‘proper football club’

Millwall face the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light on Saturday before a run in that includes visits to Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers and promotion-chasing Burnley on the final day of the season, as well as home games against Middlesbrough and Norwich City.

Neil said he does not see talk of a late play-off tilt as a distraction but said his team understood the task of a “very hard fixture list”.

“I don’t think that it makes any difference to me, if people want to talk about us being in the shake up for the play-offs then fine,” he said. “I hope they’re right!”

Neil came into the job just before the opening of the January transfer window, with fan favourite Romain Esse quickly sold to Crystal Palace.

Players including Tristan Crama, Aaron Connolly, Luke Cundle and Camiel Neghli were all brought in during a busy month for the south-east London club.