Jamie O’Hara has cautioned Millwall that they may need to spend money to bring in extra quality players in order to reach the Championship play-offs this season.
After 18 games, the Lions sit third in the table and only two points away from immediate promotion.
Alex Neil’s side has had a solid start to the season, and they are looking to improve on their eighth-place finish last year.
Since returning to the Championship in 2017, the London club has finished eighth or ninth five times in the last eight seasons.
Millwall haven’t made the play-offs at this level since 2002, but they’ve finished in the top half of the table ten times since then.
Jamie O’Hara makes Millwall’s play-off claim.
O’Hara has stated that Millwall will need to add more talent to their squad in order to preserve their position in the Championship table, implying that their previous lack of significant action in January cost them.
He also feels Birmingham City and Ipswich Town will be in contention for a top-six finish, but he’d prefer to see the Lions advance to the play-offs and possibly a trip to Wembley Stadium.
“I’d love to see Millwall sneak in there,” O’Hara told Sky Sports.
“The issue with Millwall is if they can spend and sign some quality players in January. They always seem to muck things up.
“A lot of my family is Millwall fans, and they simply mess it up around the end of the season.
“I would want to see them do it.
“Hopefully they earn a play-off berth, and the fans can rally behind them to secure a trip to Wembley, and who knows?
“I’m still looking outside the playoffs.
“Maybe Birmingham City or Ipswich Town.”
“I’m looking at the form; I believe they’ve been in good form.
“They don’t lose very many games.
“If you look at them as a club and with Kieran McKenna, they will be there or thereabouts.”
Millwall has won nine of their first 18 games, including successive victories over Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday in their previous two.
Neil’s team missed out on a play-off spot by just two points in the previous season, earning 66 points from 46 games.
The Lions completed eight permanent acquisitions in the summer, including Caleb Taylor and Massimo Luongo, as well as the permanent arrival of Josh Coburn following their tight defeat, and three loan arrivals.
Millwall’s next match is against last season’s sixth-place finishers Bristol City, who are also sixth in the table, with the game scheduled for 3pm on December 6.
January business might be vital for Millwall’s promotion chances.
Millwall did well to strengthen their team over the summer, and they are currently reaping the benefits with a good first half of the season.
However, opponents will undoubtedly be active in the January market in order to close that gap, and the club will need to respond.
The winter window can be a difficult time to locate the proper possibilities in the market, and Millwall must resist spending simply for the fun of it, while still keeping an eye out for potential targets who can help their top six hopes.
The club has been so close to making the playoffs in prior years that another missed opportunity this season would be difficult to swallow.
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