The Championship run-in: 24 key questions for 24 clubs

Chris Peddy, BBC Sport England, London & South East

Eleven minutes into the final game of last season, Millwall were sitting pretty in the top six with a 1-0 lead away at already-promoted Burnley thanks to Mihailo Ivanovic’s early goal.

But Josh Brownhill’s equaliser just two minutes later set the Clarets on the way to a 3-1 win, which resulted in the Lions finishing eighth in the table and two points off the play-off spots, having started the day just outside the top six on goal difference.

Two seasons before they were even closer, shut out by a single point under Gary Rowett – having come ninth the year prior to that.

This term, under Alex Neil, the chance to go not just one better, but several places more than that, is firmly within their grasp.

Having spent much of the season in the hunt for automatic promotion, Millwall sit fourth on 69 points, two behind second-placed Middlesbrough, with seven games remaining.

Win at Boro in Friday’s lunchtime kick-off and they will jump up to second before Ipswich Town play on Monday, although the Tractor Boys would have two games in hand.

After their trip to the Riverside, the run-in looks agreeable for Neil and his side.

Just two sides, Norwich City (10th) and Queens Park Rangers (12th) of the six they will face are currently in the top half, and they welcome both to The Den.

They will close out the season against relegation-battling Leicester City (away) before hosting Oxford United at home on the last day.

Millwall face a big challenge to secure a top-two finish against clubs who have both been there and done it recently, as well as having scored more and conceded less goals this season.

But a place in the top six and chance to get to Wembley has become a genuine expectation rather than hope.

Two seasons ago under Neil Harris, Millwall were outsiders for the play-offs on that day up at Turf Moor, they would love to have it sewn up by the time Oxford visit south east London on 2 May.