Millwall (A) Nancekivell's Preview
Argyle head to Millwall on Saturday for the penultimate game of the Sky Bet Championship season, and although the last few months have been far from smooth sailing, an important fact remains: The Pilgrims’ fate remains their own.
Several teams are still competing to ensure that they finish the season with their heads about the dreaded dotted line that signals relegation, but Argyle know that if they win both of their remaining games of the league campaign, they will be safe.
It is a situation easier said than achieved, of course. Before attention even comes close to turning to the season’s final game, against Hull City, Argyle must navigate a trip to South London, where they will face a Millwall side, managed by Neil Harris, that have hauled their way out of relegation danger, including three successive wins.
Argyle had a run of their own – three unbeaten games, culminating with a win over Leicester City – before a 3-0 loss at Stoke City last week. That defeat was a setback, but first-team Kevin Nancekivell remains upbeat before the trip to the capital.
“If you'd have said that with two games to go [things would be in our hands] we'd have been delighted,” he said.
“We know what we've got to do. We've had a good week preparing for it, and we're looking forward to it.
“The adrenaline, the emotion of the Leicester game - we didn't replicate that when we played Stoke last week, so we want to put that right, and see if we can get closer to the Leicester performance than the Stoke one.
“I don't think anyone can question the lads’ character. They've shown that, season after season, and game after game this season, so that won't be in question. We'll make sure that they're up for it and they're ready for it, which they are.
“We’ve got to make sure we control our emotions and put all our effort and energy into getting the points.
“If we get three points, that might not be us done anyway, so we can't look at it like that. We just want to win the next game.
“We're expecting a really tough game, a full house, backed by our supporters, which will be a fantastic atmosphere again, like they were last week at Stoke. We just want to repay them, and get three points, or something to come back with.
“Knowing Neil and his team, the way Millwall play, I don't think it’s in their culture or in their environment to do anything but what they do.”
There will be another sold-out away end at The Den, with 2,000 of the Green Army behind the team. There likely would have been more if allowed, but Nancekivell is convinced the travelling contingent will make the noise of many more, and he is keen to thank the supporters in the best way – with points.
“The noise when we came out at Stoke, they were at our end. As we came out of the tunnel, our supporters were right there and the noise was really, really loud,” said Nancekivell.
“It was fantastic, but we let them down. We know we let them down. We didn't give them the performance that we wanted to give. It wasn't because we didn't care, or we didn't try. It just didn't happen on the day, so we're desperate to put that right.
“I know that the supporters will be shouting as loud as they were at Stoke, so I haven't got to ask them to do that because I know they will. Hopefully we can repay them this time.
“All I can say is it won't be for a lack of effort, desire, energy, enthusiasm and passion that will try to get us across the line, and keep us in the Championship. I can promise everybody that what will be, will be after that, but it won't be for the lack of trying. I can promise you that.”
