MILLWALL goalkeeper David Forde reminded the squad after last weekend’s defeat to Gillingham of the mountain he and his team-mates successfully scaled in 2009-10 to seal promotion.
The 3-0 reverse against Justin Edinburgh’s side leaves the Lions 11th in Sky Bet League One, three points behind Peterborough in sixth but with a game in hand.
Millwall drew 4-4 with Charlton and then lost 2-0 to Norwich on consecutive Saturdays straddling Christmas Day in 2009, results that left them in eighth place in the table, two points of the play-off spots.
Neil Harris’s side get the chance to make up for the disappointing result against the Gills next Saturday when they take on second-placed Walsall at The Den.
Forde admitted Millwall were “sloppy” against Gillingham but he insists it’s still all to play for in the promotion race.
“I’ve been in this position where we were 20 points behind (first-placed) Leeds on Boxing Day and we got promoted, so there’s still lost and lots of football to play,” he said. “We’ll concentrate on the positives, I think there were a lot of positives in the second half. We were a bit sloppy starting off in the first half but at least we showed some determination and a bit of Millwall spirit to keep us in the game.
“It’s still very positive, you know, we’re still in a very competitive position in the league and we’ve just got to get over this tough, difficult period over the Christmas and give ourselves a fighting chance.”
“The lads are very professional, a good outfit. We’re right behind each other, behind the manager. We’re close-knit and we know it’s going to be a marathon and not a sprint.
“We’ve just got to keep focussing now and put that one behind us. Unfortunately we lost at home in a derby, and personally for myself it’s been a while since that’s been the case, we usually come out on top in those games.
“We just need to focus now on the next home game against Walsall, that’s a big game on Boxing Day.”
Meanwhile, Forde, a 27th-minute replacement for the red-carded Jordan Archer last weekend, took time afterwards to pay tribute to former Millwall midfielder Josh Wright.
Wright’s grandmother died just days before the game and he was involved in a verbal altercation with a small section of home supporters close to the end of the contest.
“I have to commend him on a good performance after the bereavement of his grandmother,” Forde said. “We passed on our condolences to him earlier on. It must have been difficult for him and fair play to him for stepping out against his former club, it mustn’t have been easy.”