Millwall boss Alex Neil toasted one of the best performances since he took over after they roared back into the Championship play-off race with a 3-1 over Norwich at The Den.
The Lions’ top-six hopes looked to have been dealt a fatal blow when they were thumped 4-1 at Blackburn on Friday.
But Mihailo Ivanovic’s double and Femi Azeez’s goal – coupled with the four teams above them all slipping up – leaves Millwall just three points off sixth-placed Coventry with two matches to go.
“Every time we’ve suffered a setback the response has been emphatic and I thought today that was one of our best performances,” said Neil, who took over from Neil Harris in December.
“We were the dominant team throughout the match and Norwich are a good side who carry a threat and we had to deal with that.
“We’ve had loads of injuries to contend with but we’ve dusted ourselves down and got on with it.”
The Lions host Swansea next weekend before a trip to Burnley on the final day of the season.
“You can say a lot’s got to happen but a lot happened today,” added Neil.
“We’ve got to win the next game and take it to the final game. Stranger things have happened in football.”
Ivanovic opened the scoring with Millwall’s first attack after eight minutes, guiding home Azeez’s low cross at the far post.
Azeez doubled the lead in the 39th minute when he glanced in a George Saville free-kick but Norwich grabbed a lifeline on the stroke of half-time through Shane Duffy’s header.
However, Millwall dominated the second half – Neil admitted he told the players about the scores elsewhere at half-time – and were rewarded in the 69th minute when Ivanovic got his head to a Saville corner.
In-form Serbian striker Ivanovic has now scored six goals in his last seven matches.
“He’s grown as a player, his movement in the box has improved hugely,” said Neil.
“He’s come in from another country, it’s his first season at this level, and 12 goals in total is a remarkable achievement.”
Norwich have endured a disappointing campaign and a run of just one win from their last 10 matches has put them on course for their lowest Championship finish since they were relegated to League One 16 years ago.
Their players were met with a mixed reception, to say the least, when they went to applaud the away supporters after another limp display.
Head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup said: “We had a great start but then conceded with the first half-chance of the game and then there is pressure.
“There were some good things for us. We had opportunities. There were moments but not enough.
“We are struggling and finding things difficult at the moment and I can promise we will do everything we can.”
