Assombalonga wary of Millwall threat as Boro chase teatime win to clinch play-off spot

Boro striker Britt Assombalonga (right)) battles against Sunderland's Marc Wilson earlier this season. Picture by Frank Reid

Boro will guarantee a place in the end-of-season play-offs if they can beat Neil Harris’s Lions in their penultimate match of the season.

Millwall’s brilliant recent run has taken them to seventh place, two points behind Derby in the final play-off spot, and three behind Tony Pulis’s Boro.

Assombalonga expects a real battle for the Teessiders, having first-hand knowledge of Harris’s ability.

“I played with their manager Neil Harris when I was at Southend,” the Boro striker told mfc.co.uk.

“I know what he’s about – making sure everyone’s right up for the game, and working hard.

“They are going to come at us in the same way they did when we played them at their place.

“They’ll be giving their all and I’m not going to expect anything less.”

The home fans will have a key role, believes Assombalonga, who has netted 14 times for Boro since joining last summer.

“They can play a massive part,” he added. “You saw that at Derby (in last weekend’s 2-1 win) – they just kept singing and singing.

“We’re going to really need them again for the Millwall game again – it’s a big one for everyone.”

Millwall are eager to battle back from a first defeat in 18 games against Fulham last weekend, says striker Steve Morison.

The experienced forward told millwallfc.co.uk: “We’ve got together this week and put things into perspective. We’re on 69 points and we’ve had a fantastic season.

“With two games to go there’s still something to play for. It’s not all doom and gloom.”

On the crunch Boro clash, he added: “It can work one or two ways. If Derby lose (at Aston Villa) it becomes imperative we win. If they lose the pressure comes back on us then, because if we win it puts ourselves back in the play-off places.

“There’s lack of pressure from outside, but obviously we’ve put on ourselves because we’re in touching distance now and we all want to be there.

“Hopefully we can finish it off with an appearance in the play-offs, but all we can focus on at the minute is concentrate on beating Middlesbrough.”