Millwall midfielder Shaun Williams is certain that the Lions will reach the Premier League if they secure a play-off spot at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old scored his first league goal this year after heading home after 26 seconds in his side’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Den on Good Friday.

With Neil Harris’ men just a point off sixth-placed Middlesbrough heading into their away trip to Ipswich Town on Easter Monday, he believes the club’s chances are very high.

Williams told News Shopper: “I’ve said to anyone I’ve spoken to that if we make the play-offs, we will go up. If we’re at home first leg, we have that there [the Den] on a Friday afternoon, full house, I don’t see why not. It’s only in our favour at the minute and everyone is playing with pressure, we don’t. So it’s working in our favour.

“Teams invest heavily in their squad to make the playoffs, whereas we’re trying to stay in this division. Maybe we can get out of it the other way instead of going down.

“Nobody expected us to be here, everyone expected to be fighting relegation. We have the freedom, we don’t have the pressure, and it’s working in our favour at the minute. Hopefully we can keep pushing on.”

Should Millwall qualify then it will be their third consecutive playoff appearance under Harris since he took over from Ian Holloway in March 2015.

The Lions, who currently hold the second-longest unbeaten streak in the Championship behind Fulham at 13, could have a top six spot by Monday evening if they win and results go their way.

Meanwhile, fellow contenders Bristol City will also visit the Den the same week as well, on April 7, in the two sides’ reverse fixture following the 0-0 draw at Ashton Gate last August.

When asked about how much of Millwall’s success is down to the boss, Williams added: “He’s [Harris] been unbelievable. Literally he’s only been, what, two and a half years as a manager? He’s had two playoffs, a quarter-final in the FA Cup, and now he has a team that can potentially get into the [Championship] playoffs.

“So I don’t see why he hasn’t been touted for other jobs but hopefully he can stay here and can the club as far as he can. There have been plenty of teams who have had back-to-back promotions, like Norwich and Southampton.

“I don’t think a lot of people will be happy if we got to the Premier League but I know everyone out there will be absolutely buzzing.”