We must not let years of hard work go to waste, says Robins

Third-from-bottom Town tomorrow lunch-time face the first assignment in what Robins has labelled as a three-game season against visiting Millwall.

While the players are fully aware of what is at stake, Robins also wants some calm heads to come to the fore.

On numerous occasions this term, Town have followed a euphoric high with a bitter low, with their last six Championship victories accompanied by immediate defeats.

The latest came on Tuesday in a lacklustre 1-0 reverse at Blackburn, three days after a thrilling 3-1 win at another relegation-haunted rival in Wolves.

Town have not won back-to-back league matches since October and if they manage to achieve that in the next two games, it would go a long way towards securing the second-tier status the club have fought so fervently to achieve since being relegated from the Championship in 2001.

Town chief Robins, who feels tomorrow’s opponents Millwall are not in serious relegation danger, said: “There have been times where we have not put two results together, back-to-back.

“I think Peterborough and the Wolves games were the only times where we have looked like we would maybe do something and get the six points in two games.

“If it does not work out, it is going to be something you lament later on; certainly the players will.

“This is an opportunity for them to write their names in the history books for the right reasons by keeping this club in the Championship.

“You look back to last summer and I watched the League One play-off final and there was an unbelievable struggle in the 90 minutes and extra-time.

“It then went to penalties and Town came out on top after missing the first three so that struggle has got to be borne in mind by everybody.

“But we also need calm heads and players who are not going to worry about outcomes and are going to give their all for the shirt and maintain their heads and focus on the game.”

As well as their obligation to the fans, Robins insists his players owe it to chairman Dean Hoyle, who helped make the Championship dream happen for Town more than anyone else, to give everything they possess to help Town achieve survival at this level.

He added: “We owe everything to the supporters and the owner, who has backed the managers he has had and the club to the tune of a hell of a lot of money.

“Everybody owes him a debt of gratitude as well as the fans. We are all in it together. We want to be playing Championsip football and the supporters want to be watching it. For me, survival would be a start and we could get our teeth into making sure this year does not happen again.”

Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 12.30pm on police advice, with no extra security measures in place following last Saturday’s much-publicised outbreak of violence involving a section of Millwall fans at the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. The Lions’ support is expected to be minimal.