JOE Rothwell says turning the Millwall fans will be key if Oxford United are going to come out on top at The Den today.

The home side are in the final Sky Bet League One play-off spot, but only a victory this afternoon will guarantee Neil Harris’s side go into the last game of the season next weekend in the top six.

An impressive unbeaten run in SE16 which stretches back to December has been key to the Lions’ promotion push.

Rothwell has experience of being a visiting player to Millwall when he was on loan at Barnsley last season.

And while the home fans have a reputation for creating an atmosphere which can intimidate, the midfielder knows the attention will shift to the Millwall players if the U’s can get on top.

He said: “Teams who have fans who try to get on the opposition’s back can also turn very quickly if you go there and play how we know we can.

“If we do that we know we can turn them.

“Having played there myself I know what it’s like, but you hear stories about it as well.

“You go there not thinking it’ll be as bad as people say, but when you get there you realise what people have been saying is true.

“It’s quite daunting walking out and getting booed straight away.

“A few of the lads haven’t played there before, so it might be a bit of a shock when they turn up and get some of the stick they’ll get off the fans.

“It is a horrible place to go, but it’s part and parcel of football.”

Millwall came from behind to win 2-1 at Oxford United in the reverse fixture last October.

The result still rankles with Rothwell and admits the thought of damaging their play-off challenge is an attractive one as the U’s look to finish the campaign as strongly as possible.

He said: “To go there and stop them getting into the top six would be nice.

“They beat us at our place so we want to go there and turn that round and get a bit of revenge.

“But also we want to spoil their party and we’ll definitely be going there to do that.”