MILLWALL boss Kenny Jackett believes it will be harder than ever to reach the League One play-offs this year because of the number of quality sides in the division.

Last season’s beaten play-off finalists have picked up six wins in their last seven to be within two points of the top six.

The recent run has even led to hopes of a late surge on the automatic promotion spots, but Jackett is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

He said: “Coming up to March now, it is a tall order.

“It’s not impossible and these things can happen but more realistically it looks like the play-offs are our aim.

“But you keep going because you never know and you try and aim for things.

“If you don’t break it down into a short-term scenario, that long-term one is pie in the sky.

“Let’s try and beat Hartlepool and move on.

“The standard is very high this year because it’s a very good league.

“I would think to get sixth spot would require more than 80 points this season.

“Generally 75 or 76 would get you in the play-offs usually but I don't think this will be enough this year.”

The Lions are at home to Hartlepool on Saturday and the hosts will not require any extra motivation after suffering a drubbing in the north east in early December.

Jackett added: “Hartlepool are a good ball playing side and they have beaten us 3-0 already.

“It was a deserved victory and we do owe them one.

“Fair play to them and they deserved to win.

“It was a low performance which I have just watched again and it didn't get any better, but we must learn from it.”