KENNY Jackett insists Millwall’s play-off hopes remain intact despite losing their third league game on the bounce with a 1-0 home defeat to Hull City on Saturday.

Hull took the lead within 37 seconds of the kick-off when Tigers’ striker David Meyler pounced on a weak Mark Beevers back-pass to put his side ahead with a composed finish.

A resilient Millwall side worked hard to find a way back into the game, but a lack of conviction in front of goal proved costly with winger James Henry wasting their best chance by blasting over the bar from close range in the second half.

Reflecting on his team’s performance, Lions boss Jackett, said: “I felt we put a lot of pressure on a very good Hull team, we were unlucky to lose the game.

“They have a lot of quality in their side, and performance-wise I felt we did well barring finding the goal.

“We’ve not shown that energy or got that amount of crosses in for some weeks.

“There was a lot there for us to base on going forward.

“It just sums us up when James has gone through and quite clearly it’s sat up off the turf and he’s put it wide.

“There’s nothing he can do.”

Beevers’ defensive blunder ultimately cost Millwall the game, but Jackett remained sympathetic towards his centre back’s mistake.

The boss said: “He did apologise, but it is one mistake.

“He’s been very good since he’s been here. He has to put that behind him and move on and I thought he did that in the game.

“It didn’t knock him, it didn’t rock him and I thought he had a very steady game.”

It’s been a poor start to 2013 for Jackett’s men, picking up a meagre four points from a possible 15, with their last win coming at home to Bristol on New Year’s Day.

Despite his team’s poor league form, Jackett remains optimistic on their promotion prospects.

He said: “We’re still in there.

“Sixteen games to go is a lot of games.

“With a good run, and if we can put pressure on sides like we did today and find that finish, we’ll be a handful.

“We hope to bounce back, because we’ve lost now against Barnsley and Hull.

“But if we can go to Blackpool and show that type of energy and find some finishing we’ll be in there competing for the points and that’s where we need to be every game.”

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