Jackett questions why Millwall didn't get penalty at Leeds (From News Shopper)

Leeds 1-0 Millwall

11:16am Monday 4th March 2013 in Sport

By Sam Brown, Lions Live presenter

MILLWALL manager Kenny Jackett was unhappy his side were not awarded a penalty as they went down narrowly at Leeds United on Saturday.

The home side were awarded two spot-kicks and although David Forde spectacularly denied Ross McCormack earlier in the game, Stephen Warnock made no mistake 18 minutes from time.

But the Lions were denied one of their own when the ball cannoned off Sam Byram’s arm.

Jackett said: “It was a clear penalty, a clear handball.

“The player’s arm, I think the right-back, is by the side of him.

“There was a Millwall player waiting right behind to put the ball in back of the net.

“The last two weeks we should have had penalties.

“Benik Afobe was fouled in injury time (at Middlesbrough) and it was a clear penalty, but it didn’t end up mattering with the result.

“Today was a big one.

“I didn’t complain or have any issues about the ref giving two penalties for Leeds but it was a clear one for us.”

Millwall had a number of chances early in the game to take the lead.

Martyn Woolford tested Leeds keeper Paddy Kenny with two volleys early on, while in-form James Henry, who has found the net three times in the last five games, missed a glaring opportunity as he hit the post from six yards.

And Jackett regretted those missed chances at full-time.

He added: “It is frustrating, it’s always a big frustration to lose.

“We negated a lot of what Leeds had to offer today and had big chances ourselves.”

Henry’s match ended on a sour note as the winger was stretchered off in the latter stages of the game after coming together with Warnock, but like a ‘real Wall’ player, he returned to the pitch for the last five minutes.

Jackett said: “James has stud marks all down his shin and in his knee.

“It’s really bad, he has done well to carry on, it could have been a broken leg.

“It is very cut up and very sore.

“Overall he will be OK, it could have been a lot worse.

“How it will affect him this week we don’t know.”

George Saville, who joined the club from Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season, made his debut as an 84th minute substitute for Josh Wright in a bid to help salvage a point.

Jackett said: “He is a young player who we have taken on for the next couple of months when we have a lot of games.

“We will see how he does, he is a very competitive central midfield player.

“He gives us options on the left side as well, as he has a very strong left foot.

“He is 19 and it is his first loan and it will be very interesting to see how he develops over the next few months.”

Liam Trotter was not included in the squad to face Leeds after he was on the bench for the 2-1 win at Middlesbrough, the first time in a long time the midfielder hasn’t been involved when fit.

Jackett explained: “He wasn’t selected, I felt that after the Peterborough game there was number of changes I could have made and I wanted to look at different combinations I can assess.

“In probably three years it’s the first time Liam has been left out.

“After the Peterborough game it could have been any number of people or combinations really, we needed to improve.

“My overall view is he will come back and come back stronger.”

The Lions return to The Den tomorrow evening to face surprise relegation candidates Wolves and after two trips on the road, the Lions boss wants his players to focus on bouncing back from the defeat at Leeds.

He said: “To some degree we’ve had two good away performances in Middlesbrough and Leeds.

“We have not had the rub of green today with the decisions but we will go back to The Den and the players will need to focus very quickly on playing at home.”

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