Familiar frustration for Jackett after Watford loss (From News Shopper)

Familiar frustration for Jackett after Watford loss

12:49pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Millwall By Alex Martin

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett admitted his side lacked a cutting edge in the wake of their latest home defeat to Watford last night.

The Lions were playing their first Championship game at home since the 6-0 drubbing by Birmingham and the crowd were hoping for a vastly improved performance after a recent mini-revival.

But it wasn’t to be and Watford ran out 2-0 winners on a night when Millwall never seemed to get going.

Jackett said: “It was a flat game for us, especially for a home side.

“It was always going to be a tight game but we conceded two poor goals. We didn’t take the game to them and we didn’t do enough.

“We had no one who looked to get hold of the ball and go past someone.

“Liam Feeney beat the left-back maybe once or twice, but generally we didn’t have anybody.”

It didn't help Millwall’s cause that Watford keeper Scott Loach was able to produce some fine stops when called upon.

The England U21 international made an instinctive point-blank save in the first half after the ball fell to Liam Trotter just outside the six-yard box.

And Loach also made a smart save from Darius Henderson’s penalty in the 90th minute to keep his clean sheet firmly intact.

“Watford’s defence played very well,” Jackett said.

“When we did have opportunities, the keeper made some good saves.

“The back four got wide when they needed to and defended crosses very well.”

Millwall struggled to deal with the powerful presence of Troy Deeney up front for the Hornets and he always looked like breaking down a defence lacking in confidence.

It was slack defending which gave Deeney the chance to shoot in the 35th minute, an opportunity he converted to put his side in front.

The second Watford goal involved Lloyd Doyley cutting into the box before a scramble saw the ball fall to Joe Garner, who slotted into an open net.

On the goals, Jackett said: “Troy Deeney was a handful, he had other opportunities even before he scored.

“It was the second goal I was very disappointed with.

“Doyley has made a run from left-back and got inside three of our players.”

With a derby date at West Ham next up, Jackett wants his team to put this poor display behind them.

He said: “We have to get over this quickly.

“We have to improve because West Ham is a London derby and it's a massive game for the club.”

On a brighter note, Jackett explained why he snapped up striker Andy Keogh from Wolves on a two-and-a-half year deal and Lennard Sowah, who has been brought in on loan from Hamburg.

The boss said: “We’re very pleased to have Andy Keogh.

“He’s an experienced Championship striker and we’ve needed options in that position.

“Sowah is a young left-back previously of Portsmouth and Arsenal.

“He has a very athletic look about him and it’ll be very interesting to see how he can transmit that to the English game.

“More options will help us, there’s no doubt about that, but we hope to have a few options for Saturday with one or two back from injury.

“Also, the players who played tonight can play better.”

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