KENNY Jackett has conceded his Millwall side can consider themselves fortunate to pick up their first point of the campaign against Southend on Saturday.

Alex Revell capitalised on a bad mistake from Lions keeper David Forde to fire the Shrimpers in front after only six minutes and the Essex side always looked likely to defend their lead on a forgettable day of football at The Den.

However, right at the death, Ahmet Brkovic scrambled home an unlikely equaliser after Marc Laird's shot struck the woodwork and Southend keeper Steve Mildenhall's save from Paul Robinson's header landed kindly at the Croatian's feet.

Jackett said: "It was nice to get a late goal to make a difference. It is a start for us in terms of a point from a game which looked like it was slipping away.

"I didn't think it was a great performance. Our passing game never got off the ground and the game seemed to just stop and stop and stop.

"You sometimes get first halfs like that and in the second half it opens up a little bit with a bit of a flow, but we didn't seem to get a flow to the game."

He added: "I suppose that suits the side who are 1-0 up anyway to keep stopping us when they are in front.

"I'm looking at my squad and think they are capable. I think it is a very even division so I'm not asking them to do things we are not capable of doing.

"We would never settle for a point and I was looking for a win, but the way the second half was going with it stopping and starting, a point was welcome in the end."

The Lions chief also admitted Forde had been at fault for gifting the visitors their early advantage.

Jackett said: "From first impressions it just looked a mistake.

"He is a confident lad and I like a big keeper to come and get it as a general principle, so if he sees it and thinks he can do that then it is something we have lacked and I want to do.

"It isn't something we've necessarily talked about but his judgement was there.

"He thought the ball was there to be caught, he was up and above people and obviously made the mistake."

The manager added: "We probably had three good chances in the first half - Whitbread's header, Brkovic had a header earlier on and Dave Martin had a very good chance from a corner, which was probably the most clear cut one.

"We didn't create much in the second half whatsoever. I couldn't see many chances for Southend to be honest with you either.

"From our point of view, we can pass the ball and have a lot more ability to get the ball down on the floor and pass better than that."

Despite the disappointing display, Jackett said afterwards he did take the right tactical approach to the game even though Millwall fans were singing the name of Neil Harris long before he finally emerged from the bench after an hour to replace Lewis Grabban.

He explained: "I felt 4-4-2 was the right way to play and the most positive team selection with Kandol and Grabban starting, Alexander and Harris on the bench, our two wide men plus Hackett coming from deep.

"Neil Harris was unlucky not to get a penalty. It looks like he can get hold of the ball and start to bring people into play because we did need that link today and did lack it.

"I've got four forwards there who are in the driving seat in terms of the strike force for Millwall this season.

"We will see how they do and how it goes at the moment, but that is the team selection and I've used all four today at different times."