KENNY Jackett was pleased to see his Millwall side overcome a potentially difficult FA Cup first round tie against south London rivals AFC Wimbledon with a 4-1 win at The Den last night.

New world heavyweight world champion and Lions fan David Haye was in the stands following his defeat of the gigantic Russian Nickolai Valuev in Germany on Saturday night.

But non-league visitors Wimbledon were unable to re-create his giant-killing feat.

Backed by more than 3,000 travelling fans, AFC did frustrate their hosts in the first half and could even have taken the lead if former Welling ace Danny Kedwell had not scuffed his shot wide when unmarked six yards from goal.

But the Conference Premier team were made to pay for wasting this glorious chance when Neil Harris latched onto Steve Morison’s lobbed pass on 49 minutes to blast in the Lions ahead.

Millwall doubled their tally when sub Jason Price pounced onto Brett Johnson’s goal-line clearance to slide in the second on 72 minutes, after Dons keeper James Pullen had pulled off two fantastic saves to keep out Jimmy Abdou and Tony Craig.

Lewis Taylor did respond for the visitors, cutting in from the left before firing into the far corner.

But as Wimbledon went in search of a dramatic leveller, Danny Schofield broke clear and curled in a magnificent third from the edge of the box with 10 minutes to play.

And the winger created the Lions fourth and final goal, teeing up Price to cap a lightening quick counter-attack with his second of the night on 86 minutes.

However, the score made the victory seem more comfortable than it really was and Jackett said after the game he had been expecting a real test from the Dons.

“This was a potential banana skin for us,” explained the Lions boss.

“AFC Wimbledon are playing without any fear at the moment off the back of a couple of very successful seasons and it was a cup final for them tonight.

“So it was a good performance from our players - a professional one – and we did well to overcome a different type of challenge to the one we are normally faced with in terms of the expectation level.

“I thought 0-0 was a good score for us at half-time because I didn’t want them to have anything to hang on to.

“Of course the first goal was crucial and we did well to get that, but even at 2-0 they kept going, so I was pleased to get the goals at the end to kill them off.”

Jackett’s side will now face a trip to Staines and the manager is hoping his side can progress to a potentially lucrative tie in the third round when the Championship and Premier League sides enter the tournament.

“The aim for us is to get into round three,” he said.

“Then you have the potential for some big draws. The opportunity is there for us and if we get there we know what the third round can brings us.

“We’ve had some good games in my time at the club. We went away to Premier League Hull last year and this year we played Premier League West Ham in the Carling Cup.

“It’s obviously brilliant revenue, but it’s brilliant for the players to play in those games and terrific for the supporters.”

Jackett, who won the October manager of the month award, admitted he was also pleased to shake off the curse associated with the accolade after suffering a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of MK Dons last season after taking the prize.

“You beat Leeds, you beat Colchester, you win the manger of the month award and you know what’s coming,” he joked.

But the Lions avoided a slip-up and Jackett was also pleased to see Haye at the game, who received a standing ovation from both sets of fans at half-time.

He added: “David’s a Bermondsey boy and myself and the players congratulate him on his victory. We were pleased he came down to see the game.”