Jackett: Don’t blame Cup for slump

Impressive run to quarter-final coincides with a collapse in the League but Millwall manager denies that the two are linked

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Kenny Jackett, Manager of Millwall looks on prior to kick off during the npower Championship match between Millwall and Leicester City at The Den on December 15, 2012 in London, England.

Jan Kruger/Getty

Giuseppe Muro

20 February 2013

Millwall 1-5 Peterborough

Kenny Jackett claims Millwall’s FA Cup exploits are not affecting League form despite taking just one point from a possible 18 during their run to the quarter-finals.

Last night’s heavy defeat leaves Jackett’s side without a win in the Championship since their third-round victory on January 5.

Back then, Millwall were only outside the play-offs on goal difference but five consecutive League defeats leave them closer to the relegation zone than the top six.

The Lions have beaten Preston, Aston Villa and Luton on their way to a first FA Cup quarter-final in nine years and host Blackburn for a place at Wembley on March 9.

But Jackett’s immediate concern is arresting the worst run of form since he took over in 2007, starting with Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough.

Jackett said: “The FA Cup is a long way away and the League is the main thing for us. Everybody has to realise that. This has run alongside a very good Cup run but I don’t think the two are connected. Saturday cannot come quickly enough because we have to react positively. We have got two tough away games now with Middlesbrough and Leeds so it is important we face up with what we have to do.”

Danny Shittu will have his ankle injury assessed today and Jackett (above) is hopeful he will be fit for the trip to the Riverside. The captain has also been suffering from flu this week but was due back at the club’s training ground this morning after missing last night’s defeat.

Jackett said: “I think Danny will be okay by the weekend but we will have to see how today and tomorrow goes. He’s been a key player for us at the back so far this season.”

Millwall certainly missed Shittu and will be without suspended Shane Lowry against Middlesbrough after the defender was sent off for a foul on Dwight Gayle with Peterborough already 4-1 up.

Jackett said: “We had nowhere near enough defensive awareness as a team to keep them out and the distribution of our players was poor when we were looking to get back into the game.”

Last night was Millwall’s first home game since a Sky Sports News report appeared to show Leeds striker El Hadji Diouf being racially abused at The Den in November.

Writing in the programme, chairman John Berylson said the club will carry on their work to stamp out racism but poured cold water on parts of the Sky investigation.

“We will continue to play our part in tackling the issue of racism as we have been at the forefront of doing for many years,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, as a predecessor of mine once famously said: ‘Millwall is a convenient coatpeg for football to hang its social ills on’.

“It is hard to credit that an in-depth, three month investigation into racism in football from the Premier League to non-League, only managed to come up with two examples at Millwall and Burnley. No evidence of racism at any of the 20 Premier League clubs with the huge numbers who attend those matches beggars belief doesn’t it?”

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