MILLWALL boss Kenny Jackett is backing youngster Ashley Grimes to come good for the Lions in the second half of the campaign.

Grimes was a surprise omission from the 16 who beat Stockport 1-0 at The Den on Saturday after scoring in last week's FA Cup triumph at Chester and hitting both goals in the reserves' 2-0 midweek win over Charlton.

However, Jackett was keen to reassure Grimes he still had a role to play as title-chasing Millwall prepare to push on in their quest for promotion to the Championship.

The manager explained: "I'm pleased with Ashley. I've taken him from Manchester City and I'm not being unfair to anybody here because we've got some young players.

"But there are no young players who are necessarily pushing and pushing the fringes, doing well in the reserves, knocking on the door and every week with their performances in training and the reserves saying to myself as the manager: "Pick me".

"That has been the reason I've brought in some young players and I'm pleased to say Ashley is doing all of those things and that bodes well for the second half of the season for us.

"It would be nice if I could get some more young players who are bubbling underneath to supplement a strong first team, which is always the number one priority.

"If you can get some younger players that are hungry and competing and looking like they are going to be good enough in the future, then it gives the squad a nice balance."

And Jackett also stressed there was no alarming reason for the absence of on-loan striker Jermaine Easter from the bench on Saturday.

He added: "I decided to go with only one centre forward today on the bench.

"Usually sometimes the preference can be for two, but I went with Gary and Dave as the attacking chances if you like.

"I felt I needed the security of a central midfield player and a full-back on the bench to be able to cover eventualities and perhaps injuries.

"My selection in terms of substitutes was quite conservative because generally you do have two centre forwards."

Jackett's choice of substitutions certainly did work on Saturday afternoon as the winning goal came courtesy of a player who emerged from the bench, Dave Martin who struck the 74th minute winner from a free-kick.

The manager was keen to praise Martin afterwards and the way he converted the free-kick, which sailed below the jumping Stockport wall before flying into the back of the net.

Jackett said: "He has an ability to hit a ball and hit a ball hard as we've seen in his short time at The Den.

"If you hit the ball hard and hit it on target, percentage wise you can't plan to hit a ball like that. A lot of times they hit the wall and come out.

"Shooting is percentages, you need a clean strike and you need to work the goalkeeper. If you keep doing those things, then one of them goes in."

Not for the first time this season Millwall looked a much better side in the second half as opposed to the opening period at home.

Stockport should have gone in front on eight minutes when Anthony Pilkington hit the bar with a long drive on eight minutes.

The Lions became stronger as the contest wore on and probably deserved victory in the end, a result which puts them within a point of leaders Scunthorpe.

Jackett said: "I felt generally in the game, the first half was maybe 50-50.

"There was a great save by their keeper from the Laird header and they've hit the bar before that.

"But going into the second half, I felt we got on top of possession and had quite a number of chances.

"Once we got the goal, it would have been nice to have got the second for which we had numerous opportunities and shots on target. But in the end, it was a terrific clean sheet.

"You have got to perhaps question some of the refereeing decisions where the ball was continually coming in towards our box for which against a team of that size you have to compete.

"I felt we did and didn't think we competed unfairly, but it resulted in quite a number of free-kicks against us which almost doubled the balls into our box, so I'm pleased to say we coped with it very well."

Jackett added: "I've seen Stockport before and they are well-organised. You can't argue with being unbeaten away from home and after their promotion last year, they are playing with no fear in this division.

"They have a good points total so far and look like one of the sides who will be in there and aiming for the top six places.

"I've got a lot of respect for them and didn't ever think it would be an easy game.

"We needed to perhaps go earlier and play earlier but it is easier said than done. For the level and standard we are at, it looked like two decent teams out there."