Millwall boss Kenny Jackett was delighted after Friday night’s 2-0 win over Barnsley in a game which saw two new players make their debuts.
The Lions wrapped up victory with a pair of goals in the first half on a bitterly cold night, where Darren Purse and Craig Eastmond staked a claim in the starting XI.
Jackett said: “It was a good win after the Leicester defeat.
“It wasn't like a normal Millwall game.
“We just seemed to go a bit flat after the two goals but we saw the game through.”
Jackett was forced to play another new defensive pairing in Purse and Tamika Mkandawire but the boss was just happy not to receive any new injuries.
“We’ve had a lot of central defensive partnerships during the course of the season,” he added.
“It would be nice to settle the side down now.”
Jackett also believes former Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City defender Purse will be vital in his quest to achieve success this season.
The boss said: “He brings experience and he talks very well.
“He’s strong in his heading and can organise, so between now and the end of the season I’m sure he’s going to bring those qualities to the club.”
Arsenal youngster Eastmond started in central midfield and Jackett hopes he will give him extra options until May.
“I like Craig, he’s competitive and a good passer,” the manager explained.
“He will fit in very well but he gives us options and gives me flexibility to do different things tactically with the likes of Mkandawire and Liam Trotter.”
Another new addition to the squad is former Watford and Fulham player Hameur Bouazza and Jackett thinks he will bring extra quality going forward.
“I’ve taken him until the end of the season,” he said. “I think he is going to add some pace and power down our left side and some competition for us.
“He can play a number of roles and being left-footed, he gives us a compliment in our squad.
“Bouazza has a knee injury at the moment which will take him a week or two to get over over but we had to make the decision to take him before the transfer window closed.
“We’re pleased to bring him in and get him back to full fitness.”
Jackett also denied the arrival of Bouazza signalled the end of Millwall’s interest in Southampton winger Jason Puncheon.
He said: “We will keep our eye on Jason.
“We haven’t been able to match Southampton’s valuation, which we respect, but we couldn’t wait as we needed the players in, so that’s why we brought Hameur in.”
The boss is also very hopeful of keeping strike ace Steve Morison and revealed contract talks are ongoing.
“We’ve definitely spoken to him and we've been in negotiations,” added Jackett.
On his side’s progress so far back in the Championship, Jackett is keeping a cool head and is looking for a gradual rise.
He said: “We have to make sure we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves.
“Looking at the big picture, we’ve had a very disrupted team over the past couple of weeks and I really want to have some competition for places back in again.
“If we’re still in there with a chance of promotion come March, then maybe we can start pointing in the right direction but our progress is good.”
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