KENNY Jackett has denied Millwall prefer playing away from home after a dismal recent set of results at The Den.

Aside from a routine 5-0 FA Cup third round replay win over League Two strugglers Dagenham, the Lions have failed to win any of their other six home games in 2012.

It was a familiar story on Tuesday evening as Middlesbrough went home with the points after a 3-1 victory, with Jackett left fuming by his side’s first half display.

Millwall travel to Burnley on Saturday but even though their form on the road is much better of late, the manager doesn’t accept it suits his team to perform away from The Den.

Jackett said: “Of late we’ve been doing well away from home and we need to take the game to them.

“I don’t think it is the case that it suits us to play away from at the minute, I think it is just a coincidence.

“People have asked me is it the crowd, the pressure or the pitch but I don’t think that is the case, it has just happened that some good performances have come on our travels.

“We will be stressing the importance of starting the game well over the next couple of days.

“On Tuesday night we defended poorly, the back four were poor, in midfield we got closed down and didn’t pass it quick enough and up front we had an inability to get in behind the defence.

“We rectified that to some degree at half-time with a different approach, attitude and a couple of different personnel helped us.”

He added: “The goal before half-time was a lifeline and we wanted a big performance in the second half with a comeback, because at 2-1 down it was always possible.

“Unfortunately for all of the pressure, we couldn’t convert our chances or consistently get in behind a very resolute Middlesbrough defence and then on 85 minutes they got their third goal to seal the game.

“There were some good things to base it on but ultimately the bottom line is results.

“We need to analyse it and make sure we come out with the same kind of spirit we showed in the second half on Tuesday at Burnley.”

The introduction of Alan Dunne and Jimmy Abdou at the break on Tuesday produced an improvement from the whole team and Jackett acknowledged the duo were pushing for a start at Turf Moor.

“I’m sure they are,” the boss said.

“We will work with all of the players this morning and have a look because we’ve had a lot of games as well, so we have to make sure everybody is fit, available, looking good and wanting to work and put their body on the line for the cause.

“Over the next couple of days we will assess it so that the XI who do take the field, plus the five subs who I’m sure will be called upon at different times, are ready, willing and in tip top condition to play for Millwall.”

One man who will not be involved for the Lions is Steve Mildenhall, who missed out against Boro after a reoccurrence of his ankle injury.

Jackett added: “Steve Mildenhall will not be fit for the Burnley game as he is still recovering from an ankle problem.

“I don’t know exactly how long he will be out for, it may be next week.

“It is an ankle injury which has been troublesome over a couple of months now and after his last spell of treatment I said to the medical staff and the player ‘don’t come back and let it reoccur’, so I was disappointed that happened.

“He’d had probably 10 days training before the Bolton game where I felt he was right and OK.”

And one man who won’t be lining up for the Clarets is on loan Millwall striker Josh McQuoid, whose temporary spell in Lancashire is being closely observed by the Lions.

Jackett said: “My two scouts have been to watch every game.

“He has played wide left in a 4-4-2 formation, which is interesting.

“I did see the Reading game and he has got into a side which has been going well.

“That is good news for us.

“We have a 24 hour recall we can trigger now the first 28 days of the loan deal have passed if needs be.”

The Millwall boss also explained his decision to allow Shaun Batt and Chris Hackett to go out on loan to Crawley and Wycombe earlier this week.

Jackett added: “Shaun Batt came back and got a couple of games in the cup but I didn’t think he was quite up to full match fitness to start for us and that is the aim.

“The next best thing after bringing Andy Keogh in was to get Shaun out on loan to get some games, although he was an unused substitute in their game last night.

“We will assess it as we go and hopefully the loan will work out well for him by getting games and help his progress as a Millwall player.

“Chris Hackett is behind Liam Feeney and James Henry in the pecking order here so it has been tough for him.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt