Jones hails 'outstanding' Brown

Jones hails 'outstanding' Brown

Published Apr. 25, 2013 9:15 a.m. ET

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett has called on his players to lift themselves for Saturday's visit of Nottingham Forest.

The Lions' run to the FA Cup semi-final has left them with a fixture backlog but they are still not safe from relegation following back-to-back defeats.

However Jackett, whose preparations have been hampered by a suspension for skipper Danny Shittu, is confident his tiring squad can stagger over the line to safety.

"We've had a busier schedule than any club in the country and we are losing games by very thin dividing lines," said Jackett.

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"It's a stretch at the moment with injuries and suspension but the players are giving everything, and they have to keep giving everything in order to get us over the line. My players don't lack commitment or effort.

"On Saturday we'll come out with some freshness and enthusiasm and hopefully add to our points tally. We are not a million miles from the line and it has to be a big effort from everybody at Millwall to get over it."

Lennon revealed there was anger in the dressing room after the four players were announced on Wednesday following the counting of the votes from their fellow professionals.

No Celtic player got more support in the main category than Motherwell striker Michael Higdon, Inverness midfielder Andrew Shinnie, Hibernian forward Leigh Griffiths and Aberdeen striker Niall McGinn - who was released by Celtic last summer.

Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama was named on the young player shortlist but Lennon viewed the democratic outcome as a snub to his side.

Lennon, whose team clinched the SPL title on Sunday, said: "It beggars belief that we make a semi-final of the League Cup, final of the Scottish Cup, win the championship, make the last 16 of Europe, beating Barcelona, beating Spartak Moscow, putting the country on the map again, and I think the outcome of those votes belittles all the efforts of the players. I think it's abysmal.

"Are people voting for the best player in Scotland or the most improved player in Scotland?

"There's a huge difference in my eyes and that's not taking anything from the candidates that were nominated.

"They have all had fine seasons, but to not have one Celtic player in that group is unbelievable."

When it was put to him that the votes for Celtic players might have been spread throughout his team, Lennon said: "I have no idea what way the voting goes but you can't tell me that (Fraser) Forster, Wanyama, Kris Commons, Kelvin Wilson, Gary Hooper weren't in the forefronts of people's minds when the votes were made. It's ridiculous.

"There is a lot of ill will in the dressing room now. The players are very, very disappointed with the outcome. They have performed heroically."

The long-serving shot-stopper, 27, overcame a heavily bruised foot to keep a clean sheet in the 1-0 victory over Gillingham and earned another against Jones' former club Exeter on Saturday with an impressive late save to keep out Jimmy Keohane's drive in the 1-0 win.

And Jones joked that he would injure Brown every week if it meant he kept responding with performances like Saturday's.

"Maybe we should bruise his foot even more, " the left-back quipped. "He has been doing this all season. He has my vote for player of the season.

"He has been outstanding and kept us in plenty of games with some outstanding saves. That is what he does week in, week out. And thankfully for us he pulled off that great save and we were able to go away with all three points."

Victory over Bradford on Saturday could see Cheltenham sneak into League One automatically should Rotherham lose to Aldershot.

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