Millwall manager Ian Holloway has been encouraged by the performances of his side in their last three games, despite a return of just one point.

The Lions held Championship leaders Nottingham Forest to a goalless draw at The Den this afternoon and should have won after dominating the second half.

And Holloway believes his charges are slowly progressing towards where he wants them to be.

He said: “We are getting there and I thoroughly enjoyed our performance against Forest.

“We beat Fulham in August and I think in the last three games we have played better in spells than we did against them.

“That is all you can do.”

The boss added: “We can compete in the Championship.

“We’re not where I want us to be, but it is early. We don’t want to be a Kenyan in the marathon, because they’re always at the front and that isn’t us.

“I want to get in that pack, and if we win the next game then we might be in there.

“At the minute we have dropped out of it because we’ve only got one point out of nine.

“I knew it would be a tough week and unfortunately it was harder on us than we deserved.”

Millwall lost Carlos Edwards to a nasty looking knee injury after just five minutes.

But Holloway praised the performance of Jimmy Abdou, who filled in at right-back.

The manager said: “He was absolutely outstanding. What can I say?

“We move people in training to other positions just in case of that eventuality.

“I needed someone that could run Michail Antonio the other way.

“Alan Dunne knows that I know that he doesn’t want to do that. I could’ve put Webster on to do it but I thought he’d get overrun.

“I needed someone with legs and Jimmy’s are as good as anybody.

“Carlos Edwards is going to be massive loss.

“He hasn’t put a foot wrong since he’s been here.

“It’s a bad injury - there was a pop and that’s not good.”

The Lions had strong claims for a penalty turned down when Michael Mancienne tripped Jermaine Easter off the ball.

Holloway, though, believes both sides should have been awarded spot-kicks.  

He said: “I am tired of these decisions.  

“Now I have a notebook and I write down the time of when I have a grievance and I will look at them myself and get some advice on it.

“Forest should have had a penalty as well for Jimmy on Assombalonga.

“I’m fed up of it being inconsistent.

“Some referees are lenient and wave play on, and others will give foul after foul.

“It should be the same way.”

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