Alex Grace’s four takeaways from Millwall’s FA Cup defeat to Leicester – Watmore kicking on under Edwards

Here are Alex Grace’s takeaways from the match:

The record books will show this as a defeat but Joe Edwards will be able to take plenty of positives from it. Millwall’s general attacking play was very good. The Lions have notably improved since these two teams last met on December 13. That game saw Millwall dominate the first half at the King Power but gift the home side a way back into the contest with a very simple goal.

On this occasion the Lions demonstrated they can play good football. In the first 10 minutes alone they forced a number of chances against a side that have only conceded 18 league goals this season. Duncan Watmore and Danny McNamara were denied in the opening exchanges as Millwall set out how they were going to play this contest.

What will have disappointed the Millwall boss would have been the goals his side conceded. The Foxes scored with their first two efforts on target, showing just why they are at the top of the table and why they will make an instant return to the Premier League.

Some of the defending for all three of Leicester’s goals will be of concern to Edwards however, as all three were very preventable, especially the second and third goals.

Duncan Watmore has had a mixed Millwall career. Since arriving from Middlesbrough a year ago, he’s made 33 appearances and scored five goals – including the first of the Lions’ two goals on Saturday afternoon.

The 29-year-old has struggled throughout his career with injuries, including two long lay-offs during his time at Sunderland which really did hamper his development. Since Edwards’ arrival there has been a lot of bright sparks from the former Middlesbrough player.

He was at the heart of all of Millwall’s early attacking intent on Saturday lunchtime with most of the chances created coming through him. His effort that was saved by the Leicester goalkeeper was backed up by other efforts that unfortunately failed to hit the target.

Getting on the scoresheet will be a bonus for him as well. Keeping him fit and regularly able to contribute will be a big help for Millwall as they aim to kick on in the in the second half of the campaign.

The transfer window has come at a crucial time for Millwall.

The Lions’ squad has been decimated with injuries. Shaun Hutchinson, Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Murray Wallace were all added to the injury list last week following the win at Bristol City. To make matters worse Aidomo Emakhu is due to see a specialist today following a dislocated shoulder which saw him miss Saturday’s game.

Ryan Leonard went down and was forced off in the 42nd minute on Saturday with a hamstring problem. That will be assessed by the club and hopefully news on that will be available later this week. The former Sheffield United player has been integral to Millwall’s recent good run which has seen them keep four consecutive clean sheets in the league over the festive period and pick up three wins.

It is not yet known the extent of the injuries to Hutchinson, Norton-Cuffy, and Wallace. However, there is some good news. Casper De Norre was back in training last week.

The Lions are now entering a three-game period that could yet again define what the remainder of the season could look like. The festive period was marked as season defining but as you so often see in this league, grouping a few wins together can change the landscape massively. Before Christmas, Millwall were two points above the bottom three and looking at the possibility of being dragged into a relegation dogfight. The recent winning run has got them looking at the top half once more.

Victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday in SE16 will see the South Londoners move to within a point of the Teessiders, who have had an inconsistent campaign following last season’s stunning recovery to the play-offs.

A trip to QPR follows and the relegation-threatened Hoops’ form has fallen off a cliff since their three-game winning run was ended – losing three of their last four games. The month ends with a home game against another out of sorts side in Preston. Take another 10 points from those three games and suddenly the picture looks very different and the dark clouds will be a distant memory.