Wednesday 1 October 2014 15:13, UK
Millwall boss Ian Holloway admits injuries to key players have hit his struggling squad hard.
The Lions' bright start to the season has evaporated after a run of five matches without a win following Tuesday's 3-1 home defeat by Birmingham.
But midfielder Nicky Bailey, right-back Carlos Edwards and winger Lee Martin, who all played a major part in Millwall's fine finish to last term which saw them avoid relegation, are sidelined for the foreseeable future.
"It is no coincidence we've lost Nicky, Carlos and Lee," said Holloway.
"Where would we be without them in that run last year?
"It is a good job we had that good start to the season because it would be a lot worse now if we hadn't won those first two games."
Holloway was at least able to take positives from the performances of Lee Gregory, who got off the mark for the Lions, and youngster Aiden O'Brien after he came on as a sub to set up the goal.
"The crowd loved the fact that Aiden O'Brien came on and I thought he did fantastically well," he added.
"It was great for Gregory to get his goal and maybe he is starting to show what he can do for us."
