MATCHDAY CENTRE: Jackett laments defensive errors

The Millers have now shipped 38 goals in 16 league games, the worst in the four divisions and undermining their attempts to climb off the bottom of the Championship.

Jackett says it is deflating for the players and is set to make his defence an even bigger priority during the international break.

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“The goals against column is a tough one to take at the moment and we have to do something about it because it knocks all the confidence out of us when we concede sloppy goals," he said. "Staying in the game and making sure we have some type of defensive setup to keep it close, that has been our problem all season and it was a problem today,

"The ability to block crosses, to be able get tight to key players was something that we have talked about. Key moments got Preston control of the game and from there they could flood the midfield and then break."

Jackett has taken one point from his three games in charge and acknowledged that Saturday's was the poorest performance of that run.

Goal scorer and captain Richard Wood and lively second-half substitute Peter Odemwingie earned praise but Jackett was disappointed Rotherham weren't able to kick on when they pulled it back to 2-1 late in the second half.

He added: "We had some momentum going and looked like we could get back into the game as we put pressure on them, particularly at the start of the second period going towards our own fan,s\!q but they had some quality on the break though and that ultimately took the game away from us."

ANALYSIS: Home failings return to hurt Millers