By Tim Hodges from the Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Millwall 2
The Albion drew at the Amex with a well-disciplined and well-prepared Millwall on this evening (Tuesday 18 December).
Former Blackpool & QPR centre half Dan Shittu had Albion record signing Craig Mackail-Smith in his back pocket for most of the match.
Millwall took the lead early on when former Seagull Chris Wood stabbed a half volley past Tomasz Kuszczak in the Albion goal.
Albion started with what appeared to be a 3-5-2 formation with Lewis Dunk, Adam El-Abd and Gordon Greer forming a central defensive line and Wayne Bridge and David Lopez pushing up as full backs.
Will Buckley seemed to have a free role up front supporting Mackail-Smith.
Albion were at sixes and sevens. At one point in the first half Buckley and Mackail-Smith collided and went tumbling in different directions during an Albion attack.
There appeared to be no attacking cohesion to the Albion’s game and just after the half hour Gus Poyet made a radical tactical substitution, replacing Lewis Dunk with Kazenga LuaLua.
The reposnse was almost immediate. LuaLua ran at the Millwall defence and fired in a cross towards Mackail-Smith but the striker let the ball hit him and almost fell over from the impact.
Millwall led at half time.
Early in the second half the Seagulls were on top but just before the hour Wood picked up a loose ball and from 20 yards fired Millwall two in front off the underside of the bar.
Just four minutes later the Albion were back in it as LuaLua lashed in a 20-yard screamer to make it 1-2.
And with minutes left Mackail-Smith was upended in the penalty area and David Lopez stepped up to put the Albion level and enabled them to gain a share of the points.
