By Tim Hodges
Millwall 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 1
The Albion once more failed to hold on to a winning position this evening, drawing 1-1 with Millwall at the New Den.
Gus Poyet rang the changes with Craig Noone, Ryan Harley and Will Hoskins replacing Gary Dicker, Vicente, and Ashley Barnes. Kazenga Lua Lua was named among the substitutes.
Neither team could take control of the match early on. However on 17 minutes Noone cutting in for the right found Mackail-Smith who in turn was bundled over in the penalty area by Ward and the Albion were awarded a spot kick.
With Ashley Barnes on the bench, up stepped Ryan Harley and with a Leon Knight style stutter in his run up, he hit his shot straight into the feet of the grateful Forde, parity was maintained.
Albion seemed to be running the show for a while although Feeney was trying to get Millwall back in it as was Simpson, then a huge let off for Albion, as Howard got free on the right and crossed in initially for Henderson but Ankergren parried straight to Mckandawire who from inside the six yard box scooped the ball over the bar.
Albion finished the half stronger with a succession of corners and held possession well,but it was goalless at halftime.
They continued to press Millwall as the second half took shape but it wasn’t until the hour mark that Mackail-Smith popped up on the right and after two attempts to get his cross in, lofted the ball into the area, where Craig Noone volleyed with outside of his foot from close range, to put Albion one up.
Albion looked in command now, Greer and Dunk looked comfortable at the back, although Painter was treading on thin ice with a few rash challenges.
With twenty minutes left Noone tried to put Mackail-Smith in the clear but Millwall were equal to this.
Matt Sparrow was digging and keeping the Albion moving as he did on Saturday and with thirteen minutes left Barnes replaced the rather lacklustre Hoskins.
Soon after Noone played a great cross in for Barnes but he failed to get on the end of it.
Albion had tried hard to get a second killer goal , but as Millwall pressed Lewis Dunk hit a clearance intended for Mackail-Smith , however this fell to Jay Simpson who rode a challenge and hit a swerving shot from distance that Casper Ankergren seemed to parry into the goal for 1-1 with ten minutes to go.
It was Millwall who finished stronger and Ankergren somewhat made amends when he turned Feeney’s cross shot behind, in the last few minutes.
The Albion will disappointed to have thrown away a victory from a winning position once more and we could see an Amex debutant next Monday.
Albion: Ankergren; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Painter; Bridcutt, Harley, Sparrow; Noone, Hoskins, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Brezovan Vincelot, LuaLua, Dicker, Barnes
Millwall: Forde; Mkandawire, Robinson, Ward, Barron; Feeney, Abdou, Trotter, Howard; Henderson, Simpson. Subs: Mildenhall Henry, N.Guessan, Agyemang Dunne,
Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Preston).
