Millwall 1-1 Coventry City by Kev Monks
The Great Escape looks to be making another appearance as Coventry City came back to snatch a late draw at Millwall.
With yours truly, for once knowing where he was going, we arrived at the New Den very easily and in plenty of time to discover that Micky Adams had made the changes, he had threatened after Saturday's draw with Cardiff City.
The Great Escape looks to be making another appearance as Coventry City came back to snatch a late draw at Millwall.
With yours truly, for once knowing where he was going, we arrived at the New Den very easily and in plenty of time to discover that Micky Adams had made the changes, he had threatened after Saturday's draw with Cardiff City.
Adams handed a debut to Wales international Robert Page and also gave a berth in the starting line-up to Andy Morrell, Isaac Osbourne,Richard Shaw and Dele Adebola.
Millwall were without Danny Dichio and were the first to attack when Barry Hayles headed wide from a third minute cross.
With 406 City supporters in fine voice, Gary McSheffrey did well to get round the back of the Lions defence and cross for the unmarked Dele Adebola in the fourteenth minute.
City were crying out for a midfield playmaker who could win balls in midfield and distribute them effectively, but none of the midfield seemed able to do this.
Ian Bennett who looked as solid as usual in goal made an easy save from a 24th minute David Livermore long ranger.
Stephen Hughes tried his luck from long range two minutes later. His effort was far better than Livermore's and Lions keeper Andy Marshall had to throw himself to palm the shot over the bar for a corner.
In the 29th minute, another good chance was created by John who got to the byline and crossed for Andy Morrell to scoop the ball over the bar from ten yards.
Stern John forced Marshall into a save when he hit a first time volley from a long kick by the City keeper.
The City supporters continued to sing and were encouraging players to wave at them when there was a stoppage in play and were nearly rewarded with a goal deep in stoppage time.
Gary McSheffrey crossed from the left, John headed on and Andy Morrell on the right drilled the ball wide with no opposing player near him from ten yards.
Things were pretty even until the hour mark when Gary McSheffrey became the first caution for a shove on Paul Robinson.
Dennis Wise made a change straight after, with Mark Quigley coming on for Tony Craig and in the 64th minute, Adams followed suit replacing Andy Morrell with Trevor Benjamin.
The former Northampton striker had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he handled in his own penalty area and the Lions were awarded a penalty.
In front of the baying Millwall fans in the Cold Blow End, Jody Morris stepped up and just beat the diving Bennett to put the South Londoners ahead.
With news filtering around that Gillingham were beating Stoke and City were in the relegation zone, the City fans continued to sing but the songs were more of "We're Going Up With Rotherham" than "Staying Up".
Claus Jorgensen came on for Adebola with fourteen minutes left and got stuck in from the outset.
He fed Stern John who just missed his through ball in the 78th minute and seconds later,took on three opponents before crossing for McSheffrey to have a shot cleared away for a throw.
With just over five minutes left, Jorgensen sent the City supporters into a mass frenzy. The Faroe Islander raced through but was brought down in the penalty area. As he went to the ground,he got a foot to the ball,prodding it past Marshall and into the net.
Referee Clive Penton had the whistle in his mouth and blew presumably for a penalty. He took one look and pointed to the centre circle,indicating a goal.
Millwall were without Danny Dichio and were the first to attack when Barry Hayles headed wide from a third minute cross.
With 406 City supporters in fine voice, Gary McSheffrey did well to get round the back of the Lions defence and cross for the unmarked Dele Adebola in the fourteenth minute.
City were crying out for a midfield playmaker who could win balls in midfield and distribute them effectively, but none of the midfield seemed able to do this.
Ian Bennett who looked as solid as usual in goal made an easy save from a 24th minute David Livermore long ranger.
Stephen Hughes tried his luck from long range two minutes later. His effort was far better than Livermore's and Lions keeper Andy Marshall had to throw himself to palm the shot over the bar for a corner.
In the 29th minute, another good chance was created by John who got to the byline and crossed for Andy Morrell to scoop the ball over the bar from ten yards.
Stern John forced Marshall into a save when he hit a first time volley from a long kick by the City keeper.
The City supporters continued to sing and were encouraging players to wave at them when there was a stoppage in play and were nearly rewarded with a goal deep in stoppage time.
Gary McSheffrey crossed from the left, John headed on and Andy Morrell on the right drilled the ball wide with no opposing player near him from ten yards.
Things were pretty even until the hour mark when Gary McSheffrey became the first caution for a shove on Paul Robinson.
Dennis Wise made a change straight after, with Mark Quigley coming on for Tony Craig and in the 64th minute, Adams followed suit replacing Andy Morrell with Trevor Benjamin.
The former Northampton striker had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he handled in his own penalty area and the Lions were awarded a penalty.
In front of the baying Millwall fans in the Cold Blow End, Jody Morris stepped up and just beat the diving Bennett to put the South Londoners ahead.
With news filtering around that Gillingham were beating Stoke and City were in the relegation zone, the City fans continued to sing but the songs were more of "We're Going Up With Rotherham" than "Staying Up".
Claus Jorgensen came on for Adebola with fourteen minutes left and got stuck in from the outset.
He fed Stern John who just missed his through ball in the 78th minute and seconds later,took on three opponents before crossing for McSheffrey to have a shot cleared away for a throw.
With just over five minutes left, Jorgensen sent the City supporters into a mass frenzy. The Faroe Islander raced through but was brought down in the penalty area. As he went to the ground,he got a foot to the ball,prodding it past Marshall and into the net.
Referee Clive Penton had the whistle in his mouth and blew presumably for a penalty. He took one look and pointed to the centre circle,indicating a goal.
With Jorgensen already celebrating, the Millwall players protested to the referee. When the City supporters finally worked what was going on, they went berserk as City held on to earn their first ever point in four attempts at the New Den and another in the battle to avoid the drop.
HT MFC 0-0 CCFC FT MFC 1-1 CCFC
ATT 8,835
GOALS - Jody Morris (pen 67 min.29 sec)
Claus Jorgensen (84 min.50 sec)
Booked Gary McSheffrey
Man Of The Match - Robert Page for a solid debut even if he did give away a number of free kicks and Claus Jorgensen for changing the game.
TEAM
Bennett, Duffy,Page,Shaw,Hall,Morrell (Benjamin 64),Osbourne,Hughes,McSheffrey, John,Adebola (Jorgensen 76) SNU Steele,Staunton,Barrett