Jake Sanders’ big-match verdict: Reasons for Millwall to be optimistic ahead of Bristol City clash

MILLWALL 2
Williams 15 O’Brien 90+2

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2
Grabban 63, 88

BY JAKE SANDERS AT THE DEN

Millwall threw away yet more Championship points on Friday night – but their stoppage-time equaliser at least meant they extended their impressive unbeaten run to five matches.

The Lions face another promotion-chasing side in the shape of Bristol City at Ashton Gate this evening.

And if history is anything to go by, the Lions will have every chance of following up Friday’s result with another positive one in BS1.

Their 4-0 thumping at Fulham in August remains the only league match they have lost against the current top six this season – beating Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End and drawing the other three against West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City and Forest.

Gary Rowett’s frustrations were clear at full time – it wasn’t directed at the two sloppy Lewis Grabban goals they conceded. It was more that Millwall didn’t make the most of their completely and utterly dominant opening period, in which they should have more been than one goal to the good.

The Lions chief admitted: “First half we were great, there was some absolutely brilliant play, we attacked with a lot of incisiveness and it was just that last little bit. We keep getting into the final third and sometimes we just lack that tiny little bit of quality, which I can understand. It’s acceptable because we haven’t got the top-class players that other clubs have.

“I was disappointed that we were only 1-0 up in the first half, such was our dominance. You know Forest have good players and they’re going to have a good spell at some point.”

Rowett wasn’t wrong. Chances were few and far between – which explained why Forest shotshopper Brice Samba was only forced into one meaningful save in the first half, comfortably turning Mahlon Romeo’s rasping strike away from danger. But, in terms of positions, the Lions were unable to capitalise on some golden chances.

Even Jed Wallace, who barely put a foot wrong in a first-half performance that Rowett described as one of the finest he’s ever seen at Championship level, was guilty of wasting some excellent crossing opportunities. Having said that, the one time Wallace did get his delivery spot on, Shaun Williams met it with a wonderful header that bounced into the turf before nestling into the top corner in the 15th minute.

Unfortunately for the Lions, they were able to build on Williams’ second goal in as many matches and fourth career strike against the Nottingham-based outfit. Forest’s formation change and couple of substitutions early in the second period saw them gain a foothold in the game.

One of those changes saw former Millwall striker Grabban, who didn’t receive the warmest of receptions on his return to The Den, enter the fray.

The veteran striker soon silenced those that were booing him moments earlier as he headed home from close range just 55 seconds after his introduction to get Forest back into the game.

Despite having the likes of Jake Cooper, Alex Pearce and Murray Wallace all on the pitch, it was a second goal conceded from a set-piece in as many matches – something that left Rowett far from impressed, although the usually-reliable Bartosz Bialkowski’s uncertainty from Tiago Silva’s free-kick didn’t help their cause.

Rowett’s mood would have gone from bad to worse by the time Grabban took advantage of some slack play from Wallace – eventually tapping home Sammy Ameobi’s cross from six yards out to score his fourth goal against the Lions after previously netting for both AFC Bournemouth and Sunderland in recent years.

Millwall never know when they’re beaten, even though Rowett admitted he thought the game was up.

Matt Smith, who was the stoppage-time hero against Charlton Athletic last month, wasn’t on the pitch this time around, so Aiden O’Brien took responsibility and picked the perfect moment to notch his Championship goal of the campaign – finding himself in the right place to sweep home on 92 minutes after Williams’ piledriver was spilled by Samba.

It might have been a third draw in succession, but Millwall are certainly moving in the right direction and know that a good festive period could see Rowett’s men embark on another play-off charge heading into 2020.

Millwall (4-1-4-1): Bialkowski 7, Romeo 7, Pearce 7, Cooper 7, M Wallace 6, Williams 7, Molumby 7, J Wallace 8, Skalak 6 (O’Brien 78), Thompson 7 (Mahoney 83), Smith 6 (Bradshaw 61, 6). Not used: Sandford, Hutchinson, Brown, Bodvarsson.

PICTURES BY BRIAN TONKS