Millwall 0 Norwich City 0 – Lions so unlucky not to topple league leaders
BY DANIEL MARSH
Millwall were forced to settle for a point after a 0-0 draw at home to Championship leaders Norwich City – making it three league draws on the spin.
The Lions had the better chances and were unfortunate to not come away with all three points in SE16.
They certainly didn’t start like a team who have only won once at home all season.
Kenneth Zohore has only shown glimpses of his capabilities in a Millwall shirt so far, but he caused Norwich problems on numerous occasions in the first period.
He combined neatly with Ben Thompson inside the box and went close with a volley, before showing excellent power to muscle his man off the ball to tee up Scott Malone – only for the Lions wing-back to be denied the opener by Tim Krul.
The Lions were happy to stand off the visitors around the box, and it almost cost them in the 24th minute. The tricky Przemyslaw Placheta was allowed to skip away from two Millwall defenders on the edge of the box before forcing Bart Bialkowski into a comfortable save.
Millwall did fade in the final stages of the half, and Norwich should have taken advantage right on the stroke of the interval.
Teemu Pukki was played through, but thwarted by an excellent block from Shaun Hutchinson. The Finnish striker could only scuff the rebound tamely at Bialkowski.
Zohore should have added to his fine first half performance with a goal on the hour mark.
A fine team move saw the Lions move the ball neatly from right to left, before Malone fizzed a teasing cross to the back post, and the Danish striker should have done better with his header from point-blank range.
The hosts continued to press for an opening goal, with Jed Wallace seeing a close-range effort blocked after another good Millwall move.
Shaun Hutchinson had a late penalty appeal turned down after he was sent tumbling in the box, much to the fury of Gary Rowett on the sideline.
The Lions finished strongly, with Wallace going close on a couple of occasions late on. But ultimately, they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils as reward for a much-improved performance.
