Lions roar loudest

Walsall had already enjoyed a 3-0 victory over the Lions in the league this season, but it was Millwall who started the brightest. They enjoyed the best of the early possession, but only had an off target shot from Ali Fuseini to show for their pressure.

They were gifted the opener after 14 minutes though, when Saddlers left-back Richard Taundry's half clearance was intercepted by Ben May, who coolly slotted home from the edge of the area (pictured above).

Millwall had to keep their wits about them though and Danny Senda was forced to clear off the line to deny Mark Bradley a goal after 30 minutes, when he climbed highest to head Ishmel Demontagnac’s corner goalwards.

Almost moments after that, it should have been 2-0 to the hosts when Gary Alexander chased down and robbed the ball off Rhys Weston, before playing a low centre across the face of goal which was somehow missed by everyone.

With half time just five minutes away, Jay Simpson engineered a half chance for himself after winning a robust challenge with Taundry but the Arsenal youngster, on loan at the Den for the season, fired a low shot wide of the far post from the edge of the area.

Millwall didn’t have to wait long after the break to get their second goal though, as after 48 minutes, the hosts added to their lead. The Walsall defence were caught cold when May and Alexander exchanged passes just outside the box, with the latter eventually played clear into the box. He took the ball on, looked up and calmly fired home past Clayton Ince from the angle to seal his sixth goal of the season.

However, the visitors responded well and just before the hour mark, they reduced the arrears when Alex Nicholls struck a left footer from 25 yards which looped over Lenny Pidgeley following a sizeable deflection off Lions skipper Paul Robinson.

Alexander came within a whisker of restoring Millwall’s two goal advantage in the 66th minute when he connected with an acrobatic volley from Dave Brammer’s cross, only to see Ince touch it onto the bar and over.

Walsall were still looking lively though and Edrissa Sonko tried his luck with a 30 yard howitzer, which was unfortunate to drift narrowly wide of the target as they looked to pull themselves level.

With 10 minutes remaining, Walsall were enjoying their best spell of the game by launching attack after attack and it was only due to some brave blocks and tackles from the likes of Robinson and Andy Frampton at the heart of the defence that the home side managed to stave off the threat.