nPower Championship: Millwall FC

With a morale boosting victory over Blackburn Rovers in the rear view mirror, Sheffield Wednesday travel to the capital to face mid-table Millwall and former Owl, Mark Beevers. The Lions were looking to make it 5 games unbeaten in a row whilst the Owls were looking to put breathing space between themselves and the bottom 3.









The match gets underway and within minutes the home side are celebrating. The first action of the game sees Chris Taylor cross from the right and Nadjim Abdou calmly slot home past Chris Kirkland into the bottom right hand corner - shocking the stadium with just 90 seconds on the watch. After failing to grow into the game, the Owls force a free-kick on the 8th minute when Danny Shittu upends Leroy Lita 25 yards out - however Lewis Buxton's set-piece sails over the crossbar. It doesn't take long for former Wednesday player Mark Beevers to get into the action as he's penalised for a foul on loanee Steve Howard. Fortunately for the SWFC Academy graduate, Danny Pugh's cross is cut out by Rob Hulse. David Forde in the Millwall goal is called into action moments later when Pugh's in-swinging corner spells danger for the home side and the keeper punches it clear. As the Owls look to press upfield in the 14th minute, Jeremy Hélan fouls Alan Dunne and the momentum is lost. A former Sheffield United loanee, Shane Lowry almost doubles the home teams lead when his 35yard strike rolls wide of the net in the 16th minute. Millwall are by far the better side in this opening stage but their momentum is squashed when Lowry fouls Lita in an advanced position deep inside the Wednesday half. On the 22nd minute though, the Lions have another opportunity gifted to them when Miguel Llera fouls Jermaine Easter - only for Lowry's cross ball to be cleared by David Prutton. Kirkland is called into action minutes later though when Seyi Olofinjana fouls Easter and gives Millwall a chance at goal, catching Lowry's tame effort. When the Owls earn a 26th minute corner, Pugh drops the ball to the back post where a waiting Olofinjana jostles with Sean St.Ledger - ultimately fouling the Leicester City loanee. As Wednesday gradually grow into the game, Howard forces a save from Forde who tips the arrowed shot around the post and the visitors fluff the resulting corner when Forde clears the box with a big punch. This doesn't dampen the lively away following though as they raise the volume to push on the travelling side. On the 30th minute, Millwall forward Easter is fouled by Olofinjana and Taylor's whipped free-kick is punched clear by Kirkland, then from the resulting corner - a near post header by Beevers edges just wide. As the 38th minute ticks onto the clock, George Saville fouls Olofinjana 25yards out. After the Chelsea loanee receives his yellow card, a left footed strike by Llera beats the wall and catches the keeper out - nestling into the back of the net for the equalising goal. The finish ignites the atmosphere as yet again the fine voice of the travelling 'massive' echoes around the stadium. Millwall look to quickly restore their goal advantage and in the 42nd minute, another Kirkland save prevents Taylor peeling away in celebration when his left footed 12 yard strike is parried by the former England goalkeeper and minutes later, the half time whistle is blown.

HT. In all honesty, how Wednesday are level at the break is mystifying. Millwall have dominated every position in that opening half and but for Kirkland, would be 2 or 3 up at the interval. The plentiful empty seats are a sign of Millwall's impressive upcoming fixture - a trip to Wembley to face Premiership side Wigan Athletic, with fans saving the cash to make the short trip to the nations capital stadium. For those that read regularly - my HT snack is a bag of chocolate peanuts!

The second half gets underway and Wednesday look to start the brightest, forcing a corner within 2mins but Pugh's out-swinging set-piece is cleared by Saville. With the Owls pushing high, Olofinjana fouls St.Ledger and sees his name taken by the referee, earning a yellow card in the process. The Republic of Ireland international defender is again targeted soon after, this time Howard is penalised as Wednesday try and fail to build a worthwhile attack. On the 52nd minute the away team concede another free-kick when Anthony Gardner fouls Hulse, before the defender clears Taylor's set-piece into the box and Kirkland punches clear the resulting corner kick. After Prutton sees his volley blocked and cleared at one end, Easter doesn't connect properly with his effort and Kirkland watches the ball to safety in the 55th minute. That break in play allows Shaun Batt to replace Hulse and James Henry to replace Saville. As the hour mark approaches, Millwall almost take the lead again when Dunne's 35 yard blistering strike flies over the crossbar and when Lita is caught offside, the Lions break again - this time Easter sees his driven shot tipped around the post, unfortunately for the home fans, Henry wastes the resulting corner. Yet again the Owls are indebted to their goalkeeper when Taylor sees his 20 yard shot parried by Kirkland. That break in play allows a 62nd minute substitution and sees Lita replaced by the enigmatic Jermaine Johnson. The 68th minute saw Pugh's out-swinging corner met by Lewis Buxton's head only for Forde to claim the ball easily and as Millwall look to break, J.Johnson fouls former teammate Beevers and Wednesday can reshape. The Lions force a 73rd minute corner and Henry's set-piece is met fantastically by St.Ledger with an overhead kick - only for the inform keeper Kirkland to tip the ball around the post and Llera clears the resulting corner kick. Millwall aren't finished there though, again forcing a corner that Kieran Lee sees away and in that 76th minute, J.Johnson breaks forward and his 20 yard strike flies wide of the post. When Gardner receives a yellow card in the 77th minute, the break in play allows Easter to be replaced by Andy Keogh and shortly after, Hélan is replaced by Chris Maguire. With 9mins to play, Batt sees a 30 yard shot fly over the bar before an over-keen Howard fouls Shittu as the Owls look to press upfield. When Gardner sees away an 85th minute corner, Maguire fouls Taylor and Millwall create their next chance. Henry's left channel set-piece deceives the awaiting defenders except for Llera who hacks the ball away off the goal-line with Kirkland left helpless. Wednesday look to press home the advantage on the 88th minute, Lowry's foul on Buxton allows Pugh to drill a cross in - only for St.Ledger to block for a corner and when Pugh's corner comes in, Forde again punches clear. With the game in injury time, the visitors force another corner, this time Pugh's delivery is to the near post and Maguire loops his volley into the back of the net to send the away side into raptures! With the cheering from the stands, the final minute plays out until the full time whistle is blown - sending 1000+ away fans home happy.

FT. What an unexpected, possibly undeserved result that was! The luck has been against us on so many occasions this season but that changed at the New Den. Millwall will feel aggrieved at the result after an assertive performance but Wednesday will be happy with the breathing space built between them and the trapdoor.

Attendance: 9,084
Owls Man of the Match: Kirkland (without doubt kept us in the match, as he has done on numerous occasions this season - what a signing!)