It's Round and It's White
Cardiff City stretched their unbeaten league run to 9 games and cut the gap to two points between them and second placed West Ham as they played out a goalless draw at the Den. Their great run saw boss Malky Mackay win the NPower Championship Manager of the Month award for November, whereas Kenny Jackett’s men lay in 19th place before Saturday’s encounter with Cardiff and only two points above the relegation zone.
It was Cardiff City who had the upper hand throughout the first half. Peter Whittingham’s venomous left footed shot was saved well by Millwall goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall. Cardiff City’s dominance showed as they produced seven first half corners, which Millwall dealt with fairly comfortably without any real threat towards their goal. The next best chance again, fell to the visitors. Kenny Miller fired over from just inside the area after a great piece of individual play to break through the Millwall defence.
Despite this it was Millwall who had the best chances of the first period. Liam Feeney broke down the right and squared the ball into the path of James Henry who’s first time shot came off the crossbar. Just before the break Millwall had another brilliant opportunity. Liam Trotter winning the ball inside his own half, went on a striving run towards goal where he slipped in Jay Simpson who’s curling effort flew past the far post. Millwall went in at half time knowing they should be a goal to the good despite Cardiff’s superiority during the first half.
The first real chance of the second half came on 62 minutes when Millwall’s Henry unleashed a left footed shot from outside the box which flew past the post. Up the other end, Cardiff substitute Joe Mason’s header whistled past the post following Craig Conway’s corner. Millwall were fuming when referee Gavin Ward failed to spot Millwall substitute Darius Henderson being tripped in an off the ball challenge by Cardiff’s Ben Turner. Minute’s later however, Millwall had a fantastic chance as the ball dropped to Hamer Bouazza near the back post but his low drive went wide.
Cardiff went close when striker Miller met Whittingham’s inswinging pass with a header but he was denied by a fantastic save by Mildenhall. As the game approached injury time it was Millwall who had the best and the last chance of the match. Feeney causing havoc once again down the right, whipped in a sintilating cross towards the back post which was met by a downward header by Henderson but the ball bounced awkwardly and went wide. Both sides will be pleased with the point, however Millwall will need a change of fortunes if they’re to pull away from the bottom three.
