Millwall 1 Leeds 1 – Late drama at Den as United get equaliser and taunt home managerial team

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall and Leeds served up yet another fierce and fiery encounter as Jack Harrison’s 90th minute goal saw the points shared.

The Lions had gone in front early in the second half as Jed Wallace finished from close range.

But Harrison produced a fine strike to ensure that Leeds stay unbeaten.

There was also a flashpoint between the two benches. Millwall boss Neil Harris was angered opposite number Marcelo Bielsa when he tried to keep the ball from a Leeds throw as they trailed.

And when Harrison scored, the United bench’s celebrations were aimed at the other technical area. Samuel Saiz also aimed gestures in that direction too.

Harris headed for the away dugout at the full-time whistle before being led down the tunnel.

Millwall were unlucky not to restore their lead in a frantic finale. Tom Elliott hit the post for the Lions and there were also another couple of fraught goalmouth scrambles for the Yorkshire outfit.

Lions boss Harris had two weeks to digest the 2-1 defeat to 10-man Swansea before the international break – but in the end he kept changes to a minimum.

Club record signing Ryan Leonard came in for his debut as Ryan Tunnicliffe dropped to the bench.

And Mahlon Romeo lost his right-back slot to Conor McLaughlin.

The first 45 minutes were fast and furious, even if they lacked genuine clearcut chances. 

Millwall had at least a couple of opportunities though, with Shaun Williams driven corner headed goalwards by Leonard, with Steve Morison only able to nudge the ball into the arms of United keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Another Williams corner was met by Morison but his header across the face of goal needed a touch from Aiden O’Brien that didn’t come.

Morison’s looping header was grasped under the crossbar by Peacock-Farrell before Williams struck a shot low and past the right post.

Leeds arguably had the best chance to break the deadlock just before half-time. Mateusz Klich’s raking pass down the left was picked up by Tyler Roberts as Murray Wallace stumbled but Ben Amos did enough to take the sting out of the United frontman’s shot before it was cleared away from danger.

Millwall took the lead on 56 minutes. It was puzzling why Jake Cooper had not been the one to meet Leonard’s launches from the touchline and when he did it has instant results. Wallace was on hand at the back post to get a clean enough connection for his shot to go in off the base of the left upright.

Amos made a strong and vital close-range save to deny Luke Ayling as Millwall were nearly punished for thinking the ball had already gone out of play for a goal-kick.

Saiz, who seemed most likely to unlock the home side’s defence, produced a deft through ball which was flicked on by Roberts but Amos dived to his right to keep it out without undue concern.

Millwall were happy to slow down the play in the closing stages but Harrison swept  home in the 90th minute to make it 1-1.

Substitute Elliott was desperately unlucky to hit the left post from Jed Wallace’s cross and moments later there were penalty appeals as the former went down in the box.

Cooper headed a Williams corner back across the face of goal but no attacking players could get the touch needed.