MILLWALL squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with high-flying Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
The depleted Lions took a surprise lead through a superb Tairyk Arconte solo effort before doubling their advantage shortly before half-time through Lyndon Dykes.
Boro were a much-changed side after the interval and levelled within 15 minutes through Amario Cozier-Duberry and Will Lankshear.
The final 30 minutes was an entertaining end-to-end contest which ultimately ended all square.
Millwall, who were without eleven first-team players, battled well against the third-placed side and certainly came away with more credit than they had on the weekend at Blackburn Rovers, although they would be disappointed to have surrendered their lead so quickly.
They now head into this weekend’s derby with West Ham United with a boost of momentum, although their injury crisis shows no sign of abating.
Boro started quickly and within four minutes fashioned a good chance. A cross fell to Tommy Conway at the back post, who found Neto Borges. His shot was blocked, then Riley McGree sliced the follow-up wide.
Cozier-Duberry was a livewire down the right, constantly running at Zak Sturge and looking to cause mayhem. He had a shot saved early on and sent several threatening balls into the box.
Despite Boro’s early pressure, it was Millwall who broke the deadlock after a stunning bit of individual skill by Arconte. He hunted down Camiel Neghli’s ball over the top, drove at Luke Ayling, then cut inside and fired it through Ayling’s legs and into the back of the net via the inside of the near post.
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The goal injected life into the Lions, who quickly fashioned another chance when Neghli connected with Dykes’ long throw, although it was a comfortable enough save for Radek Vitek.
Still, the match continued in a similar pattern, with Boro with most of the possession and Millwall looking to punish them on the counter, although the Lions were often swarmed when they got on the ball.
Lankshear came into the game with an impressive goal record and nearly added to it in the 20th minute when he connected with Cozier-Duberry’s whipped cross at the back post, but Crocombe kicked it over the bar.
While both sides continued to threaten through Arconte and Cozier-Duberry, neither were able to create much until shortly before half-time.
Millwall won a rare corner that Metcalfe sent in and Mazou-Sacko flicked on to Caleb Taylor, who produced a fantastic bit of skill to send the ball across the face of the goal for Dykes to tap in from close range.
The Lions deservedly retained their two-goal lead heading into the interval, but Kim Hellberg was clearly unimpressed with his side’s first-half showing, making three changes at the break.
Boro, who had often moved the ball too slowly in the preceding 45 minutes, looked far sharper after the restart, although Millwall had the first chance of the half. They broke quickly through Arconte and Metcalfe had the chance to put Sykes through down the right, but overhit his final ball and the opportunity was gone.
Instead, it was Boro who pulled a goal back after Millwall failed to deal with a ball into the box and Cozier-Duberry smashed it in.
The hosts, roared on by the crowd, started to really turn the screws. Substitute Kyle Joseph forced a fine save from Crocombe with a glancing header and Cozier-Duberry had a penalty appeal waved away.
Despite Millwall switching to a back three, it was again a ball into the box that led to Boro’s equaliser. Luke Ayling curled one towards the back post, and with Crocombe caught in two minds, Lankshear headed it into an empty net.
The goal woke the Lions up a bit, who should have been back in front when Baggott connected with Sturge’s whipped ball, but put his header far too close to Vitek.
The game slowly but surely evened out, although Cozier-Duberry nearly produced one final moment of magic before going off, getting in behind and looking to square it for Lankshear, but he was denied by a superb block by Taylor.
Both sides exchanged late chances. Osei-Tutu had a shot blocked in a promising position, while Cundle had to make a last-ditch clearance to deny Boro at the other end.f
Millwall: 4-4-2 – Crocombe; Osei-Tutu, Cooper, Taylor, Sturge (Cundle 84); Sykes (Issoufou 84), Mazou-Sacko, Metcalfe (Kelly 75), Neghli; Arconte (Lovelace 75), Dykes (Baggott 56)
Substitutes: Marschall, Batth, Massey, Parkes.
Middlesbrough: 4-2-3-1 – Vitek; Brittain, Ayling, Phillips, Borges (Arfsten 46); Morris, Berhalter (Joseph 46); Cozier-Duberry (Strelec 85), McGree(Peart-Harris 78), Conway (Sarmiento 46); Lankshear
Unused substitutes: Brynn, Byram, Castledine, Pukstas
Referee: Robert Madley
Attendance: 27,684 (497)
