By Jake Sanders at The Den
JED Wallace’s stunning free-kick wasn’t enough for Millwall to end their five-match wait for a Championship victory, following a 1-1 draw with Reading at The Den.
Wallace curled home in spectacular fashion right on the stroke of half-time before Lucas Joao rescued a point for the visitors eight minutes into the second period.
It means that the Lions have now draw four consecutive league matches for the first time since February 2017, although the point was enough for Gary Rowett’s men to climb up to 10th in the Championship table – four points off the top six.
Millwall started on front foot, but Murray Wallace’s early right-footed effort was easy for Rafael Cabral, whilst Shaun Williams also tried his luck from distance, but the Royals goalkeeper once again claimed without too many difficulties.
Yakou Meite then had Reading’s first meaningful attempt on target moments later, although it hardly troubled Bartosz Bialkowski in the Lions net.
A highly uneventful first-half appeared likely to end goalless, but that changed in added-time courtesy of a moment of magic from Wallace’s right foot.
Troy Parrott, lively on his first Championship start for Millwall, turned well before he was brought down by Andy Rinomhota just outside the Reading box, leaving Wallace to wonderfully curl the resulting free-kick into the top left-hand corner for his fifth goal of the campaign.
But the visitors made a quick response after the break as half-time substitute Michael Olise played a lovely clipped pass into the path of Joao, who got in behind Ryan Leonard before beating Bialkowski at his near-post from a tight angle.
Millwall almost went back in front immediately as Jake Cooper climbed highest to meet Wallace’s corner, but his powerful effort was straight at Cabral.
Rowett responded by introducing Jon Dadi Bodvarsson in place of Parrott just past the hour mark, and the Icelandic forward almost had an instant impact, but his fine strike was tipped over by Cabral following an impressive move involving both Cooper and Wallace.
Up the other end, Ovie Ejaria wasted a good opportunity from a free-kick in a similar position to Wallace’s opener – curling well over Bialkowski’s crossbar.
With both sides searching for a winner, Rowett threw on Shane Ferguson and Matt Smith, and less than five minutes later the latter knocked down Wallace’s cross into the path of the Leonard, who couldn’t direct his header on target from close range.
Cooper had another late headed opportunity, before Millwall nearly won it in the first of five minutes added-time as Bodvarsson was played in down the right before squaring to Wallace, but his sliding effort was straight at Cabral.
Joao almost nicked it in the dying seconds for Reading, firing just past the post.
Jed Wallace loves it against Reading
Wallace has caused damage to plenty of Championship sides in recent seasons, but it appears like he really has it in for the Royals.
Millwall’s number seven scored a similar free-kick at the same end on Boxing Day 2018 in a 1-0 Lions victory that day, before netting another superb goal in the defeat at the Madejski Stadium last November in Rowett’s first away game in charge.
However, this was the best of the bunch, and another to add to the ever-growing collecting of outstanding Jed Wallace goals – and far better than his tap-in against Rotherham United, header in the draw with Brentford and penalties at Wycombe and Preston, for what it’s worth.
Troy Parrott impressed
Ever since the teenager made the loan switch from Tottenham, there’s been a great deal of excitement about seeing the striker in action.
Almost four months later, Parrott finally made his full Championship debut for Millwall, and showed plenty of encouraging signs before he was replaced just past the hour-mark.
Parrott was willing to put himself about, regularly came short to open up the space for both Scott Malone and Wallace, while linking the play relatively well.
It’s a shame a chance didn’t come his way – with his only shooting opportunity seeing him fouled which led to the Lions’ goal – so in some aspects, an assist on his first league start is something to build on.
Team News
Rowett made two changes from Saturday’s draw with Cardiff as Malone replaced the injured Mason Bennett, while Parrott was preferred to Smith.
4-2-3-1: Bialkowski, Leonard, Hutchinson, Cooper, M. Wallace, Woods, Williams, J. Wallace, Thompson (Smith 75′), Malone (Ferguson75′), Parrott (Bodvarsson 63′).
Subs: Fielding, Pearce, Muller, Brown, Burey, Skalak.
Image: Millwall FC