Blake the Lion Tamer

The game's pattern was set in the early stages; Clarets looked to play the neater of the football, with Grant and O'Connor getting through an awful lot of combative midfield play against their opponents, yet Moore and Blake were well looked after by the Millwall defence.

Millwall would in turn look for the pace of Hayles and Tessem and this duo were in action on eight minutes, but great defending from Cahill, Clarets most impressive player on the day, cleared the danger from the short fused Hayles.

Dobie's long range shot should have been easy fodder for the Beast, but a careless fumble almost gave a chance away midway through the half as chances for either side proved few and far between.

Duff had a good run and cross, but the half chance passed by and so too for the Clarets, when Cahill was harshly penalised for a foul on the edge of the "D", Millwall wasting the resulting free kick.

The youngster was then booked for a trip on Tessem who made the most of the challenge and ref Mr Ilderton, who hardly endeared himself to the home crowd throughout cautioned Cahill for his first ever booking.

Mr Ilderton brought the crowd to life after Livermore kicked O'Connor in the head, yet it was the Claret player who earned the yellow card for his protests, a sequence of events that inflamed tempers to the break.

Hayles had the final chance of the half but his curled left footer went beyond the right angle of the Beast's goal and that was that for a disappointing and dull first forty five.

HT 0-0.

Sour Grapes - Mark Yates on the bench again with the squad down to the bare bones

Branch had the first shot of the second half, but his ambitious shot from fully twenty five yards troubled the ball boys not Stack, before moments later Blake twisted and turned once too often and a good chance was lost without a shot being made.

Approaching the hour mark, Simpson was withdrawn and Ifill came in to play before Clarets seized their chance with what proved to be the winning goal. A neat ball to the by line was chased by O'Connor and his pulled back cross hit Phillips on the arm giving Mr Ilderton little option but to point to the spot.

Blake's coolness sent Stack the wrong way and Clarets were ahead with a well taken spot kick.

Wise withdrew Elliott and sent on Dichio, the intention clear that Millwall were going for a last thirty minute bombardment of the Beast and his backline.

Branch was booked for a silly foul to put further pressure on the home defence who were to stand firm in a last half hour Alamoesque stand.

In an all too rare counter, Moore almost put O'Connor through after a strong forty yard run, but the diminutive midfielder was just beaten to the ball on the edge of the area in a two v two move.

New Lions signing Dobie was replaced by Serioux, a man with a serious throw in and what a dangerous weapon it proved in the last quarter hour of the game, in which Tessem was sarcastically cheered when finally booked for persistent fouling.

Lawrence should also have been cautioned for an incestuous rabbit at the officials when punished for encroachment at a throw in.

Throw-ins were the final feature of the game and from anywhere in Clarets territory Serioux would launch missiles towards the Beast and his backline in which Sinclair, Duff and Cahill were magnificent against a final barrage in which Livermore hit the outside of the post and Tessem missed form eight yards after Duff's slip in the area looked as though the equaliser was presented on a plate.

But with that chance gone, so too did Millwall's desperation to gain a second away win of the season, but it was the Clarets who took the three points and send the hundred and fifty or so back to t' smoke with nothing to shout about.

FT 1-0.

Att:- 11,471.

Sour grapes:-
The squad was down to its bare bones once again and with Mark Yates against amongst the track suit wearers and again no reserve 'keeper, it's falsehood to expect Clarets getting much higher in the League with such a small squad and enduring injury list.

A Fine Claret:-
Youngster Gary Cahill belied his age and inexperience with a performance of reassurance, determination and solidity where alongside Frank Sinclair they formed a formidable barrier against the direct nature of Millwall's attacking threat.