THE Lions bounced back from the disappointment of a home defeat with a 2-1 away victory at in-form Bradford City.

Millwall dominated proceedings, particularly in the first half, and snatched the lead three minutes before the interval.

Steven Reid dribbled past Robert Molenaar on the edge of the box before crossing to the far post for Steve Claridge to head in his 10th goal of the season.

The hosts were a different proposition in the second half, after receiving a half-time roasting from manager Jim Jefferies, and Bantams' dangerman Matt-hew Etherington began to feature more prominently.

Yet it was the Lions who came closest to scoring immediately after the break, when Reid hammered a shot goalwards in the 53rd minute. The sponsors man-of-the-match Aidan Davison parried, and Richard Sadlier's follow up was deflected wide by Andy Myers.

More efforts rained in on the Bradford goal, from Stuart Nethercott, Sadlier and Claridge, as the Bantams failed to really test Millwall keeper Tony Warner.

When the fourth official announced five minutes of stoppage time, Bradford upped the tempo and equal-ised when Robbie Blake's shot was deflected in.

There was still time for more drama though, and for Sean Dyche to score his first goal for the Lions. Reid's corner was cleared only as far as Marc Bircham, who lobbed the ball back into the danger area. Dyche sprung the offside trap and volleyed home, sending the travelling fans into delirium.

Millwall manager Mark McGhee was delighted with the performance: "It was a massive test for us. If we'd have won last week, we'd have come here thinking a draw was a good result. But because we lost we felt we had to win this one."

McGhee was also pleased with the way his side dealt with the threat posed by Bradford winger, Etherington (on loan from Tottenham): "He's a good player. We were considering him before he joined Bradford.

"In fact, I was on my way to a reserve game to watch him, when I got a phone call from Spurs assistant boss John Gorman, telling me he had gone to Bradford.

"We were aware of his ability, so we tried to persuade Reid to play as wide on the right as possible so he could double up with Ryan Green. And, mostly, they did the job well."

Jefferies believed his side lost the game in the first half: "That's the second week on the trot that we've played for just 45 minutes.

"We never strung three passes together and we got out of jail because Davison made several outstanding saves, but our lack of application makes me wonder if we deserved three points."

Millwall's next away trip is to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday, where the Lions have had just one win in 15 attempts since 1906.

December 4, 2001 12:51