Millwall 1 v 1 Brentford

Coca-Cola League One

ALAN Dunne picked the perfect time to score his first goal of the season as Millwall shared the spoils in a fiesty Den derby with Brentford.

Midfielder Dunne last hit the target in a league game at Nottingham Forest in January last year, when his 20-yard curler clinched a 2-1 Lions win.

And although he bagged two last season in the Carling Cup, there is no doubt the importance of Dunne's equaliser against Leroy Rosenior's Bees could prove to be one of the most important of his Millwall career.

Calum Willock had headed Brentford into a 13th-minute lead with a fortuitous effort off the inside of the post.

But instead of letting their heads drop, caretaker manager Willie Donachie saw his young Lions side dig deep and claw their way back to level on 26 minutes when Dunne lashed home after keeper Stuart Nelson had parried Poul Hubertz's header.

The equaliser was no more than Millwall deserved and with a little more composure in front of goal, the home side could have clinched all three points.

Caretaker boss Donachie made four changes to the team from Saturday, handing new signing Danny Haynes his debut just seven hours after signing on a month's loan from Ipswich, and bringing left-back Tony Craig back into the fray for his first start since August 8.

Hubertz, also in the starting XI again, nearly headed the Lions into an 11th-minute lead but saw his header from Dunne's cross blocked.

The Dunne-Hubertz combination nearly came up trumps 60 seconds later but this time the striker headed a yard wide from Dunne's corner with keeper Nelson rooted to the spot.

Brentford took the lead with virtually their first foray into the home half after 13 minutes, and it took a flying save by Lenny Pidgeley to prevent the Bees adding a second four minutes later.

But Donachie's charges kept plugging away and finally got the goal they deserved when Marvin Williams sprinted down the left, cut the ball back and although Hubertz effort was blocked, Dunne controlled it before thumping home from close range.

Haynes nearly marked his debut with a goal on 34 minutes, only to see his header crash against the top of the bar following good work by Ali Fuseini and Hubertz.

Fuseini, who again impressed in a central midfield role, was forced off injured 10 minutes after the restart following a heavy challenge by John Mousinho, who had already been booked for an equally crunching tackle on Marvin Elliott in the first half.

Debutant Haynes was then replaced by Chris Zebroski, and the sub went close to scoring with his first touch when Elliott and Hubertz combined to set the striker clear on goal, but his effort was blocked for a corner.

The Lions piled forward in search of a winner as Brentford started to buckle at the back with Hubertz, twice, and McInnes both thwarted.

But for all their pressure and possession, Millwall just couldn't find a way through for a second time to clinch a win.

MATCH FACTS:

MILLWALL: Pidgeley, Ross, Craig, Elliott, Robinson, Shaw, Williams (Grant, 67), Fuseini (McInnes, 55), Haynes (Zebroski, 56), Hubertz, Dunne. Subs not used: Day, Bakayogo.

ATT: 7,618.