Rams Settle For A Point

Derby County and Millwall shared the spoils in a goalless draw after a scrappy encounter at Pride Park. The visitors had the better of the chances in the first half with Steve Morison twice coming close and Chris Porter dragging The Rams` best effort wide of the mark after turning well in the area. Kris Commons fired a weak effort straight at David Forde after a run and shot in a bright opening to the second period but the game deteriorated from there with neither side able to carve out a clear cut chance and having to settle for a point apiece.

Dean Moxey came in for Gareth Roberts and Alberto Bueno returned in place of Stephen Pearson as Nigel Clough made two changes to the side with a second game in three days. Millwall started brightly, buoyed by a three goal victory on New Years day, and Steve Morison wasted a great chance after five minutes when a James Henry cross picked him out at the back post but his header hit the side netting. Chris Porter had the first opportunity at the other end but his header was straight at David Forde in the visitor`s goal.

Morison flashed another wide just before the twenty minute mark as Millwall enjoyed the territorial advantage in the early stages and Liam Trotter perhaps could have done better when the ball broke to him in the area. The Rams were struggling to create chances when going forward and were closed down well by their opponents but Chris Porter had a great opportunity when he took down a cross from Paul Green and turned inside the area but he dragged his effort wide of the near post and the danger had gone. Neither side could find the final pass to create further openings before the break and it was goalless as the sides left the field.

Tomasz Cywka replaced Conor Doyle at the break as Nigel Clough introduced some fresh legs and Kris Commons had a chance after a Paul Green clearance found him on the halfway line, he ran at goal and cut onto his right foot but his effort was straight at Forde from just inside the area. The game was increasingly scrappy in the second period with neither side able to build any momentum with some poor passing and resolute defending. The visitor`s first serious effort of the half didn`t come until the last twenty minutes when Robbie Savage couldn`t clear and Jack Smith flashed a low effort across the face of goal.

Stephen Pearson replaced Alberto Bueno with twenty minutes to go and he twice made good progress down the left only for his crosses to be cut out at the expense of a corner each time which came to nothing. Millwall enjoyed the better of the closing stages as they looked to snatch a late winner but they failed to trouble Stephen Bywater and Miles Addison was brought on to shore things up with five minutes to go as the game petered out with both sides settling for a point.

Derby County: Bywater, Green, Moxey, Brayford, Barker, Savage (Addison 86), Bailey, Doyle (Cywka 46), Commons, Bueno (Pearson 71), Porter.

Subs: Deeney, Pringle, Davies, Leacock.

Millwall: Forde, Trotter, Schofield (Robinson 72), Henry, Craig, Garron, Mkandawire, Ward, Morison (McQuoid 71), Smith, Abdou.

Subs: Carter, Harris, Hackett, Mildenhall, Laird

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