Harris exits Lions’ Den with a point thanks to Moore
KIEFFER MOORE ensured Neil Harris did not have to mark 12 months in charge of Cardiff with defeat at his former club.
The Wales striker raced clear to slot in a 79th-minute equaliser and set up a thrilling end to the match.
Harris was denied a dream return to The Den by two world-class saves from Millwall keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
And at the other end Iceland striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was guilty of a shocking miss.
At half-time, Harris was in danger of being beaten by the sort of Millwall performance that saw fans turn against him at the end of his reign at The Den last October.
The Lions barely got out of their half in the opening 45 minutes but when they did, Matt Smith rose highest to head in the 35th-minute opener.
Harris, who is still Millwall’s all-time leading scorer with 138 goals, said: “Let’s get the disappointment out of the way with the goal we conceded.
“We were disappointed to be behind in a game that had nothing in it in the first half.
“A quality finish by the chief. The finish was outstanding.”
Cardiff dominated possession in the first half but Bialkowski only had to field off-target shots from Robert Glatzel and Junior Hoilett before the Lions struck on the break.
Smith moves like a fish out of water outside the box but he is a shark inside it.
He looked third favourite to get on the end of Shaun Williams’ left-wing cross.
But he took full advantage of a moment’s hesitation from keeper Alex Smithies as well as centre-back Curtis Nelson to head into an unguarded net.
Ben Thompson should have doubled the hosts’ lead in the 50th minute but headed Jed Wallace’s pinpoint cross over the bar.
It proved a costly miss when sub Josh Murphy’s pass dissected the Millwall defence and Moore won his foot race with Jake Cooper to slot low past Bialkowski.
That sparked a grandstand finish which saw Bialkowski produce top-drawer saves to deny Harry Wilson and Moore.
At the other end, Smithies was forced to keep out an on-target effort from Bodvarsson.
Then, in injury time, Murray Wallace cleared Joe Bennett’s header off the line to ensure his side won at least a point.
Millwall boss Gary Rowett said: “It was a great ball from Willo to Smudge for the goal and we had the chances to win it.
“We looked as if we had seen the game out. We made a bad mistake but we were still 2 v 1 on Moore and Coops needs to react quicker.
“I think Cardiff are a good side – they are always going to give you problems on the ball.”
MILLWALL: Bialkowski 7; Leonard
6, Huchinson 7, Cooper 7, M Wallace
7; Woods 7, Thompson 7 (Bodvarsson
(75th) 6), Williams 7; J Wallace 7, Smith 7 (Parrott 76th), Bennett 6 (Malone (57th) 6)
CARDIFF: Smithies 6; Bacuna 6, Morrison 7, Nelson 6, Bennett 7; Wilson
7, Pack 7, Ralls 7, Hoilett 6 (Ojo (60th)
6); Moore 6, Glatzel 6 (Murphy (75th) 6)
STAR MAN: Marlon Pack
REF: G Scott