WARNOCK IS DEN-IED
Bluebirds boss left fuming
NEIL WARNOCK has been ill all week and the Cardiff boss’ temperature was sent soaring when his side were denied a late winner.
Junior Hoilett put the visitors ahead after three minutes but Warnock’s side missed out on the chance to go third when Lee Gregory levelled in the 40th minute.
After being second best for much of the second half, Cardiff were convinced Sol Bamba had struck a winner in the 83rd minute, only for referee Keith Stroud to call play back for a foul on Bluebirds fullback Joe Bennett.
Warnock was fuming, especially when the free-kick was wasted.
Returning Den hero Tim Cahill was introduced in the 90th minute but the 38-year-old Aussie couldn’t conjure a fairy-tale ending for the Lions. Millwall were desperate to put their FA Cup embarrassment at League One Rochdale behind them but they made a terrible start by gifting Cardiff an early lead.
Warnock’s side confirmed their improved form with a comprehensive 4-1 win at Leeds last weekend.
And they carried on where they had left off at Elland Road when Hoilett fired them ahead after three minutes.
Mahlon Romeo had been booked for a foul on the Cardiff winger after just 85 seconds. And the Lions right-back blundered again when he was caught in possession by Hoilett, who surged forward 30 yards before beating keeper Jordan Archer with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.
The visitors threatened to turn the screw but Millwall held on before finally making their presence felt midway through the first half.
They were inches away when Steve Morison chested down Ben Marshall’s cross and fired a half-volley against the bar.
The Welsh striker was causing Cardiff problems and twice tested keeper Neil Etheridge.
But the Millwall leveller came from Morison’s strike partner Gregory, who beat Etheridge with a first-time shot after connecting with Jed Wallace’s cross.
The home side upped the pace in the second half but Etheridge kept them at bay.