Bruce hails goalie for phenomenal display

IT was a case of wham, bam, thank you Sam, as Aston Villa clung on for a point against a lively Millwall side.

The Lions looked the most likely winners on a bitterly cold Birmingham afternoon, but could not find a way past home keeper Sam Johnstone – much to the relief of Steve Bruce (right).

“Sometimes you have to take your hat off to the opposition,” said the Villa boss.

“If you ever want to know how difficult the Championship is, you only have to look at Millwall.

“They’re big, strong, powerful, committed. They ran a million miles and caused us all sorts of problems. All in all, we’ll take the point and move forward.

“On another day, it could have been one of those horrible afternoons. When my goalkeeper’s my best player at home, then it tells you we haven’t done enough.”

It was the hosts who made the more purposeful start, Albert Adomah nodding wide from an Alan Hutton delivery and curling just over from the edge of the box.

But Millwall were a threat on the break and Johnstone had to be alert. Twice the Manchester United loanee rushed out to deny Lee Gregory and he then produced a fine reflex stop when Aiden O’Brien put Jed Wallace through. “He’s come on in leaps and bounds since he’s been here,” said Bruce of his No.1. “He’s a very, very good young goalkeeper. He was competent in everything he did.”

There was more wastefulness to come before the interval.

Keinan Davis delayed and allowed Jake Cooper to make a recovery tackle after being played in by Robert Snodgrass.

Wallace scuffed his effort at the end of another Lions counter-attack and Steve Morison could only direct a volley straight at Johnstone after being picked out by O’Brien.

The visitors continued to assert themselves after the break. George Savile forced Johnstone into a plunging save and O’Brien went close.

Jack Grealish stepped off the bench and almost made an immediate impact, testing David Martin with a snapshot. But that would prove to be Villa’s only shot on target as Millwall pressed on in search of a winner they deserved on balance of play.

Gregory went closest, clipping the bar, but there was to be no breakthrough.

Boss Neil Harris said: “The team was outstanding from the first whistle to the last. We unsettled a really good Aston Villa and dominated for large parts. We just lacked that final product.” Possession 56% 44% Shots On Target 1 8 Shots Off Target 5 4 Blocked Shots 8 4 Corners 11 5 Fouls Conceded 9 12 Offsides 0 3 Yellow Cards 1 3 Red Cards 0 0