Millwall 1 West Brom 1: Albion dig in with resilience to claim away point

The Baggies made it 15 draws from 33 Championship fixtures with a first tie under Tony Mowbray in the head coach's sixth fixture - as the boss still awaits a clean sheet in his second spell.

An own goal from Millwall's Joe Bryan - his second this week - restored parity 25 minutes in after towering home skipper Jake Cooper nodded a deserved early lead.

An end-to-end finale at The Den will arguably be best remembered for the returning cameo role for Daryl Dike - one year and five days on from his Achilles hell at Ipswich.

But after a tough evening against Blackburn in midweek, Baggies had goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith to thank for a string of fine late saves to preserve the point.

The returning Semi Ajayi grew into it and had a fine performance overall, as did Ousmane Diakite on a rare start to keep the Lions at bay. Dike's return for the final 13 minutes was heart-warming and encouraging for the weeks ahead.

Starters Jed Wallace, on his old stomping ground, and Grady Diangana caught the eye with fine displays but Albion could not do enough for a third win under Mowbray.

 Albion's poor record against Millwall extended to just one win in 13 but this was a useful point to keep Mowbray's men sixth, for now, in the standings.

The hosts looked to be quicker out the traps from the 15 minute delay as full debutant Will Lankshear knocked a high ball down and Adam Armstrong, starting from the left, darted into space.

Room opened up near the edge of the box as Armstrong dummied Japhet Tanganga but his low strike lacked the usual conviction and was straight at goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.

But the home side quickly showed their threat. Giant evergreen skipper Cooper, headed a golden chance just over but had been flagged offside.

Cooper headed another effort well off target while tracked by panto villain Wallace as Casper De Norre curled wide from Joe Bryan's neat low cross.

A bombardment continued as lively left winger Femi Azeez struck a fierce angled effort just wide of the far post after the returning Ajayi misjudged a header.

Cooper did not need a third invitation. Albion and Callum Styles could not clear on the left and Azeez was allowed another delivery. The home skipper was between centre-halves and Diakite could not get back in time as the big stopper converted a simple low header from five yards.

Albion had not settled but against the run of play hit back six minutes later.

Diangana, back in the side in a central role, fed Darnell Furlong out on the right. The full-back's low delivery enticed a crowded box and it was home left-back Bryan the ball struck and cannoned into the corner past Jensen.

Albion had woken and seconds later were inches from the lead.

Wallace was allowed to take a short corner and Diangana ambled into the box on the right with ease as Millwall bodies parted. Diangana was one-on-one with Jensen from a tight angle and his strike rose up on to the crossbar via a deflection. It bounced down inches from the goalline before Jayson Molumby fired wide from range.

Ajayi attacked a Wallace free-kick well shortly after but Jensen claimed his header as a lively first period reached a cool climax.

Things het up against after the break. Wildsmith was called into triple action - first to tip over a looping cross while backpeddling before a strong parried save from yet another Cooper header.

The resulting corner from the dangerous Bryan this time fed fellow centre-back Tanganga at the back post and his low header drew the best stop yet, a one-handed save with his left.

Karlan Grant replaced Lankshear who had a willing but quiet first start as Armstrong went central and flicked a Wallace free-kick wide across goal.

Millwall midfielder Luke Cundle, who signed from Wolves last month, misjudged a header midway through the second period when he might've done better. Striker Mihailo Ivanovic then headed at Wildsmith when well found.

Both sides rang the changes as Wallace limped off after a good showing. Tom Fellows entered and shortly after was the call for Dike - to a huge ovation from the 2,000 travelling fans - and John Swift.

It was the hosts with the big push in the last 10 minutes. Ivanovic could not connect to Cooper's squared header before George Saville's cross fed club-record signing Camiel Neghli whose rising drive was expertly tipped over by Wildsmith.

The final 10 minutes belonged to Wildsmith as he came up trumps with a double save. The first stop from Neghli was spilled but he did superbly with an outstretched left to deny Cundle on the rebound.

A basketball contest broke out as Dike did well to release Molumby who was only denied by a fine last-ditch tackle.

Neil's hosts did most of the pushing but the big stoppage time chance fell to Swift from a fine low Fellows cross. Swift spun but could only drag wide,

Millwall (4-2-3-1): Jensen; Crama, Cooper (c), Tanganga, Bryan; Mitchell (Mitchell, 76), De Norre (Honeyman, 76); Azeez, Cundle, Connolly (Neghli, 65); Ivanovic.

Subs not used: Roberts, Wallace, Watmore, Emakhu, Bangura-Williams, Harding.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Wildsmith; Furlong, Ajayi, Heggem, Styles (Holgate, 70); Molumby, Diakite; Wallace (c) (Fellows, 70), Diangana (Swift, 77), Armstrong (Dike, 77); Lankshear (Grant, 57).

Subs not used: Griffiths, Mowatt, Price, Johnston.

Attendance: 15,842 (2,002 Albion fans)

Referee: James Bell