West Ham had not visited Millwall since 2012, and for long spells at The Den they looked as though they might regret the gap. Two old-fashioned goals from throw-ins gave the home side command of the London derby, but a changed West Ham emerged after the interval to rescue a 2-2 draw in a frantic final quarter.
In the dressing room
| Match | Half-time | Full-time |
|---|---|---|
| Millwall v West Ham | 2-0 | 2-2 |
Millwall made the sharper start and found their reward shortly after the opening 15 minutes in a move with all the familiar ingredients of the English game. A long throw was delivered into the penalty area, goalkeeper Hermansen made two stops, and Caleb Taylor eventually forced the ball home to send The Den into full voice.
The hosts doubled their advantage before the break, again making a throw-in count. Lyndon Dykes supplied the delivery and Neghli finished the move, leaving West Ham with plenty to discuss at half-time after managing only one attempt over the opening 45 minutes.
Nuno Espírito Santo responded by making two substitutions for the second half, and the contest began to tilt in the other direction. West Ham pushed higher, spent more time around Millwall’s box and finally found a route back with around 15 minutes remaining.
Mohamadou Kanté pulled one back before Konstantinos Mavropanos completed the recovery to level the score at 2-2. Kanté’s afternoon ended on a sour note, however, as he was sent off for bringing down Lisbie when the Millwall player was through on goal.
A derby left unfinished
For Millwall, there will be frustration at allowing a two-goal lead to slip after such an authoritative first half. Yet there was also plenty in their direct, combative opening display to remind West Ham why this fixture carries a different edge to most London meetings.
West Ham, meanwhile, leave with a point and a tale of two halves. Their manager’s interval changes altered the flow, although the late red card for Kanté means the recovery comes with a complication for the week ahead.
