Millwall changed their goalkeeper at the break, introducing Max Crocombe, while Luke Cundle replaced Sykes. Cooper was then booked within three minutes of the restart after going into Jefferies with his studs showing, before City somehow failed to add a third.
Jefferies initially went through one-on-one but could not get the ball out of his feet to finish. We recycled possession, Reach crossed and Draper headed against the post, with the rebound falling to Jefferies, who also struck the woodwork. It was an incredible escape for Millwall, and another passage of play which should have ended with us three goals ahead.
The hosts threatened when Neghli played Lisbie in, but Deji Elerewe came across to make a superb tackle. City then wasted a chance to break when a pass went behind Jefferies, before another opportunity arrived from a long throw. Draper flicked it on and Hackett lifted a chip just over and wide, with the third goal continuing to elude us.
Wickens made another excellent save just after the hour, following a ball lifted over by Mazou-Sacko. Dykes helped it on to Cundle, whose header across goal was clawed away for a corner. It was a warning, and in the 63rd minute Millwall did find a way back into the game.
Neghli whipped a cross all the way to the back post, where Coubis initially made a superb block. However, Lisbie stayed on his feet and finished to reduce the deficit, leaving City with a much narrower advantage than our chances should have produced. Having done the difficult part with the block, we would have been disappointed not to complete the clearance.
Almost immediately, we should have restored the two-goal cushion. Varfolomeev teed up Draper, whose effort was saved, with Hackett right there and seemingly needing only to poke the loose ball home. He could not quite get there, and moments later he was replaced by Oyegoke.
Coubis was booked for kicking the ball away at a Millwall throw, before Lisbie followed him into the book for dissent after disagreeing with a free-kick decision. The hosts then made another double change, introducing Romain Esse for Jenson Metcalfe and Ryan Leonard for Crama as they continued to chase an equaliser.
Street recycled a long throw to create half a chance for City, but Crocombe caught comfortably. At the other end, Wickens produced an outstanding save to keep us ahead, after Esse’s cross deflected off Varfolomeev and fell perfectly for Lisbie. He was clean through, one-on-one, but our keeper somehow denied him.
We then benefited from a decision when Street anticipated contact which never arrived, went down and won a free kick. It was one we did not deserve, but it provided a welcome opportunity to ease the pressure. Ryley Towler and Elder replaced Reach and Jefferies shortly afterwards, while Millwall sent on Zak Lovelace for Lisbie.
The equaliser arrived in the 82nd minute, with City unable to clear a corner as the ball bounced around the penalty area. Cooper eventually poked it home, bringing Millwall level at 2-2 and leaving us to rue those opportunities to put the game beyond them.
Two minutes later, the task became even harder when Elerewe was sent off following a coming together with Lovelace. Wickens was getting there and the contact looked little more than Elerewe shrugging the forward off, yet the referee produced a red card. It was an awful decision, and although Millwall wasted the resulting free kick, City were left trying to protect a point with ten men.
Sturge was booked for pulling Varfolomeev down from behind as he tried to break, but the decisions became increasingly frustrating as the game moved towards stoppage time. Konak was penalised for a challenge which did not look like a foul, with the Millwall player handling the ball during the incident. Elder was then clearly barged off the ball without a free kick being given, despite the challenge looking worse than the one which had brought Elerewe’s dismissal.
Leonard subsequently fouled Draper and then tried to drag him to his feet, prompting Elder to intervene and pull the Millwall player away. Somehow, Elder ended up with a booking, adding to the frustration at a series of decisions which had made an already difficult closing spell even harder.
Neghli was booked in stoppage time as Varfolomeev again looked to break, giving City a free kick and another chance to take some of the pressure off. Mikkel Ladefoged then replaced Draper, with us looking to see out the remaining minutes and preserve a point.
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