Sunday 23 November 2014 17:29, UK
Millwall held Charlton Athletic to a goalless draw as both sides contested a surprisingly tame South London derby at The Valley.
The visiting supporters took full advantage of their short trip east by filling an entire stand, although there was a notable lack of intensity from both teams for much of the game.
Charlton were boosted by the inclusion of striker Igor Vetokele, who scored the winning goal against Reading a fortnight ago and played here despite a calf problem.
The best opportunity of the first half fell to him in the sixth minute, when Morgan Fox received the ball as he made an overlapping run and crossed but Vetekele failed to hit the target with his header from six yards out.
But both sides struggled for fluency from then on until the break, with Ed Upson showing some delicate touches in Millwall's midfield but all four wide players proving inaccurate with a number of crosses.
Millwall right winger Lee Martin looked as likely as anyone to contribute to the deadlock being broken as his cross created a good headed opportunity for Upson in the 30th minute, before flashing a low centre across the face of goal just before half-time. Charlton's Andre Bikey might have done better with a header from Johann Gudmundsson's corner moments earlier.
The play livened up after the break with Callum Harriott, who had replaced the injured Yoni Buyens in the 27th minute, providing some excitement down Charlton's left flank.
His battle with Millwall right-back and captain Alan Dunne was a good one, with Dunne holding his own against Harriott's pace and twice producing blocks to deny the 20-year-old.
Harriott then went even closer when he escaped Dunne to fire in a low effort from Jordan Cousins' cross but a combination of Williams and Millwall goalkeeper David Forde managed to clear it off the line.
Lee Gregory had gone close for the visitors from Shaun Williams' left-wing cross but was then replaced by Ricardo Fuller for the last 25 minutes.
The former Jamaica international struggled to make an impact but Jermaine Easter, another substitute, came close with nine minutes remaining. Easter beat Bikey for pace inside the area and fired an effort across the face of goal that meant Nick Pope had to fully extend himself with a low save as the ball arrowed towards the bottom corner of the net.
Then, with all five added minutes having been played, Charlton substitute George Tucudean - whose wife had given birth earlier in the day - raced clear and lifted his chance over Forde but slipped at the crucial moment, allowing Byron Webster and Dunne to clear.
