Cardiff City 1 Millwall 3

Last updated : 20 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Cardiff City fell to a defeat against Millwall with the poorest defensive display seen at Ninian Park for a long time.

The visitors opened the scoring in the fourth minute when an Andy Roberts corner went straight in at the far post and although Peter Thorne equalised on the half-hour Millwall always looked the more likely side to get the next goal.

It duly arrived in the 65th minute when Tim Cahill beat Neil Alexander to a clever chip from Dennis Wise and the Lions sealed victory with an 86th minute strike from Peter Sweeney.

City manager Lennie Lawrence clearly has a lot of work to do to raise morale before the visit of Walsall on Boxing Day.

"We have become too easy to beat. The first two goals were too simple and unless we eradicate mistakes the club will never go forward.

"Our defending has deteriorated badly and the manner of that defending has been horrible. We have lost our way at the back and now it definitely needs freshening up.

"The standards of defending are the worst they have been since I joined the club and we are shipping goals all over the place. We can still make a play-off challenge but only if I can sort the defence out." Millwall player-manager Wise was delighted with his team's performance: "It's a fantastic result and we played very well.

"It was only after they equalised when we were briefly put under pressure. We needed a little bit of luck and that first goal gave us the break we needed.

"The second goal was well worked and the third one killed them off.

"Maybe I should have played more often, but I wanted to see exactly what I have at the club, but being on the pitch does help because I can use my experience to change things around if necessary."