Walsall 1 Millwall 1

Last updated : 27 March 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Super-sub Paul Ifill saved FA Cup semi-finalists Millwall with a last-gasp equaliser against struggling Walsall at Bescot.

Ifill, who starred for Millwall after being sent-on at half-time, struck with an 88th minute volley as the Lions extended their impressive league run to just one defeat in their last 13 games.

But it was a heartbreaker for Walsall who are desperately fighting for their lives.

They had looked set to collect a priceless victory when Keith Andrews fired them in front after 77 minutes.

Andrews, on-loan from Wolves, drilled home his second goal for Walsall only to be undone by Ifill.

The Irish midfielder beat Millwall goalkeeper Andy Marshall from 12 yards after he collected a flick from Lee Bradbury, who had headed on a long clearance from keeper James Walker.

But a late spell of Millwall pressure paid off when player-manager Dennis Wise lifted a corner into the Walsall area.

Saddlers central defender Ian Roper appeared to be fouled but referee Steve Tomlin waved play-on and Ifill fired a drive past Walker from 20 yards.

Neil Emblen could have given Walsall a dream start only to head a free-kick from Paul Merson narrowly wide after four minutes.

That proved to be a rare piece of goalmouth action in the opening exchanges as the game took another 20 minutes to really come to life.

It only sparked into action when Millwall striker Danny Dichio had his 24th minute 'goal' disallowed for pushing.

That prompted a spell of intense pressure from the home side with Bradbury and Emblen both going close with headers in the space of three minutes.

Just 60 seconds after Emblen had seen his header saved by Marshall, Millwall created the one real move of class in the first-half that should really have led to the deadlock being broken.

A quickly taken 34th minute free-kick by Wise picked out Dichio in the Walsall area. He back heeled the ball into the path of Cahill, who sliced his shot into the side netting from just three yards.