Millwall vs Bradford City. The FA Cup Third Round.
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Saturday 3 January 2015 19:32, UK
A late Ricardo Fuller equaliser denied Bradford City an FA Cup third-round upset at Millwall, as a thrilling tie at The Den finished 3-3.
The League One side seemed on course to progress after Billy Knott’s second of the game tilted the match in Bradford’s favour, but Fuller tucked in substitute Magaye Gueye’s cross with seven minutes remaining to force a replay at the Coral Windows Stadium.
In-form Bradford took an early lead through Knott but were on the ropes when Championship side Millwall responded through Scott McDonald and Fuller.
However, Phil Parkinson’s men re-took the lead through an unfortunate Sid Nelson own goal and a Knott volley, before Fuller completed his own brace.
Bradford went into the tie on the back on an impressive nine-game unbeaten run and started brightly, with Knott shooting wide from 20 yards inside the first minute, before Jon Stead sent an overhead-kick over the bar moments later.
And the visitors were ahead with just six minutes on the clock when Knott reacted quickest to James Hanson’s knockdown from Alan Sheehan’s corner to slot home from 10 yards.
Fuller scuffed a shot wide as Millwall attempted to muster an immediate response and the hosts thought they had pulled level on 15 minutes when the former Jamaica international smashed in the rebound from Danny Shittu’s saved header, but the defender had already been flagged offside.
The League One side continued to press forward and Alan Dunne had to clear a deep cross from former Millwall midfielder Filipe Morais under pressure from Hanson, before Andy Halliday volleyed just over the bar.
However, Millwall pulled level on 36 minutes when McDonald met Lee Martin’s left-wing cross and sent a glancing header past Bradford goalkeeper Ben Williams.
Shittu almost put the hosts ahead with a spectacular 30-yard strike but pulled his effort just wide of the target, before Millwall goalkeeper David Forde was forced into a fine save to deny Knott a second just before the break.
Millwall improved after the interval and Ed Upson headed a Matthew Briggs cross over, before Martin curled a shot just wide from inside the box as the hosts pressed for a second.
And the Lions took the lead on 65 minutes when McDonald skipped past his marker and crossed for Fuller to tap a composed finish in from close range.
Bradford were back on level terms just six minutes later, though, when Hanson’s deflected shot cannoned off the bar and in off Millwall’s 18-year-old defender Nelson, making just his second start for the club.
The visitors then stunned the home crowd with a third on 76 minutes, when Knott steered a smart volley into the net from Morais’ cross.
Millwall boss Ian Holloway, whose side had lost their last four matches at home, threw on former Everton winger Gueye in search of some inspiration and the sub had an immediate impact, driving forward before delivering a pinpoint low cross to the back post for Fuller to tuck in the equaliser on 83 minutes.
Gueye then stung the hands of Williams with a fierce drive from the edge of the box, before Morais curled just over the bar at the other end as both teams pressed for a winner. However, the tie will have to be settled at Bradford in a replay.
