Dichio settles fiery derby
Danny Dichio struck late on to give Millwall victory over 10-man West Ham.
A late goal from Danny Dichio gave Millwall a 1-0 victory over local rivals West Ham United in a predictably fiery London derby at The Den.West Ham had striker Marlon Harewood sent off and a further five players were booked while Tomas Repka seems certain to find himself in trouble after barging into referee Peter Walton.
Substitute Dichio struck the decisive goal 12 minutes from time, powering in a trademark header from Kevin Muscat's pinpoint right-wing cross.
Moments later, Muscat delivered another wonderful ball from the right from which Scott Dobie should have sealed Millwall's win, but the striker making his home debut following his £750,000 move from West Bromwich Albion missed his kick just six yards from goal.
Two minutes before Dichio's goal, Dobie had been denied an opener by Darren Powell's superb goal-line clearance.
Dobie's looping header was bound for the far corner, but the defender on loan from Crystal Palace, volleyed the ball up off the line onto his own crossbar and away to safety.
Millwall were capitalising on the space afforded to them by the dismissal of Harewood, who was shown a second yellow card for diving over Darren Ward's challenge in the penalty area.
The Hammers should already have been down to 10 men by that stage, but referee Peter Walton inexplicably showed only a yellow card to Repka, who had shoulder-charged the official as he protested against the award of a free kick.
Tempers had flared early on when Dennis Wise clashed with Nigel Reo-Coker, which resulted in a caution for both players, while Muscat was another man who was fortunate to stay on the pitch after he took a swipe at Matt Etherington.
The visitors battled to find a way back into the game and almost found it when Etherington's cross found Steve Lomas, who could only direct his header straight at Graham Stack.
The West Ham supporters behind Stack's goal called for manager Alan Pardew to be sacked, and their spirits were dampened further in the final seconds when Matt Lawrence, challenged by Reo-Coker, turned the ball back towards his own goal and Stack scrambled to his left to prevent an own goal.
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Coca-Cola Championship
Millwall 1-0 West Ham United
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