Bradshaw’s brace sees Lions draw 2-2 with Bluebirds at The Den

A Tom Bradshaw brace ensured a point for Millwall in a 2-2 clash with Cardiff City in caretaker manager Adam Barrett’s last game in charge at the Den

Cardiff took the lead against the run of play through Danny Ward on the 12th minute, Junior Hoilett threaded the ball neatly into the box and Ward headed his fourth of the season comfortably through Bartos Bialkowski’s legs.

Tom Bradshaw finally gave Millwall something to cheer about on the 45th minute. Cardiff losing possession deep within their own half meant the striker was able to place a shot over Etheridge in a goal that was certainly against the run of play.

Cardiff regained their lead through Junior Hoilett on the 57th minute with a spectacular effort from outside the box that edged past Bialkowski into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Bradshaw scored his second of the evening after an impressive solo effort in the box, rifling his effort deep into the right of the net.

Millwall had the first real chance of the game when Matt Smith latched on to a ball in the middle of the box, narrowly heading past the post. And in the first ten minutes or so of the first half, Millwall shined brighter than their opposition.

After they took the lead and playing with confidence, goal scorer Ward rifled a shot at Bialkowski but the Polish goalkeeper did well to get down and gather the ball.

Meanwhile, down the other end, on the 30th minute a Millwall build up play led to Smith lunging into a header which forced an emphatic dive out of Neil Etheridge. The referee blew his whistle though, judging that Smith had made a foul in his dive.

Cardiff City came out the stronger of the two sides in the second half and for the early periods Millwall found themselves absorbing that pressure and playing deep within their own half.

Cardiff’s scorer Hoilett made way for Josh Murphy on the 66th minute after he had spent a considerable amount of time on the ground.

Cardiff had a chance to seal the points on the 68th minute when Lee Tomlin, recently recalled to the side, broke free and fired a shot at Bialkowski which he was able to clear for a corner. He was called into action for a double save moments later from the ensuing corner when Adam Flint and Sean Morrison looked to further the scoring.

Cardiff would play the price for not finishing their chances as they found themselves absorbing a lot of pressure from Millwall in the latter stages of the game. The Lions were adamant to avoid a repeat of the goal deep in stoppage time on Saturday that cost them a point.

Millwall made two changes from the side that lost 3-2 to Brentford after winning 2-0 on Saturday. Matt Smith and Aiden O’Brien came in for Shane Ferguson and Jayson Molumby.

This was Millwall’s last game under caretaker manager Adam Barrett. Gary Rowett takes charge at the Den on Saturday in their clash against his former club Stoke.

The result this evening means Millwall move up to 16th with both Wigan and Hull, who are directly below them on 14 points, playing tomorrow.

Millwall: B. Bialkowski, M. Wallace, S. Hutchinson, J. Cooper, S. Williams, J. Wallace, B. Thompson, T. Bradshaw, M. Smith (OFF), M. Romeo, A. O’Brien (OFF)

Subs Used: J. Bodvarsson, C. Mahoney

Cardiff City: N. Etheridge, L. Peltier, J. Bennett, S. Morrison, A. Flint, J. Ralls, M. Pack, L. Tomlin (OFF), G. Whyte, D. Ward (OFF), J. Hoilett (OFF)

Subs Used: J. Murphy, C. Patterson, O. Bogle