With away fans banned, Fat Stat thought that he was going to get an exclusive as his one and only FA contact had managed to get him a free seat the visitors suite. Unfortunately the contact got cold feet at the last minute - and so, much like the Nottm Forest local paper reporter - Fat Stat wasn't allowed in. This allowed Fat Stat to go to his daughter's first birthday party, but means that you'll have to put up with a report from me - who also wasn't at the match. I'm afraid I couldn't afford the £500 that somebody paid to get a ticket to sit next to Sir Jack in the Director's box.

There were a lot of connections in this match. Kennedy and Rae in the Wolves side were ex-Millwall heroes (although Rae got booed every time he got the ball). Claridge for Millwall was not exactly a Wolves hero, but he did used to play for us. Last but not least, Millwall's manager Mark McGhee, left Wolves in acrimony and is largely still unpopular with Wolves' fans, despite taking us to the play-offs and an FA Cup semi-final in successive seasons. True to form McGhee had managed to wind up the opposition (i.e. us) before the match by saying he'd love to beat Wolves and was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to do it in front of their fans. Cheers, Mark.

The Wolves starting line up was pretty much as expected with Ince and Cooper returning, but there was also a surprise as Sturridge replaced Miller. Millwall had a few early chances with Ifill bursting into the area but being brushed off the ball by Clyde, and Murray plucking saving a header as Claridge was preparing to pounce. But Wolves signalled their intent when a Rae through ball seemed to be inch perfect for Cole, only for a last minute challenge to deny Cole a chance on goal.

Wolves took the lead on five minutes when Cole picked up the ball deep in the Millwall half and set Kennedy clear on the left wing. Kennedy burst into the area and, with the Millwall defence closing in, he chipped the ball over the advancing Millwall keeper, Warner, and into the back of the net. Millwall 0 Wolves 1

Murray was then called upon to keep Wolves in the match making a good save from Braniff and blocking a Claridge cross, but mainly the England under 21 keeper was plucking high balls from the air

Wolves looked dangerous on the break, with Cole shooting just wide from a Rae pass. Cole also had the ball taken off his toe by a last minute challenge, after some good work and ball from Sturridge.

Millwall managed to get the ball in the back of the net on 20 minutes, and it was that man Claridge who slotted home. Fortunately the linesman had already flagged for offside. A perfect chance to taunt the already-celebrating Millwall fans, but of course there was no Wolves fans there to do it. However, just before half-time the Millwall fans had something to really cheer about. A Millwall corner was punched clear by Murray, but the clearance fell straight to Roberts who hit the ball sweetly from the edge of the area to beat the two Wolves players on the line. Millwall 1 Wolves 1 against the run of play. Millwall scoring just before half-time raised fears for what might happen in the second half. Best time to score and all that.

HT Millwall 1 Wolves 1

Millwall did indeed start the second half brighter. A well placed through-ball set Ifill free but, after a good run where he beat Edworthy, his goal-bound shot was blocked by Ince.

But Wolves came back into it and Cole's shot was saved after he had been set up by Kennedy. And then Warner had to save a rasping shot from Rae.

A superb chance then fell to Sturridge, but he couldn't capitalise. An Irwin free kick was cleared only as far as Rae, who crossed the ball back to Cooper. He threaded the ball to Sturridge in the box, but last year's leading scorer was a foot wide of the goal with his shot.

At the other end Lescott made a couple of timely interceptions, but it was Ndah, on for the injured Cole, who should have secured the points. Kennedy set him free on the left, and one on one, Ndah shot wide. The game ended with Jones ruing the missed chances, and Wolves sitting in seventh position going into the Christmas period.

With half the games gone, the predictable half term has to be 'could do better'. Unfortunately without Blake its difficult to know how we can.

FT Millwall 1 Wolves 1