Football - FA Cup: Millwall 2 - 2 Rochdale

Photo: Brad Journeaux

FA Cup: Millwall v Rochdale

Rochdale and Millwall will have to replay in 10 days time after a terrific FA Cup game ended in a draw - a last minute equalising goal from Millwall midfielder Ben Thompson denying Dale passage through to the fifth round.

Jed Wallace powered home a penalty early in the first half to give Millwall the lead after Donervon Daniels’ clumsy challenge in the area.

Ian Henderson equalised with a neat finish just after the half hour to send the sides in level at the break.

Matty Done thought he had won the game for Dale with a poachers finish from very close range before Thompson’s late goal.

Dale approached this FA Cup tie with no fear and the performance certainly showed that. Making two changes from Gillingham, including a debut for new signing Ryan Delaney, Dale manager Keith Hill opted for wing backs.

Dale started the brighter of the two sides, although it was Millwall who took the lead from the penalty spot. Fred Onyedinma jinked his way into the area and when he cut back, Daniels caught his standing leg for a blatant penalty. Wallace stepped up and confidently powered the spot kick beyond the dive of Dale goalkeeper Josh Lillis.

The equaliser came fifteen minutes later and it was thoroughly deserved. Andy Cannon’s intelligent through ball was perfectly weighted for Henderson to run onto and the Dale captain curled a beauty around the onrushing David Martin.

Despite there being 32 places between the sides in the football pyramid, it was Dale who posed the biggest threat in the opening exchanges of the second half and they edged in front seven minutes after the restart. A swift counter attack from Rochdale saw Andy Cannon in a good position inside the box; his driven ball at goal looped up off a defender and over Martin in the Millwall goal. With the ball about to drop over the line, Done made sure from on the goal line with a poachers finish.

Backed by a vociferous home support, Millwall threw everything at their opponents but Dale stood strong.

Tom Elliott went close with a close range header that Lillis instinctively pushed away before the big striker put two more headers just over.

Andy Cannon’s deflected shot almost caught out Martin as Dale did not just sit back to defend.

With the intense pressure coming from Millwall it was no surprise when they forced the equaliser. Substitute Steve Morison made space down the right and sent a teasing ball into the area and Thompson hit a first time shot into the bottom corner that gave Lillis no chance.

It was a cruel end to the game for Rochdale, who deserved to go through, but the Dale manager will take plenty of positives from the performance heading back into league action on Tuesday evening.

Millwall: Martin, Romeo, Shackell (Morison 59), Cooper, Craig (c), Wallace, Tunnicliffe (Williams 85), Thompson, Ferguson, Onyedinma (Gregory 85), Elliott
Subs: (not used) Archer, McLaughlin, Meredith, Saville

Rochdale: Lillis, Daniels, McNulty, Delaney, Rafferty, Done, Camps (Adshead 51), Kitching, Cannon (Rathbone 80), Henderson (c), Andrew
Subs: (not used) Moore, Ntlhe, McGahey, Thompson, Inman

Referee: Mr A Madley
Assistant: Mr S Burt and Mr C Walchester
Fourth Official: Mr N Kinsley

Attendance: 8,346 (485 from Rochdale)