Match ends, Millwall 3, Bradford City 3.
MillwallMillwall3BradfordBradford City3
Ricardo Fuller's late goal earned Millwall an FA Cup third round replay with Bradford City as they shared a six-goal thriller at The Den.
Billy Knott's powerful shot put the visitors ahead before Scott McDonald equalised with a diving header.
Fuller steered in McDonald's cross to put the Lions in front but an own-goal from Sid Nelson and Knott's volley gave Bradford the lead once more.
Some fine work from Magaye Gueye then set up Fuller to slot home a leveller.
Ian Holloway's struggling Millwall side went into the match with just two wins in 19 Championship games, while by contrast the visitors were unbeaten in eight games in League One.
The lack of confidence was evident for Bradford's opener as the home defence failed to clear Alan Sheehan's corner and Knott pounced to fire the ball home from eight yards.
Fuller had a goal disallowed for the hosts on the quarter-hour mark after Danny Shittu was flagged offside but Bradford almost doubled their lead as Andy Halliday volleyed James Hanson's knock-down over the bar.
Millwall eventually worked their way back into the match and their pressure was rewarded as Lee Martin whipped in a fine cross from the left which the diving McDonald neatly nodded in at the near post to equalise for the first time.
After the break the hosts began to take control and Jamaican striker Fuller made it 2-1 with a low shot into the bottom left corner following a pacy counter-attack.
But the Bantams levelled in fortunate circumstances when Hanson's shot was deflected on to the bar, bounced off defender Nelson and into the net.
The visitors soon found themselves 3-2 up as Knott placed Filipe Morais's cross into the far corner with a well-controlled volley.
Yet just as Bradford looked like they might pull off a cup upset, substitute Gueye made a powerful run and teed up Fuller who coolly placed a shot into the bottom left corner.
Former Everton winger Gueye then almost won it for the hosts, but his stinging left-foot volley was saved by Ben Williams.
Millwall manager Ian Holloway said:
"It's just the way things are going. We showed terrific character to come back, the sort we haven't had for the last couple of games. As long as they give me what they did here then we can go the right way."
On buying and selling players during the January transfer window, Holloway added:
"I'm going to have to swap and wheel and deal. We will probably have a completely different set of players at the end of January because I cannot let it slide like this."
Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson said:
"We are still in the hat and we look forward to the replay. It was a test to see how we looked against a Championship team, an interesting benchmark to see where we stand as individuals in the team, and we went toe-to-toe with them.
"Billy Knott has real class in and around the opposition's box and those players are hard to find but he took his two goals well.
"When we got to the Capital One Cup final in 2013 the benefit for the city was immense and the financial benefit for the club helped galvanise everyone. We now take every cup competition as seriously as every league game."
Line-ups
Millwall
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Forde
- 2Dunne
- 35Nelson
- 3Shittu
- 14Briggs
- 15UpsonBooked at 23minsSubstituted forWoolfordat 89'minutes
- 26Abdou
- 30ChaplowBooked at 51minsSubstituted forGueyeat 81'minutes
- 7Martin
- 27McDonald
- 19Fuller
Substitutes
- 8Easter
- 11Woolford
- 18Gueye
- 22O'Brien
- 23Powell
- 31Martinez Cervera
- 41King
Bradford
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 12Williams
- 2Darby
- 23McArdleBooked at 54mins
- 6Sheehan
- 3Meredith
- 8Liddle
- 20Morais
- 25HallidaySubstituted forKennedyat 77'minutes
- 11KnottSubstituted forMcBurnieat 90+5'minutes
- 9Hanson
- 16SteadSubstituted forZokoat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Zoko
- 17Kennedy
- 18Routis
- 19McBurnie
- 22Urwin
- 32Wright
- 36Mottley Henry
- Referee:
- David Webb
- Attendance:
- 5,470
Match Stats
Home TeamMillwallAway TeamBradford
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home1
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Millwall 3, Bradford City 3.
Substitution
Substitution, Bradford City. Oliver McBurnie replaces Billy Knott.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ricardo Fuller (Millwall) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Danny Shittu (Millwall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Stephen Darby (Bradford City).
Post update
Attempt missed. Martyn Woolford (Millwall) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Filipe Morais (Bradford City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Martyn Woolford replaces Ed Upson.
Substitution
Substitution, Bradford City. Francois Zoko replaces Jon Stead.
Post update
Attempt saved. Magaye Gueye (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Lee Martin (Millwall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Alan Dunne (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by James Hanson (Bradford City).
Goal!
Goal! Millwall 3, Bradford City 3. Ricardo Fuller (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lee Martin.
Post update
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Danny Shittu.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Magaye Gueye replaces Richard Chaplow.
Post update
Hand ball by Filipe Morais (Bradford City).
Post update
Attempt saved. Jason Kennedy (Bradford City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Filipe Morais (Bradford City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
