By Joe B
April 12 2004

Millwall assistant boss Ray Wilkins paid tribute to the performances of Danny Dichio and Darren Moore after the Lions' 1-1 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion. Millwall only have one point to show for their Easter endeavours, after a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at the Den on Monday afternoon.

Nonetheless, it was a much improved showing from Dennis Wise’s Lions after the disappointment of a less-than-flattering 4-0 defeat at Coventry, and assistant boss Ray Wilkins thought Millwall did just enough to win.

Wilkins said: “I felt we probably merited the three points with the amount of possession we had, but it was a bit of a contest I have to say.

“I thought we played well coming off the back of that thumping on Saturday. I think we showed a lot of character and got hold of the ball and passed it well. The only thing we could complain about would be the final ball let us down a touch.”

Millwall could have won a penalty in the dying seconds had referee Scott Mathieson not adjudged Thomas Gaardsoe’s foul on Danny Dichio to have taken place outside the box.

Wilkins said: “The lads say it was inside the box and should have been a penalty kick. I thought the ref pointed to the penalty spot, but you win some decisions and you lose some. We lost one there.

“I think Gaardsoe was sent off because he was the last man and he tugged on Danny. If I’m honest, it looked soft.”

Dichio caused his former club problems all afternoon, and opened the scoring with a near post header from an inswinging Wise free kick.

Wilkins quipped: “Danny didn’t bring his brother, he played himself! That was nice to see. He was well up for it. When you’re playing against one of your old teams it gives it that extra bit of spice. He was struggling before the game to play, but he did exceptionally well.”

West Brom’s joint most expensive player, Jason Koumas was sent off for two clumsy challenges on Wise, but Baggies boss Gary Megson felt the red card was unfair.

He said: "Jason isn't that kind of player. It was for two fouls and the referee has decided that he goes. There were other people on that pitch who had committed maybe seven or eight fouls and nothing was done."

Down to ten men, West Brom got back on level terms just after the break, when Neil Clement fed substitute Lloyd Dyer - who crossed low to the far post. Fellow sub Scott Dobie slid in to covert, but Andy Johnson rammed the ball home from close range to make sure.

On the goal conceded, Wilkins said: “We’re a bit disappointed at the goal we gave away, but such is life. West Brom do fight, they give you a game even down to ten men. We got them running around a bit, but unfortunately we couldn’t break them down. Big Darren Moore at the back had a sturdy old game so full credit to them.”

The task is unlikely to be any easier away at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Wilkins said: “We’ve got some tough games coming up against sides at the bottom as well as sides vying for promotion. We’ve got a good chance as three out of our five remaining games are at home, so that makes it a bit of a bonus for us. But we’ve still got to go out and win them.”