by Maurice Woolf

MILLWALL manager George Graham was beaming after his side's injury-time win over Derby at the Den on Tuesday.

He exclaimed: "Our new motto is we aim to please. We give the crowd exciting, attacking football. This was another great game. "The atmosphere was tremendous and you fell the buzz around the ground. The crowd helped us to stage a crowd helped us to stage a tremendous fight-back."

There was no stopping the Lions now. They mounted attack after attack, and had shots kept out by the woodwork and the calm Derby defence, well marshalled by Kenny Burns.

But in injury time the home side received its reward. Otulakowski was brought down twice in the penalty area. The first time seemed a better case for a penalty, but referee David Letts pointed to the spot for the second.

Steve Lovell made no mistake, and Burns, who was one of four, Derby players booked (two Millwall players, Keith Stevens and Les Briley, also received cautions), led a protest, but Letts stuck to his decision.

MILLWALL: Sansome; Stevens, Roffey, Briley, Smith, Cusack, Lowndes, Bremner, Neal, Chatterton (Lovell. 30 mins), Otulakowski.

DERBY: Burridge; Palmer, Buckley, Richardson, Streete, Burns, Taylor, Wilson, Davison, Hooks, Robertson. Sub: Pratley.

by Gerald Mortimer

Heroic defending and Kevin Wilson's 13th goal of the season counted for nothing at the Den last night.

Millwall substitute Steve Lovell scored from an injury time penalty and even then there was time for Derby County to have strong appeals turned down in the other area.

The Derby players felt cheated and Arthur Cox went on the field after the final whistle to make sure none of them abused Aldershot referee David Letts.

It was a wise precaution, for feeling had run high throughout a hectic and exciting game. The atmosphere at the Den is always hostile and heaven knows what it will be like when Chelsea are there in the Milk Cup next week.

The referee cautioned six players and seemed to imagine that waving his book around in this manner indicated that he had an iron grip on the game. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

While there is little point in railing at referees, who have a hard job and always have the final word, it would be idle to pretend that the standard in the Football League is particularly good

The second-half had lasted 47 minutes when Paul Richardson tried to stop Anton Otulakowski, the best midfield player the Rams have encountered in the Third Division this season.

There were appeals for a penalty but Richardson's second touch, which put the ball behind, appeared much cleaner. This time, however, the penalty was given and Lovell hit it in perfectly. 

Derby, who, had battled tremendously hard, refused to give up even then and an excellent free kick by Floyd Streete was turned against the bar.

As Wilson went for the header to grab an equaliser, there was more than a hint of a push and a suggestion of handling. This time, however, a corner was the only outcome.

The barracking of Derby's coloured players by some of the London supporters was most unpleasant. Charlie Palmer was provoked into retaliatory gestures late in the game but Streete ran across to stop him.

It is easy to sympathise with Palmer but to be drawn like that is to lose concentration and Streete's greater experience showed.

Streete was one of four Derby players booked, along with Steve Buckley, Burns and Kevin Taylor. Keith Stevens and Les Briley made up the referee's bag for the night. 

Burns was absolutely magnificent. He defended majestically, often under intense pressure, and Streete was not far behind him.

Derby's competitive spirit was tremendous and they deserved at least a point from their best away performance in the League this season.

Although one crashing header from Kevin Bremner was blocked, Millwall did not get through to John Burridge much in the first-half, despite Otulakowski's inventiveness.

The reward for fine defending came after 44 minutes when Bill Roffey sliced a clearance. Wilson collected the ball, raced through the centre of the Millwall defence and hit a low shot to which Sansome got a hand.

The goalkeeper could not keep the ball out and when half-time came after 50 minutes, including several stoppages, there were visions of Derby's first league away win for 11 months.

Burrridge saved superbly at Lowndes' feet before Millwall equalised after 73 minutes, Dave Cusack heading on a corner from Dean Neal to nod the ball in from close range.

Even before that, Derby had created chances by playing the ball so well from the back.

Streete, who saved on the line when Bremner beat Burridge, put Wilson away and Sansome had to save at Bobby Davison's feet. At 1-1, Paul Hooks turned into the penalty area, but hit a fierce shot over.

From another pass by John Robertson, Wilson left Lindsay Smith for dead but fluffed his centre.

Derby performed with guts and application, with the goalkeeper and back four absolutely excellent.

The penalty against them looked harsh but it was not entirely a hard luck story.

Splendid though the defence may be, more of a midfield shield is needed. Millwall were able to play through Derby's midfield because, with Steve Powell absent, there was no consistently reliable tackler in that department. 

A strong midfield player must be top of Cox's priorities and the sooner the better because the Rams are developing on the right lines. 

Millwall: Sansome; Stevens, Roffey, Briley, Smith, Cusack, Lowndes, Bremner, Neal, Chatterton, Otulakowski. Lovell replaced Chatterton after 36 minutes.

Derby County: Burridge; Palmer, Buckley, Richardson, Streete, Burns, Taylor, Wilson, Davison, Hooks, Robertson. Sub: Pratley.

Referee: D. Letts (Aldershot)

Attendance: 5,923