Newshopper
Lions boss thinks positive after Rams exit
Millwall will bounce back from last night's heartbreaking FA Cup penalty defeat at Derby.
The Lions looked to be in the driving seat in extra-time when prolific striker Steve Morison fired them in front.
However, the Rams drew level through Steven Davies to force a shootout and Danny Schofield's miss from the spot ensured it was Championship Derby who booked a fourth round spot 5-3 on penalties.
Jackett said: "It's disappointing because we scored the first goal, which is always going to be vital.
"It's frustrating not to hang on but it was a good performance and there were a number of positive things to take out of it.
"I can't criticise Danny Schofield.
"It was a well struck penalty, but Bywater has read it and made a good save.
"The FA Cup is over, but we have to get on with our league campaign now.
"We will do everything we can to get in the top six and there can be no hangover from this."
The Guardian
Life does not get any easier for Nigel Clough or Derby County. Having seen his first year as manager end with comprehensive defeat at the hands of Scunthorpe United last Saturday, a result which left the Rams dangerously close to the Championship's relegation zone, another substandard performance saw them need the latest of extra-time equalisers before beating League One Millwall on penalties in their FA Cup third-round replay last night.
Only during the penalties, none of which they missed, did Derby finally look like the side from the higher division. Steven Davies cancelled out Clinton (sic) Morrison's 108th-minute goal to take the game to a shoot-out and Dean Moxey scored the winning spot-kick after Stephen Bywater saved Millwall's second penalty by Danny Schofield.
"I thought there was grit and determination, and at times in difficult conditions, some quite reasonable play," said Clough. "I was very pleased with that, but the players know it's black and white now. They either do their jobs or they don't do their jobs."
Unlike his father, Clough has always tended to discretion in his public pronouncements but such was his disgust with his side's efforts against Scunthorpe, he said he would only pick "honest" players. Not surprisingly his selection was awaited with some interest, and the fact his options are limited by the size of his squad cannot have made the experienced striker Rob Hulse, who started against the Iron but found himself on the bench last night, feel any happier.
County should have taken the lead in the 10th minute, when Lee Croft's pass put Stephen Pearson clear but the midfielder never looked confident of beating David Forde, and the Millwall keeper blocked the shot with some ease. It quickly became clear that Derby's lack of confidence extended to the back four. Steve Morison outmuscled Miles Addison before shooting wide, and the tendency of the youngsters Jake Buxton and Moxey to panic under pressure was marked.
Marc Laird grazed the post with a header from Chris Hackett's corner, and had Lewis Grabban passed to the unmarked David Martin instead of shooting, the Lions would surely have gone in at half-time ahead. Commons, running on to a Lee Johnson chip, lobbed the ball over Forde but wide of the post five minutes after the break but the game resumed its fractured nature. It badly needed a goal and shortly after the hour should have had one when Porter, unmarked, met Pearson's low cross inside the six yard box.
Somehow the centre-forward side-footed the ball against the bar, and the crowd, at just over 7,000 the lowest ever seen at Pride Park, reacted with a level of weary disbelief which suggested expectations have become worryingly low.
Millwall could not have come closer to going ahead in the first period of extra-time when Scott Barron's shot from 22 yards beat Bywater, but came back off the inside of the goalkeeper's left-hand post. It was almost a similar story in the second period when Morison's header from a corner unnecessarily conceded by Gary Teale also hit the post. This time the ball rebounded kindly, and Morison poked it past Bywater and into the net. That looked like that but with time running out, Davies found the composure that had eluded his team-mates all evening to chip the ball over Forde after Paul Green's pass put him clear.
Daily Mail
Only a spot of respite for Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough's demand for a show of desire from his players produced the required result but it still took a penalty shoot-out to knock out League One Millwall.
Derby appeared to be heading for a fourth consecutive home defeat when Millwall's lively striker Steve Morison preyed on hesitant defending to stab in from close range in the 17th minute of extra time.
Instead they surged back with great spirit to level six minutes later, substitute Steve Davies chipping over goalkeeper David Forde after being sent clear by a clever pass from Paul Green.
Davies, Robbie Savage, Chris Porter, Gary Teale and Dean Moxey scored all Derby's penalties in the shoot-out and claim a fourth-round tie against Brentford or Doncaster.
David Martin, Jack Smith and Morison were on target for Millwall but their bold challenge was scuppered when Danny Schofield had the second of their penalties brilliantly saved by Stephen Bywater, diving far to his right.
Clough had stoked up the pressure on his team following Saturday's 4-1 home loss to Scunthorpe by insisting that those players lacking desire would be sent packing.
There was certainly no lack of purpose from Stephen Pearson when he burst clear and outpaced three Millwall defenders in a charge towards goal.
A 40-yard run ended with a tame shot, however, and Millwall responded with a Marc Laird header which was blocked on the goalline.
A tense Cup tie continued to flow from one end to the other, with Davies stabbing against the underside of the Millwall bar and Morison heading straight at Bywater from point-blank range.
Millwall defender Scott Barron thought he had settled it with a 22-yard shot which rebounded off the inside of Derby's goal but the danger was scrambled clear.
Clough said: 'We got the grit, honesty and endeavour we were looking for. To come back from behind was a good effort against a very well organised side who could be in the Championship next season. Now we need to show all those qualities week in and week out.'
Millwall manager Kenny Jackett said: 'There was an awful lot to admire in our performance. It was a cracking Cup tie and cruel for the lads to go out like that.'