Derby County were held to a goalless draw for the second Sky Bet Championship game in succession as Millwall stood firm at The Den.
The Rams had the best opportunities, and they can take away the positive of extending their unbeaten league run to 10 games.
Derby looked sharp on the break in the early stages, with some slick passing moves threatening to break Millwall down, with the first effort on goal coming from George Thorne who side-footed straight at Jordan Archer.
The hosts had their moments, and Tom Elliot tested Scott Carson with a strong volley from just outside the area after Lee Gregory’s knock-down with 12 minutes gone.
Andreas Weimann came into the side and was looking most likely to make something happen, and he when his right-sided cross was palmed away by Archer six minutes later, Matej Vydra’s follow up was brilliantly blocked.
The game was devoid of chances until the hour mark, when Derby began to dominate in possession, but Millwall were now a threat on the counter-attack and Curtis Davies had to recover to thwart Gregory as the striker ran through.
Gary Rowett threw on Sam Winnall and Cameron Jerome with 15 minutes to play, and the latter was into the action instantly to force a save from Archer.
The Lions had one of the game’s best chances shortly after, as Jed Wallace struck powerfully towards goal, but Carson got down well to keep it out.
Ikechi Anya came on for his first Derby league appearance since August and it was almost the fairytale return after he finished calmly when played through by Jerome, but the linesman’s flag was up.
The point ensures that Derby’s unbeaten run on the road now stands at 11 games.
Millwall: Archer; McLaughlin, Hutchinson, Cooper, Meredith; Wallace, Williams, Saville, Ferguson (Onyedinma, 72’); Gregory, Elliot.
Substitutes not used: Martin, Craig, Romeo, Mbulu, Tunnicliffe, Thompson.
Derby County: Carson; Wisdom, Keogh, Davies, Forsyth; Huddlestone, Thorne; Weimann, Vydra (Winnall, 74’), Lawrence (Anya, 82’); Nugent (Jerome, 74).
Substitutes not used: Roos, Baird, Pearce, Ledley.
Weimann had a lot of joy in the first half down the right-hand side, and he provided Derby’s best opportunity early on.
His whipped cross was pushed away by Archer and Vydra, following in, was kept out by a superb block.
Tom Huddlestone’s influence has been growing in recent months, and he ran the show here alongside George Thorne in central midfield.
He sprayed passes all night to dictate the tempo of the game, especially when the Rams were dominant in possession during the second half.
Dean Smith brings his Brentford side to Pride Park Stadium on Saturday [3rd February], before another home game the following week against Norwich City.
After that, the away trip to Sheffield Wednesday on that was pencilled in for the 17th February will now have to be rearranged after the Owls’ progression in the FA Cup.
