MILLWALL fought back from two-nil down to grab a draw in a brilliant friendly clash with London rivals Charlton Athletic.
It was the Lions first game in front fans at The Den since May but supporters were greeted with a sloppy first-half that saw Charlton pounce twice.
But the frantic match swung to and fro and a fifth goal in three games for Kevin Nisbet brought the second-half to life before Aidomo Emakhu scored a brilliant equaliser.
The match was billed as a friendly but both sides played with an intensity and seriousness that made it feel like competitive football had made a premature arrival.
Charlton were sharper and had more precise passing in the early stages of the game.
The Addicks took advantage of their more inventive start after just five minutes.
Corey Blackett-Taylor picked up the ball on the far side and chipped a well-judged cross across the face of the Millwall goal.
Karoy Anderson was there to head home unmarked.
Any hope that the goal was an early blip proved unfounded in the following minutes as Charlton began to set the tempo and look far more confident on the ball.
It was far cry from Millwall’s opening two pre-season games in front of fans, away trips to Gillingham and Sutton United, which the Championship side bossed from the early minutes.
Instead, a Charlton team featuring inexperienced but talented teenagers like Deji Elerewe and Nathan Asiimwe felt far more comfortable.
This fact was underlined by the audaciousness of the second goal.
Scott Fraser was at the centre of a brilliant one-two which pulled open the Millwall defence.
The Scottish midfielder then slipped the ball into Charlie Kirk who simply had to tap home from a few yards out.
Millwall eventually steadied themselves and had some chances of their own.
Zian Flemming showed his characteristic quality as he flicked the ball over the head of George Dobson from the edge of the box before volleying wide.
And then Charlton were almost their own worst enemies as they gave the ball away on the edge of their own area to George Saville.
He found Nisbet and the Scottish international released a powerful effort that Harry Isted had to knock over his bar.
Debutant Casper De Norre then created the best opening for the hosts as he lifted a cross to the back post for the onrushing Ryan Leonard, who couldn’t sort his feet before nudging wide.
Chances continued into the second-half, as Nisbet and Voglsammer worked the ball forward and created a brilliant opening for Zian Flemming.
He was off-balance by the time he charged into the box and fired wide.
Gary Rowett made a host of changes just after the hour mark to try and encourage further chances.
Tom Bradshaw, Billy Mitchell, Romain Esse and Niino Adom-Malaki were introduced alongside new signing Wes Harding.
It was Mitchell who helped drag Millwall back in, finding space in the middle and sliding it into Nisbet.
The Scottish striker had come to life in the second-half and rolled his finish against the post to drag the Lions back into the game.
It suddenly began to look like Championship against League One for the first time as Millwall began to move the ball quickly and with confidence.
The equaliser came as Aidomo Emakhu, introduced after 73 minutes, charged through the Charlton defence after being released by Esse.
He thundered his effort home to trigger big celebrations in the Barry Kitchener stand, the only part of the stadium open to home fans.
Esse then almost grabbed the winner as he cut inside and powered an effort at Isted, with the Charlton keeper having to frantically recover the ball on the goal line after it squeezed through his gloves.
Big cheers greeted the full-time whistle, with Millwall fans proud of their strong record against their London rivals, having not lost to them in a competitive game since 1996.
Despite the rivalry, the game began with the stadium unified in applauding Millwall’s late chairman John Berylson, who passed away earlier this month. This was the first home game since his death.
The Charlton players directed their applause at the Millwall fans in a moving moment of solidarity.
Millwall: 3-4-1-2: Long; Hutchinson (A Mitchell 74), Cooper, Wallace (Evans 46′); Leonard (Harding 63′), Saville, De Norre (Mitchell 63′), Bryan (Adom-Malaki); Flemming (Esse 63′); Voglsammer (Bradshaw 63′), Nisbet (Emakhu 74′)
Attendance: 7,143
Referee: Keith Stroud
