Huddersfield Town 0 Millwall 0: Town will have no fear as they go into Lions' Den, says Clarke

Well, if that is to prove to be the case, the Terriers are going to have to do it the hard way after they once again failed to make home advantage pay in the play-offs.

A goalless draw against Millwall in a keenly fought, if largely forgettable, first leg means Town have now failed to win any of the six play-off ties played at either Leeds Road or the Galpharm Stadium.

That the Yorkshire club have won promotion twice via the play-offs shows that failing to claim an advantage from the home tie need not be a barrier to reaching the final.

But there can be little doubt that Lee Clark's men now have it all to do tomorrow night when they visit English football's most intimidating arena to take on a Lions side that were only beaten once on home soil during the regular season.

Despite that, captain Peter Clarke insists Huddersfield are well-placed to go on and book a trip to Wembley.

The Terriers defender, beaten in the play-off semi-finals two years ago when wearing the colours of Southend United, said: "We are not the underdogs.

"Where we and Millwall finished in the league means nothing. It is a two-game tie to reach Wembley and we have shown over the season that we can win away from home.

"The tie is set up for us. Millwall are at home and will come out and attack us. But if we perform like we did in the first leg, then maybe we can hit them on the counter-attack.

"We have goals in the team, that is something we have shown all season.

"Millwall are at home but we feel confident we can go down there and win the tie. If we had an inferiority complex about going down to Millwall, we might as well have finished in mid-table.

"We have a belief we can go on and win promotion come the end of the month."

Clarke was at the heart of the two most notable incidents of a first leg that, for all the endeavour of both sides, was a largely edgy and nervous affair.

First, in blocking a goalbound shot from Scott Barron on 12 minutes, the Town captain handled the ball only for referee Darren Deadman to turn down vociferous appeals from the Lions.

Replays clearly showed that Clarke had used his hand with the only debate, as Lions manager Kenny Jackett conceded afterwards, being whether the shot coming from such close range meant it was ball to hand and not the other way round.

If Deadman's decision to turn that appeal down was understandable, the same could not be said just before the hour when Barron was sent tumbling by a clip on the ankle from Clarke.

Millwall were rightly aggrieved not to get at least one of the decisions going their way, though on the balance of play maybe justice was done in terms of the scoreline.

Certainly, for much of the game it was Town who had seemed the more likely to break the deadlock.

With Danny Drinkwater using the ball intelligently in midfield and Lee Novak proving a constant threat up front on his first start since mid-March, the home side showed why they have been beaten just once in the league at the Galpharm all season.

Clark's men had clearly been determined to take the game to the visitors with it taking just three minutes for the Millwall goal to come under pressure when only a desperate clearance prevented a cross from Gary Roberts reaching Jordan Rhodes.

Then, after Deadman had turned down the visitors' first penalty appeal, a sweeping move involving Roberts and Novak culminated in Drinkwater scuffing a shot straight at David Forde.

More good work from Novak created Town's best chance of the afternoon on 27 minutes when, after collecting a fine pass from Roberts, he rolled the ball invitingly across the six-yard box for Rhodes.

A goal seemed certain, only for Paul Robinson to put the Town striker under sufficient pressure that his resulting shot went over.

It was a major let-off for Millwall, who then had goalkeeper Forde to thank for an acrobatic save to keep out a curled free-kick from Drinkwater.

The visitors, the penalty shout by Barron apart, hardly threatened in the first half but they improved after the break with Neil Harris bringing a fine save from Alex Smithies with a snapshot from the edge of the area.

Barron's second appeal for a spot-kick was then followed by Millwall getting the ball in the net on 63 minutes when Harris did a passable impression of Maradona to beat Smithies with a deft handball, a trick that earned the Lions' record goalscorer a yellow card.

Huddersfield, who finished strongly, then saw their own 'goal', Novak firing in from close range, chalked off for offside to ensure the tie is beautifully balanced ahead of tomorrow's second leg.

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Scott Barron

Normally a left-back, Barron, above left, played further forward on the flank and impressed throughout. It was no coincidence that Millwall's most promising moment came courtesy of one of his darting runs just before the hour that was brought to an end when Peter Clarke clipped his ankle. Barron was also responsible for the strong first-half appeal for a penalty when his shot was handled by Clarke.

Villain: Missile-throwing fans from both clubs

The stakes may have been high and the tension palpable around the stadium, but that is no excuse for the behaviour of a small section of both clubs' support after the final whistle. After a few dozen Millwall fans had surged to the corner of their own stand, missiles were exchanged before police restored order by baton-charging the visitors back. Ugly scenes.

Key moment

59th minute: As the ball broke on the Millwall left, Scott Barron was quick to react as he slalomed round one challenge before bursting into the penalty area. Then, after stepping inside central defender Peter Clarke, pictured, the Lions man was caught on the ankle by the Town captain and went down for what should have been a penalty. Instead, referee Darren Deadman waved play on to leave the visiting players and supporters fuming at his decision.

Ref watch

Darren Deadman: Not one of the official's better days as two legitimate appeals for a penalty from Millwall were turned down. The first was maybe understandable with Peter Clarke being struck on the hand from close range but that was not the case with the second with Scott Barron being clearly upended in the area. If it was not a foul then it was a dive, and, therefore, a booking. Deadman did get right the yellow card for Neil Harris after the Lions veteran had clearly flicked the ball into the net with his hand.

Verdict

Both sides produced plenty of endeavour but lacked the polish to turn promising situations into goals. Huddersfield can certainly play a lot better in the final third, but so can Millwall to leave tomorrow night's second leg at The Den beautifully poised. The advantage is probably just with the Lions, though anyone thinking of writing off a Town side dripping with goal threat would be foolish to do so.

Quote of the day

I don't think he had the right footwear on.

– Peter Clarke's theory as to why Scott Barron had fallen to ground for the second of Millwall's penalty appeals.

Next game

Millwall v Huddersfield Town; Tomorrow, 7.45pm; League One play-off semi-final second leg.