Albion 0, Millwall 0.

SEAGULLS boss Jeff Wood may have had plenty to talk about in the coaches' office with Steve Gritt, but it certainly will not have included this turgid Avon Insurance combination clash at the Den.

The game was relocated to Millwall after a number of Albion's reserves fixtures, including this one, had fallen victim to the weather and the Worthing pitch, but on a raw-boned afternoon the only thing fiercer than the wind whistling round the south London stadium was some of the tackling.

Albion featured striker Dean Martin on loan from St Albans, and he was soon made aware of the harsh realities of life at this level, when he found himself up against Millwall's player/manager Keith Stevens, veteran of 500 plus football league appearances and not a few running battles during that time.

Referee Armstrong brandished five yellow cards during the course of the afternoon and not surprisingly Messrs Martin and Stevens were two of the recipients.

Chances, and indeed accurate passes, were few and far between in the first half. Albion keeper Mark Ormerod, who was beaten five times when Millwall beat Brighton in the Auto Window Shield last month, was forced into action just once early on when he tipped over a header from Andy Cook.

Brighton's only chance before the break fell to Andy Ansah but he blazed over from 20 yards on 16 minutes. Seagulls right back Peter Smith was the first name into the referee's notebook when he clashed on the touchline with Millwall's Jamie Stuart, who also saw yellow.

Throughout the game niggling little clashes occurred sporadically between various players, the passion seemingly far outweighing the football of offer.

During the second half Millwall had slightly the better of the exchanges with the best chance falling to young striker Paul Ifill of Saltdean, but he dallied too long with the goal at his mercy. Keeper Ormerod was also forced to make one excellent save for Irish Under 21 international Richard Sadlier diving to his right to keep out the strikers downward header.

The other bookings were for the aforementioned Stevens for wrestling Martin to the ground. Martin himself soon made amends by fouling Stevens and then ensured his booking by arguing with the referee. Millwall's Danny Hockton was also cautioned for dissent.

Brighton: Ormerod, Smith, Burke, Ottley, Chapman, Hobson, Ansah, McArthur (sub D. Davis 70), Ramsay, Martin, Ryan. Subs not used; Marney, A. Davis.

Millwall: Smith, Brown, Stuart, Newman, Court, Stevens, Ifill, Bircham, Sadlier, Hockton, Cook. Subs not used Dolan, Mead, Bubb.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.