Albion had an early warning of just how dangerous Millwall can be on the break.

After a threat from Claridge within the opening minute, Mayo was inside the visitors' penalty area when they counter-attacked through the area he had vacated via Ifill and Harris.

Ifill's ensuing centre towards Reid at the far post was headed away by Carpenter at the expense of a corner.

Mayo found himself in an advanced position again in the sixth minute.

He shot straight at Warner from ten yards after Dunne only partially headed clear across from Brooker.

Reid was heavily involved for Millwall in the opening stages.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder's rasping free kick from a central position 35 yards out had to be pushed over the bar by Beasant, looking into the sun.

Beasant was called into action again to fist away Reid's resulting corner as Millwall maintained their bright start.

Albion responded with a free kick by Watson which Blackwell almost headed into the path of Zamora.

Moments later Cullip helped the ball on inside the box for Zamora to head over.

Carpenter replicated Reid's earlier effort with a fiercely struck free kick from long range straight at Warner, although the keeper almost dropped it.

The momentum had switched to the Seagulls and Zamora almost gave them the lead with a low drive from a tight angle from Brooker's pass which Warner kept out with an outstretched leg.

Reid's impressive delivery from set pieces posed a few problems for the Albion defence.

Robinson met his inswinging free kick with a header which was deflected narrowly wide of the far post.

Ifill then met Reid's resulting corner with a volley at the near post which was headed away by Mayo, stationed close to the line.

A period of possession for Millwall was finally broken up by Watson's precise pass down the right wing over the head of Robinson for Barrett.

The Republic of Ireland International did well to get in a cross but it was cleared by the Lions' defence.

There was another example of the threat from Millwall on the break as Harris turned a first time lay-off into the path of the onrushing Ifill.

He made progress before firing just wide from 20 yards.

It was remarkable how often Mayo was getting into the box to support the front duo of Zamora and Barrett.

Barrett felt he was being held by Ward as he tried to turn away from the central defender midway inside the Millwall half, but referee Leake ignored his appeals.

Zamora came agonisingly close to breaking the stalemate on 31 minutes.

He turned away from Ward to strike a low left-footer through a ruck of players from 15 yards which struck the far post with Warner beaten.

It had been a tight tussle so far with little to choose between the teams.

That was the case at the Den back in September when Ward's late header from a corner sunk Martin Hinshelwood's Seagulls.

Reid and Ifill were the instigators of most of Millwall's best moments from the wide midfield positions, while Zamora was looking as menacing as ever for the Seagulls.

He demonstrated battling qualities before Rodger picked out Watson's run into the area with a raking pass, but the defender's control let him down at the vital moment.

Warner eventually dealt capably with an awkward back pass from Ward as the industrious Barrett tried to harry the keeper into a mistake.

Albion increased the pressure approaching the interval with a couple of corners in swift succession and a passage of approach play, culminating in Watson shooting tamely wide after Brooker set him up.

A competitive half ended with Harris cutting inside a couple of challenges to curl a 20-yarder just wide of the far post.

Rodger, not usually noted for his aerial ability, forced Warner into action three minutes into the restart.

The former Crystal Palace stalwart out-jumped a couple of defenders when he met Brooker's centre with a header from the edge of the six yard box which Warner tipped over.

Hearn collected the first caution of the contest in the 50th minute for a foul on Carpenter inside the centre circle.

Millwall's central midfielder had been warned by referee Leake for a tackle moments earlier, so he could have no complaints.

Barrett's insatiable work rate lifted the crowd after a lull in proceedings.

He chased the Millwall defenders into a misplaced pass into touch, then released the overlapping Rodger for a cross which was cleared for a corner.

Barrett's effort has never been in question. It's his shortage of goals which cost him his place in the starting line-up prior to Hart's four-match suspension.

Millwall continued to enjoy patches of possession but most of them came to nothing and they lacked a cutting edge.

Defences were still generally in charge and neither goalkeeper was having much to do.

Rodger almost found the net in unusual circumstances just beyond the hour mark.

He rolled a cross into the box from Watson's corner and it eluded everybody before creeping narrowly wide of the far post.

Rougier made his debut for Albion at the expense of Brooker on 62 minutes .

The new man joined Zamora upfront, with Barrett dropping back into midfield.

It proved to be an inspired substitution by Coppell as Rougier struck within three minutes.

Barrett worked the ball through for him to stab in past the advancing Warner from close range.

It was a dream start for Rougier after two goals in 12 games for Reading this term.

Barrett nearly doubled Albion's advantage with a header just wide at the near post from a corner by Rodger.

Reid blazed a free-kick from 30 yards well over the bar before youngster Ashikodi got his opportunity for Millwall in place of Harris.

The Lions made a further change a couple of minutes later, Kinet coming on for Reid.

Belgian midfielder Kinet, like Rougier, almost made an immediate impact with a left foot shot from 25 yards which narrowly missed the target.