MILLWALL 1 CITY 1

THE sight of Greg Abbott circulating in the Den press box before the game seemed like the perfect omen.

Those fans with a long memory may recall the head of recruitment scoring twice against Millwall in November 1984 – a win that took City top of the third tier where they would stay.

At half-time on Saturday, it looked like Stuart McCall’s present-day side that Abbott has worked so hard to help shape would be heading for similar lofty climes.

The unfortunate Byron Webster had just run the ball into his own net and City were sitting pretty above Phil Parkinson’s Bolton in the “virtual” table.

But those hopes were dashed soon after the re-start as Joe Martin got his defensive team-mate out of a hole by lashing Millwall’s equaliser.

So City have still not won at the Lions’ current home in nine attempts – their last Bermondsey victory remains at the old Den; now a housing estate less than a mile down the road.

On that occasion 28 years ago, substitute Ian Ormondroyd had the last laugh on the locals by scoring a late winner after they mocked him for falling face first on the cinder track while warming up.

Most predicted that City would take a tumble on Saturday given the on-going list of absentees and the apparent height and physical mismatch between the sides. It felt like pitching Barry McGuigan in the ring with Anthony Joshua.

But instead McCall, who was in that 1988 team, might have been celebrating another last-gasp success when Nicky Law’s shot was fingered on to the inside of the post by Millwall keeper Jordan Archer.

“I just thought hit the target and it’s in,” said the frustrated midfielder afterwards.

“I didn’t know if he saved it or a defender headed it on to the post, but then it seemed to be in slow motion rolling along the goal line and the keeper’s there to take it.

“But to come here and do as well as we did, especially first half, is testament to how well we’re playing. We completely dominated them in that half but playing football the right way.

“We seem to be getting better every game.”

Law conceded it will take a “couple of months” before he can look back and see it as a good point.

But Saturday was more than just about the result. It was yet another indicator of the growing conviction of this team.

Seven – and so nearly a maximum nine – points from away trips to Peterborough, MK Dons and Millwall is a haul that few, if any, will match this season. And they have been good value for every single one of those.

Millwall certainly noticed the difference in three months.

The scoreline was pretty much the only similarity with City’s play-off visit in May.

Just eight players in the two starting line-ups had begun that last encounter in what proved to be Phil Parkinson’s swansong – three of them in City colours.

Stephen Darby was among those as McCall gambled on throwing in the defender on the back of his gentler midweek reintroduction against Stoke’s young lads.

But it was hardly a risk. Darby, being Darby, threw himself into the fray as keenly as anyone – if anything he grew stronger as the game wore on.

He typified the resilience to Millwall’s frantic second-half pressure with two typical goal-saving interventions – the sliding tackle when Fred Onyedinma found himself in the box and in the clear was a masterclass in defensive timing and bravery.

McCall had left the skipper’s armband on Romain Vincelot so Darby could focus entirely on his own game. His performance led by example.

But this was no backs-to-the-wall affair as City tried to cling on to what they had got. Far, far from it.

For most of the first half, they had played their way round the home side keeping the ball and using it purposefully.

The midfield three of Law, Timothee Dieng and Danny Devine passed and moved to keep the play ticking; Billy Clarke, another of the survivors from before, finding those little holes where he could pull defenders out of their comfort zone.

The only thing missing – and yes, you know what’s coming – was an end product to all the promise.

Mark Marshall had Martin on toast for much of that opening period but there was nobody to feed off the supply.

That will be rectified this week with the arrival of Marc McNulty and Haris Vuckic. James Hanson should also be back in full training and other reinforcements are on the way.

McCall’s resources will be swelled by a hefty injection of fresh talent. And those players will join a team brimming with confidence.

The stats that suggested City were enjoying 91 per cent possession at one stage might have been a tad fanciful. But it was clear to the naked eye that Millwall were chasing shadows at times.

Not that the crowd were ever in the mood to credit the quality of the opposition’s play. The air was filled with the usual invective.

But Steve Morison, the battering ram centre forward, did grudgingly admit in a TV interview that City “like to pass the ball this season.”

Millwall’s approach was still the same, particularly looking to exploit their advantage in terms of feet and inches across the pitch.

Morison’s flick-ons were always going to be an issue but City were not ruffled as half-time approached. Nobody could argue McCall’s men were worth their lead at the break.

Marshall fired in a fierce effort which Archer pushed out – but only against the incoming Webster whose flailing attempts at recovery could not stop the rebound hitting his own net.

Social media was full of possible league tables during the interval. City at that stage were sitting pretty on the summit.

It was too good to last and Millwall swiftly reconnected those giddy fans with planet Earth. Shane Williams’ free-kick was half-cleared by Vincelot and Martin seized on it to lash home with his weaker right foot.

City and their 499 followers could have feared the worst with so long to go. But having survived the storm, McCall’s men had the chance to pinch it with the last kick.

Mahlon Romeo tried to be clever by his own corner flag but instead made a pig’s ear of his clearance and shanked it into the Millwall box.

Three black shirts were waiting and the ball was funnelled to Law. Cutting inside a lunging defender, his shot looked to be creeping past the back-pedalling defender on the line and into the bottom corner.

But Archer just got enough on it to save Millwall’s day. Still, City had made their point once again – the feel-good factor remains firmly intact.