Millwall 0, City 0

PHIL Parkinson should not expect too many Christmas cards from down the Old Kent Road or Lambeth way.

The Den locals were happier showering him with one-syllable expletives during City's feisty afternoon in south-east London.

But rather than back down and seek the sanctity of the away dugout, Parkinson was willing to front up to whatever the home fans tried to throw at him – which even included a match programme launched rather ambitiously from the corporate seats halfway up the main stand.

Like a duff paper aeroplane, it managed to fly about three rows down before splitting into three or four parts. They clearly don't make them as sturdy as Bradford City managers.

Parkinson took all the profanity-laden invective on broad shoulders. At the final whistle, he even turned to wave at his baiters – who responded 'in kind'.

To coin that well-worn Millwall phrase, no-one liked him and he didn't care.

Deep down, his refusal to cower will have probably earned some grudging respect from the home faithful – even if they still view him as a Charlton "wotsit".

Parkinson invoked the supporters' wrath for his reaction to a clumsy touchline challenge on Mark Marshall from Fred Onyedinma. With the substitute pole-axed, the whole coaching staff sprung into the action and were straight into the referee's ear.

That stirred a furious response from the Lions fans, who showered the City boss with their own unrepeatable opinions for the remainder of the game.

But the way the dugout stood up for their player was manufactured – evidence that they had the team's back.

The players had fought tooth and nail to earn their point in the most uncompromising of environments and the staff were doing their bit to show support.

Parkinson had been bullied at Millwall before – one 4-0 thumping in his Charlton days remains a vividly painful memory more than five years on.

You stand back and do nothing in that bear-pit atmosphere and you go home with nothing; rather a flea in the ear and a point in the bag than a tale of timid resistance.

Saturday was one of those afternoons to be brave and take one for the team when needed. Defenders, in particular, had to earn their corn.

City's back five – and you must include Ben Williams for a second-half wonder save from his Millwall namesake Shaun – certainly warranted their clean-sheet bonus.

Alvin Martin, no shrinking violet during his days at the heart of West Ham's defence, watched approvingly from the press box alongside me.

Young Reece Burke, looking more and more a Hammers number five of the future, caught his eye with another increasingly mature display. So did Rory McArdle, heading and blocking everything in his path.

James Meredith played with more conviction as the game progressed; captain Stephen Darby led from the front with every fully-committed challenge.

Darby, who must have headed the ball more in one game than he had all season, produced one goal-saving nick to take the ball away from Lee Gregory right in front of his own posts.

But the defensive-dominated edge to the contest was best summed up by the sight of Millwall skipper Tony Craig being helped off injured after paying the price for stretching every sinew to block Devante Cole's shot at source and taking the impact full on.

As 0-0s go, it was absorbing rather than dull despite the lack of genuine efforts on goal. Like two rising heavyweights testing each other out, the in-form sides jabbed and prodded but never found their way through a steely guard.

Cole and Craig had been involved in the most contentious moment which threatened Millwall's fourth home shut-out on the bounce.

James Hanson, relishing the inevitable stick from the stands after the summer shenanigans, nodded Kyel Reid's cross into his strike partner's path. But Cole looked to be knocked down from behind as Craig tried frantically to repair the situation.

Referee Kevin Johnson was one of the few in the place to remain unmoved. "I'd told the lads before the game not to expect any decisions," said a rueful Parkinson later.

Reid then nearly pinched a goal when Millwall's back four inexplicably failed to clear out a Lee Evans long throw – the only time either backline went walkabout.

The home side looked to up the ante in the second half and City's attempts to counter often fell short in the final third of the pitch. Reid, who had right back Carlos Edwards unsure whether to stick or twist throughout, frustratingly twice overran the ball out of play when the break was on.

The crowd stoked up an increasingly boisterous atmosphere with that eerie chorus of "Mill" that just hung in the air.

McArdle said: "I don't know what they were singing or shouting but suddenly it came out of nowhere. You could see it lifted them but it also spurred us on to keep going.

"It's only the second time I've played at Millwall. I'd never been there before the FA Cup game last season. It is an experience. But we knew what to expect and the lads who'd maybe not seen it before handled it well."

McArdle was one of only four players wearing traditional black boots. No surprise that Hanson and Darby were the others in the City ranks.

But despite the array of colourful footwear on show, there was a distinct old-school feel about everything.

Proper tests for either keeper still remained at a premium until the 74th minute.

Then former Leeds flop Steve Morison squared for Shaun Williams, who chested it under control on the edge of the box before unleashing a ferocious drive bound for the top corner.

But City keeper Williams, decked appropriately for Halloween in pumpkin orange, was fully alert to the approaching peril and superbly saved over the bar. An impressive point had been secured.

Parkinson said: "I keep using the word mentality but we showed that again. This was a bigger test than any we've had and we relished the challenge.

"The Millwall atmosphere is brilliant. It's a bit like at Bradford with a real vociferous crowd who are going to appeal for everything.

"We've taken a while to get that spirit and determination in the dressing room that everyone's going to fight for each other. I think we've got that now."

Attendance: 9,367