Millwall 2 Wolves 2 - Report and pictures

Millwall took an early lead when Lee Gregory sidefooted past John Ruddy but Wolves levelled up on the stroke of half time when Diogo Jota turned in the recalled Helder Costa's cut-back.

Costa was the architect for Wolves' second goal not long after the break, teeing up Saiss for a superb 25-yard hit.

But Wolves couldn't hang on to their lead and with 18 minutes left Jake Cooper headed home from a corner.

Analysis

Four goals, loads of chances, endless tackles, numerous bookings, a touchline barney and a penalty appeal...

Wolves may not have got the result they came to London for but this was great Boxing Day fare at a rambunctious New Den, writes Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers.

This end to end encounter saw Wolves at their best (albeit briefly, with some wonderful passing from Neves and a scorching strike from Saiss) and worst (set pieces were a problem again and Millwall's rough tactics worked a treat).

They conceded their first goal for 389 minutes and could have let in a couple more.

They also lacked their usual control, although to be fair to the hosts they made Wolves work tremendously hard for the point they earned here.

The Lions lived up to their name and wimpering Wolves struggled to cope, particularly in the first half, but still regularly created chances and a draw was a fair result.

It means Nuno's team keep up their unbeaten record, which stretches back 10 matches. Although there will be a concern ahead of Bristol City away on Saturday with Ivan Cavaleiro and Willy Boly having gone off injured.

The Ashton Gate trip looms large - if Wolves can get through that unscathed things will look very pretty indeed.

Match report

Nuno made one change from the team that beat Ipswich 1-0 on Saturday, handing Helder Costa a first start since Villa at home in October, with Leo Bonatini dropping to the bench.

There were a couple of familiar faces in the Millwall XI with Jed Wallace and George Saville facing their former club.

Wallace had said after Wolves' win over the Lions at Molineux in September that it would be a different story at the New Den - and so it proved in one of the most entertaining first halves of Wolves' season.

The snarling hosts were feral from the off, chopping and cutting away at Wolves' midfield with Saville and Shaun Williams launching into challenges.

Millwall looked intent on getting an early goal, breaking forward in big numbers in the opening minutes and - after Matt Doherty had forced a good save from Jordan Archer - they got their reward when Wallace broke at searing pace and fed Lee Gregory who sidefooted past Ruddy.

It was a deserved lead and Wolves took a while to adjust to what was a ferocious bombardment of tackles and closing down from Neil Harris' team.

At one point Romain Saiss tried to move Wolves on in midfield and was instantly surrounded by four opposition players, while there was a brief melee of three crunching tackles in five seconds from the hosts.

It looked unlikely that Millwall could keep up the tempo and indeed Wolves did start to get their passing game going, with Doherty and Barry Douglas regularly making overlaps on the flanks to help prise Millwall open.

Before then Wolves were lucky not to be 2-0 down with Aiden O'Brien volleying wide from six yards.

But thereafter Nuno's team started to look themselves. Helder Costa, who was looking like his old self, curled a couple of decent efforts wide before shooting too close to Archer after being played in by a gorgeous Ruben Neves pass - not the first he'd offered in the half.

The hosts still threatened at the other end and on 45 minutes defender Jake Cooper headed a corner into the side netting.

It was another let off - and within seconds Wolves took full advantage when Costa danced his way to the byline and crossed low for Diogo Jota - anonymous up to this point - to slam home.

During all this Cavaleiro was down injured just outside the Millwall box, something Nuno appeared to be arguing with his counterpart Harris about, and the Portuguese forward was withdrawn at half time with Leo Bonatini coming on.

The timing of the goal was crucial and, despite Milwall enjoying the better of the start of the second half, Wolves would soon exert their authority and take the lead.

Saiss' third goal of his Wolves career was by far his best - a 25-yard belter that was too good for a flailing Archer - after great work from Costa.

That was the cue for 10 minutes of overdue control from Wolves who finally slowed down the pace of the game.

They then suffered their second injury blow of the match when Boly was withdrawn with what looked like a tight hamstring.

The Frenchman has been imperious since returning from injury in October, with Wolves only conceding three goals in his 10 appearances. Four minutes after his withdrawal Millwall were level - a corner wasn't cleared and Cooper, who had threatened twice from set pieces already, nodded home.

From there it was anyone's game. Jota had a strong penalty appeal turned down,

Key moments

12 - Matt Doherty overlaps down the right and meets Ruben Neves' pass before testing Jordan Archer at his near post.

13 - GOAL - Jed Wallace races forwards on the counter and plays in LEE GREGORY who beats John Ruddy.

15 - Aiden O'Brien volleys over from just six yards as Millwall threaten a second.

25 - Neves releases Helder Costa's who through on goal but shoots too close to the keeper.

45 - A Millwall corner is floated to the back stick where Jake Cooper heads into the side netting.

45 - GOAL - Costa dances around a defender and plays across goal to DIOGO JOTA who fires in from close range.

56 - GOAL - Costa does well to hold the ball up and then plays to ROMAIN SAISS whose 25-yarder beats Archer at his near post.

73 - GOAL - Wolves fail to deal with a corner and Cooper gets up to nod past Ruddy from three yards.

Line ups

Millwall (4-4-2): Archer; McLaughlin (Romeo, 52), Hutchinson (c), Cooper, Meredith; Wallace, Saville, Williams, O'Brien (Tunnicliffe, 82); Gregory, Elliott (Morison, 60). Subs: Martin, Craig, Thompson, Onyedinma.

Goals: Gregory (13), Cooper (73)

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy, Bennett, Coady (c), Boly (Miranda, 68); Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Costa (N'Diaye, 80), Cavaleiro (Bonatini, 45), Jota. Subs: Norris, Batth, Vinagre, Enobakhare.

Goals: Jota (45+3), Saiss (56)

Referee: Tim Robinson

League position

1st (55 points from 24 matches)