Football: DENNIS IS THE MENACE

IF YOU like your football raw, with relentlessly attacking play and the sense that you just do not know what will happen next, then this was the game for you.

We knew Dennis Wise's reunion with the club that sacked him for breaking a team-mates's jaw would be a bit tasty.

We knew Wise was guaranteed not to hide in the shadows.

But we couldn't have known it would be this good. Even if the omens were there for a cracking, bruising encounter.

Wise had set the scene well by calling Leicester's decision to sack him for decking Callum Davidson a disgrace, claiming the cash- strapped club had seized the chance to save on his pounds 30,000- a- week wages.

His words ensured the focus was on the man as much as the match, and inevitably Wise was closely involved in a quite unbelievable opening period.

To add to the drama, Wise was pitched directly against Davidson as the two men strove to secure control of the midfield.

There was no doubt as to who was the early winner. Wise was keeping a close eye on Davidson when Leicester were handed a free kick inside the first minute.

He was about the only Millwall player looking alert, though, as Muzzy Izzet floated in a free kick that Matt Heath was able to rise unchallenged to secure the lead after only 44 seconds.

It was surreal. The ball was nestled in the back of the net and you could have heard a pin drop, on account of Leicester's fans being banned for this game.

Wise wasn't happy - you could tell as much as he stood on the centre circle awaiting the re-start while busily pointing his finger at Leicester's Brian Deane. It was to prove a confrontation of some significance.

Within moments, further ignominy was heaped upon the spiky midfielder. Wise missed a tackle on Davidson, allowing his old adversary to surge clear before slipping a precision pass to Jordan Stewart.

And the 20-year-old drove the ball past Tony Warner to score Leicester's second goal inside three minutes.

Wise, meanwhile, continued his niggles with the towering Deane - perhaps he should pick on someone his own size.

But this time he came out on top. Soon after, Deane was booked by Steve Bennett for a challenge on Matt Lawrence.

Deane had blown it. An inevitable second yellow card - and, of course, a red - was stuck in front of his angry face just a minute later for a brutal challenge on Wise.

An early substitution by Mark McGhee saw Steven Reid come on for his first outing of the season.

The Irish international made an immediate mark with some teasing crosses - and a goal that put Millwall back in the game

Leicester keeper Ian Walker did well to block a thumping shot from Andy Roberts, but Reid was there to blast home the rebound and lift Millwall.

It was breathless stuff. Next Davidson earned a yellow card for a foul on Wise, the two men going out of their way to shake hands afterwards.

That wasn't enough to appease Leicester boss Micky Adams.

With Deane already seething in an early bath, Adams replaced Davidson too - a move that was clearly tactical, as he couldn't afford to lose a second man.

Sir Alex Ferguson once said of Wise that he could start a fight in an empty room, but the former Chelsea man has guile as well as aggression, and with Davidson gone he dropped deeper, exerting much greater control.

He was also running a masterclass in getting up people's noses. Having goaded Deane and Davidson, he turned his attention to Izzet, who earned a second-half yellow card.

Wise tapped the free kick to Reid, whose deflected shot was parried by Walker, but Neil Harris had a perfect chance to score as the keeper lay helpless on the ground. Shockingly, he missed his header from only four yards.

The return of Reid boosted Millwall massively. He was causing Leicester real problems.

The Lions' fans have come in for their share of criticism over the last six months, but were in inspired form here, roaring their team on. Rarely can a crowd of 10,772 made such noise.

Paul Ifill responded brilliantly, and nearly struck a superb goal when rounding two Leicester defenders and curling a shot from wide that went just over.

Thanks to their extra man, Millwall dominated the second half, yet the breakthrough remained stubbornly absent.

Until, that is, Wise, stepped in to ensure he had the final saw. Sub Ben May did well to get the ball into the box from the left, and there was Wise to side-foot the equaliser.

Even then, this cauldron of excitement bubbled over. The Foxes were awarded a penalty in injury time when Lawrence brought down Trevor Benjamin.

Tony Warner, who had had a poor game until then, saved Muzzet's spot-kick.

If only football could be like this every week.

MAN OF THE MATCH DENNIS WISE

Had to be, for entertainment value alone.

MILLWALL: Warner 6, Lawrence 5, Ryan 6 (Reid 8), Nethercott 5, Ifill 8, Livermore 6, Harris 5 (May 7), Roberts 6 (Kinet 6), WISE 9, Johnson 6, Claridge 6.

LEICESTER: Walker 6, Impey 6, Sinclair 6, Izzet 7, Scowcroft 6 (Reeves 6), Davison 7 (Lewis 6), Rogers 6, Dickov 6 (Benjamin 6), Stewart 7, Heath 7, Deane 4.

MANAGER RATINGS: McGhee 6; Adams 7.

REFEREE: S Bennett 7.ATTENDANCE: 10,772

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