Football: Dennis is still a menace

DENNIS WISE saw red for the 13th time in his career - and just four minutes after coming on as sub on his managerial debut.

The straight red for a clash with Sheffield United's Chris Armstrong capped an extraordinary afternoon for caretaker boss Wise who, with his team leading 2-0, went on as sub for just 240 seconds.

But far from ruining Wise's day, he said: "It doesn't bother me about red and yellow cards.

"I certainly didn't get the ball in the tackle, but was disappointed with Rob (referee Styles).

"It was the performance that mattered and I was chuffed to bits with it. I just said 'Well done, fantastic' at the end.

"It didn't spoil the day, the lads were fantastic."

His dismissal overshadowed a terrific display by Millwall, who outclassed a United side which had won four of its previous five away games, despite having David Livermore also sent off eight minutes from time for a second bookable offence.

A Neil Harris penalty and a goal from Paul Ifill had given Millwall a comfortable lead, but in truth it was all one-way traffic for the Lions, whose crisp, incisive passing caused all sorts of problems for a square-looking Sheffield defence.

But after a succession of missed first-half chances, mostly by Bob Peeters, went begging, Wise might have been forgiven for fearing that it wasn't to be Millwall's day.

Aboubaka Fofana, on loan from Juventus for a year, repaid Wise's decision to drop himself, reshape the midfield and give the Frenchman only his third start of the season.

Fofana's pace terrified United and a forceful run ended in the 51st minute after Robert Kozluk brought him down and Neil Harris drove home the spot kick.

It was no surprise when Millwall stretched their lead 10 minutes later. Keeper Paul Gerrard did well to push a Peeters' header round a post, but the resulting corner fell to Paul Ifill, whose shot went in off Gerrard.

With regards to the full-time post of manager, Wise said: "I'm adamant that after four games win or lose I'll be done. I feel I need to do an apprenticeship before taking over somewhere full-time."

MAN OF THE MATCH PAUL IFILL

Inspirational and capped by a goal.

MILLWALL: Warner 6, Muscat 6, Ryan 7, Ward 6, Robinson 6, IFILL 8, Livermore 7, Fofana 7, Roberts 6, Peters 7, Harris 7.

SHEFF UTD: Gerrard 5, Jagielka 7, Whitlow 6, Kozluk 6, McCall 6 (Peschisolido 5), Brown 6, Morgan 6, Tonge 6, Montgomery 5 (Armstrong 5), Ward 5 (Allison 5), Ndlovu 5.

MANAGER RATINGS: Wise 8; Warnock 6.

REFEREE: R Styles 6.

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