New signing Sean St Ledger was substituted with what looked to be a minor niggle just before half-time as Town's U21 side held on to draw 1-1 with Millwall at the Den on Friday night. Academy striker Shane McLoughlin scored in the first half before Alfie Pavey equalised for the hosts with 15 minutes remaining.

The Lions came close to opening the scoring within the first minute when Josh Siafa crashed a shot against the crossbar with Blues keeper Michael Crowe well beaten.

Town defended well early on and then took a 15th minute lead with their first meaningful attack. Right-back Josh Emmanuel's cross found Monty Patterson who hit a shot across goal and McLoughlin slid in to tap the ball in at the back post.

Millwall came close to an equaliser a few minutes later when Dylan Casey's left-wing cross was met by the head of Callum Webb but Crowe gathered at the second attempt.

The hosts were denied by the woodwork for a second time just after the half hour mark. Kris Twardek turned and hit an effort from the edge of the box which hit the inside of Crowe's far post before being cleared to safety.

Emmanuel did well to block Pavey's low drive for a corner as half-time approached, before new signing Sean St Ledger was replaced having picked up a knock. The central defender received treatment before attempting to carry on but was probably withdrawn as a precaution given his lack of match fitness.

Mark Kennedy's side started well after the interval with McLoughlin's header looping onto the roof of the net, before Emmanuel's cross was headed across goal and wide by Patterson.

Joe Robinson then did well to get back and deflect Webb's effort over the bar, then Richard Chaplow drilled a low shot wide of the target soon after.

Chaplow had an even better chance when he got the better of Wells with a good run, before cutting in and somehow lifting the ball over the bar from six yards out.

The Londoners did eventually get back on level terms when Casey's high cross was met by the head of Alfie Pavey, who powered the ball through Crowe's legs and into the net.

Despite all their pressure, Millwall squandered their final chance to claim victory just before the final whistle when Aiden O'Brien hit a shot straight at Crowe from just inside the box.

Town defended well throughout but rode their luck at times with the home side failing to make the most of their opportunities.

St Ledger looked solid and comfortable at the centre of Town's defence until he was forced off, while trialist George Wells had another good game and will have again impressed watching boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor.

Skipper Robinson and the dangerous Cory Galvin were probably the standout performers for the Blues, both putting in good shifts to help Town claim a point.

Millwall U21s: Girling, Siafa, Casey, Abdou, Nelson, Wood, Webb (Jeffrey 62), Chaplow, Pavey, Twardek, O'Brien. Unused: Parr, Goodman, Bryon, Philpot.

Town U21s: Crowe, Emmanuel, Wells, Guldbrandsen, St Ledger (Wyatt 44), Robinson, Galvin, Benyu, McQueen, McLoughlin (Ramadan 52), Patterson (Ford 75). Unused: Marsden, Blanchfield.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

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