No festive cheer for Millwall as Tudgay grabs late Barnsley winner (From News Shopper)

Millwall 1-2 Barnsley

5:03pm Saturday 22nd December 2012 in Millwall By Paul Green

MARCUS Tudgay’s 93rd minute winner consigned 10-man Millwall to a shock home defeat at the hands of struggling Barnsley this afternoon.

Darius Henderson missed a 25th minute penalty before the Tykes went in front six minutes later through Stephen Dawson.

Adam Smith received a red card early in the second half after going in for a 50-50 challenge but the 10-men were back on terms in the 80th minute thanks to Chris Wood.

However, the hosts were dealt a sucker punch deep into time added on as Tudgay beat the offside trap before grabbing the decisive goal.

Kenny Jackett made two changes from the side which drew 2-2 at Brighton on Tuesday evening as Henderson and Liam Feeney came in to the starting XI.

Jack Smith was named on the bench but there was no involvement for Chris Taylor.

Andy Keogh, who was withdrawn during the warm up at Brighton with a long standing toe injury, failed to recover in time despite Jackett suggesting on Thursday he would be OK to play.

Henderson would have been better to have gone for goal himself when presented with a seventh minute opportunity but instead opted to try and find Wood but without success.

David Forde did well to push out Tudgay’s shot from the edge of the area moments later, while the former Sheffield Wednesday striker blasted a 16th minute volley wildly over the bar.

Mark Beevers’ lopping header was easily saved by Luke Steele, while Jim O’Brien shot inches wide at the other end.

Barnsley were forced into an unwanted 20th minute substitution as Martin Cranie came off for Scott Wiseman.

The Lions were presented with a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock on 2 minutes when Henderson was felled in the box by Wiseman.

It looked a harsh decision as the Millwall striker took a while to go to ground but it was he who took the spot-kick, blasting it high and wide.

Millwall paid the price for Henderson’s awful effort six minutes later as Barnsley went in front when O’Brien’s initial effort was well saved by Forde but the loose ball was fired home by Dawson.

Adam Smith saw an ambitious long range effort go over the bar before Liam Trotter’s powerfully struck volley flew wide.

Henderson’s low drive was kept out by Steele but it was Barnsley who should have extended their advantage on the stroke of half-time as O’Brien fired into the side-netting.

Things went from bad to worse for Millwall nine minutes after the restart as Adam Smith was handed a straight red card for a late 50-50 challenge.

It seemed an over-reaction from referee Trevor Kettle as the tackle didn’t look that bad and Adam Smith appeared to win the ball.

Jack Smith was introduced for Liam Feeney 10 minutes later but Barnsley should have added a second when Tudgay headed inches wide from six yards.

John Stones made a decent tackle to prevent Wood latching onto a long ball inside the area moments before Henderson was hauled off for Dany N’Guessan.

O’Brien’s close range effort went wide seconds before he was replaced by ex-Hammer Marlon Harewood.

Barnsley made a telling clearance to prevent Wood scoring from Henry’s low ball after the winger had broken into the area.

But the 10-men were back on terms in the 80th minute when Trotter picked out Wood, who burst into the box and drilled a low shot past Steele.

N’Guessan was unfortunate his boot didn’t connect with the ball when lining up a shot after he had taken on a trio of visiting defenders inside the area.

Beevers claimed he had been hauled down when a Millwall corner was being taken but referee Trevor Kettle ignored his pleas for a penalty.

But there was a sickening late blow for the Lions in the third minute of stoppage time as there offside claims were ignored against Tudgay, who simply kept running before coolly lifting a shot over Forde.

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt

Millwall: Forde, A Smith, Shittu, Beevers, Lowry, Henry, Wright, Trotter, Feeney (J Smith 64), Henderson (N’Guessan 69), Wood. Subs not used: M Taylor, Dunne, Batt, Osborne, Malone. Att: 10,118.