Danny Graham and Kevin Gall were late additions to the United injury list ahead of this mouthwatering clash in the Lions Den, meaning that Luke Joyce was handed his second start of the season in midfield.

Derek Holmes was also ruled out, following his scoring heroics against Oldham last weekend, bringing YTS players Shaun Vipond and Steve Hindmarch on to the bench.

Early pressure from the Cumbrians brought Pidgeley in to play as the visitors pushed for the early opening, and both Livesey and Lumsdon can count themselves unlucky at not registering a goal for themselves after good play.

Johann Smith started it off by winning a ball that he had no right to get to, tight on the touchline, when he robbed Craig of possession, before forcing Robinson to turn it behind for a corner. Jeff Smith delivered it, and the half clearance dropped nicely for Lumsdon, who volleyed early from 20 yards out. Pidgeley saw it late, but was able to scramble across and push it behind for a corner.

Jeff Smith was the set piece taker once more, and Aranalde was able to recover the deep cross when he swept it back in to the danger area from the back post. Livesey was first to react, swinging his left boot through it from 10 yards out, but Pidgeley was placed to palm it over the bar.

The third of the corners was won by Joyce but, under pressure from Brammer, he could only nod it high, allowing the Millwall stopper to scoop it in to his arms from just under the crossbar.

The Lions came back in to it on 8 minutes when Senda set Byfield free on the right wing. The bustling striker got in to a crossing position, but the ball bounced harmlessly away as he found that no-one had followed his run.

The Lions fans rose in unison on 10 minutes when Byfield went round his man and cut in to the Carlisle box. Two players challenged, and the Millwall forward hit the floor, accompanied by screams for a penalty. Mr Joslin was quick to make his decision, though, and had no hesitation in waving play on.

The game became a midfield battle with neither side able to stamp their authority, with defensive play very much on top. Danny Senda almost crafted an opening in the 29th minute when he sprinted away on the right, but the red shirts were well set once more, and were able to clear their lines.

Senda started things off again on 33 minutes when he cut inside and found Elliott in space. He fed Brighton on the edge of the box, but he went for a curler in to the top corner, managing only to rifle the ball well wide when he had other options available. Senda had a weak claim for a penalty 60 seconds later, when he bumped in to Aranalde in the box, but it was a shout that was never going to interest the officials.

United left the field with job done after the first 45 minutes, having fought for everything in midfield and having kept the Lions at bay.

Half Time: Millwall 0 - 0 United

Things were still very tight after the break, but Millwall were first to get forward with any kind of purpose when Byfield collected a Robinson pass on the right. The Lions forward twisted and turned before delivering a fizzing cross that Westwood was able to gather on his line.

The home side brought things to life in the 53rd minute when Byfield switched wings, picking the ball up on the left. Combining with Brighton and Craig they got the ball over, where Harris found himself unmarked, 8 yards out and in the centre of the area. His first touch wasn't the best, but it took him towards the advancing Keiren Westwood. A drag over left the United keeper on the floor and Harris was able to lift the ball in to the empty net to give his side the lead.

The lead was almost doubled 60 seconds later when Harris  dug a lob out of nothing from 19 yards out. Westwood was back tracking, and was very relieved to see it drop just the wrong side of the post.

United pressed forward after the goal, trying to get behind the Lions, and Lumsdon thought he'd found a way through with a ball over the top from a Jeff Smith corner. Garner was on to it, but the move was brought to an end by the offside flag. Johann Smith then used his pace on two occasions down the right, and was the provider of goal scoring opportunities on both occasions.

The first came when he cut in and found Jeff Smith 12 yards from goal, but the left winger took a heavy touch and the ball ran on to Pidgeley. On 64 minutes he beat his marker again and rolled a lovely pass towards the penalty spot. Joe Garner was there this time, but he lost his composure and scuffed his volley in to Robinson, who was then able to get it away.

Millwall should have made things much more comfortable in the 66th minute when Byfield harried his way in to the box, and wrestled for the ball. he won it, helping it on to Brighton, who was on his own and just 7 yards out. Westwood chased out to greet him, and he did enough to put the Lions midfielder off, and he sent his wild effort high in to the stands much to the derision of the crowd.

Having seen one chance spurned at one end, Carlisle would go on to waste one of their own in the 68th minute. Garner won a header out wide, and Jeff Smith was able to take it on and run towards the box. He found Joyce, who was in a decent shooting position, but he unselfishly rolled it in to the path of the overlapping Johann Smith. The big American forward had just the keeper to beat, but his placed shot brought a fine save from Pidgeley, who was able to get low and tip it round for a corner.

Darren Byfield was having a much better half for the home side and he was the catalyst in the 77th minute when he shouted for a ball over the top. He took it down, fed it out to Brighton, and then pulled two men away to make space for the cross. Harris was up for it, but he could only flick it on to where Senda was waiting. The ball was crossed back in quickly, and Harris was first to, nodding it in to the waiting arms of Keiren Westwood.

A raking 30 yard crossfield pass from Marvin Elliott carved Carlisle open in the 80th minute as he picked out Byfield, who had switched back to the right wing. He cut his cross back to Brighton, but the Lions man could only stab at it, making it easy for Westwood. Danny Livesey then had to clear off the line as Millwall upped the pressure, following another mazy Byfield run. Getting to the goal line he cut the ball back, and Harris looked to have doubled his account for the day until the United defender got his thigh in the way.

The respite was short-lived as Millwall flooded forward again, picking holes in a hesitant Cumbrian back line. Tony Craig took advantage of the space he found himself in on 82 minutes when he picked a lovely lob over Westwood's head from just inside the area. The cross bar stopped the goal on that occasion, but Harris was following up and he was happy to drill it in to the empty net to make it 2-0.

Luke Joyce had a speculative 25 yarder with seconds left on the clock, but it just wasn't United's afternoon in front of goal as a succession of Aranalde long throws were dealt with by the Millwall back line.

Shaun Vipond made his first ever senior appearance for the club when he replaced Luke Joyce deep in to time added on, but the Lions would end the game on the attack with a Shaw free kick that evaded everyone before drifting behind for a goal kick.

Goals

Millwall - Harris (53), (82)

Bookings

United - Garner (69)

Teams

Millwall - Pidgeley, Craig, Elliott, Robinson, Harris, Byfield, Brammer (Hackett 86), Brighton, Senda, Ardley (Dunne 46), Shaw. Subs - Day, Zebroski, Hubertz.

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde, Jeff Smith, Johann Smith, Thirlwell, Lumsdon (Hindmarch 84), Joyce (Vipond 90), Garner. Subs - Williams, Gray, Arnison.

Away Fans - 739