Peterborough United may have cause to complaint following the controversy surrounding the opening goal, when a penalty was allowed to be taken three times, but Kenny Jackett's Millwall deserved the three points they pocketed at an intimidating New Den on Monday evening.

Manager Darren Ferguson was able to call upon the services of Chris Whelpdale and Gabriel Zakuani who both returned to the starting line-up for the clash with Millwall and it was the hosts who made the brighter start with Adam Bolder superbly denied by goalkeeper Joe Lewis, who pushed the low free-kick around the post. Lewis got away with a weak punch from the resulting set-piece as the Lions, backed by a noisy crowd, tried to grab the early ascendency.

A glorious piece of work from George Boyd down the left created a heading opportunity for Aaron Mclean, but the striker couldn't keep his effort down. The hosts were certainly looking a threat and Shane Blackett was in the right place at the right time to deny a goal-bound David Martin header following a sublime cross from Bolder.

Ferguson's men were certainly having to weather an early storm with the Lions putting a lot of pressure on the Posh back four in the opening quarter of an hour with Gary Alexander particularly threatening in the air.

The lively Jason Price volleyed wide of the target on 14 minutes after a slight mix-up between Zakuani and Lewis as the ball was pumped forward by Zak Whitbread. The home side were warded a spot-kick on 22 minutes as a cross from Martin was allowed to reach Price who was bundled over by Whelpdale. Alexander stepped up and saw his penalty saved by Lewis, but the referee made him take it again. However, Lewis saved from Alexander again only for the referee to order another re-take to the dismay of the goalkeeper.

David MARTIN was given the responsibility for the third attempt at the penalty and gave Lewis no chance, sweeping the ball into the top corner. If Lewis moved the first two times then he certainly moved off his line the third time, but unsurprisingly, the goal was allowed to stand.

Television pictures appeared to show no movement on either of the three penalties by Lewis and Posh can feel extremely hard done by that they find themselves 1-0 down. The cauldron of the New Den was certainly stoked by this incident and the away faithful were singing 'One-nil to the referee' and although there was no question marks over the award of the spot-kick, the ensuing drama was hugely debatable.

Dean Keates found the roof of the net with a 25-yard free-kick on 32 minutes as Posh tried to overcome the injustice they were clearly feeling. A better first touch from Mackail-Smith would have seen him darting towards goal on 41 minutes after a Keates long-ball, but the striker couldn't deal with the awkward bounce and goalkeeper Forde pounced on the loose ball.

Scottish under 21 international Coutts floated a free-kick over the upright on 43 minutes after Mackail-Smith was upended on the edge of the box. Two minutes of stoppage time was added, slightly bizarre given that the thrice-taken penalty took around four minutes to sort out.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson made a switch at the interval with Chris Westwood replacing Shane Blackett. Lee reverted to left-back with Westwood slotting in alongside Zakuani. The change, presumably, because of the space down the left hand side that Posh enjoyed in the first period Ferguson feels Lee could exploit better.

Posh did make a bright start to the second half with Lee firing wide from distance, while Whitbread was lucky to escape a handball shout 35-yards from goal as the ball was pumped forward.

The Lions had appeals for handball themselves moments later as the ball appeared to strike the arm of Zakuani, but the referee waved away the protests. The Lions made it 2-0 on 58 minutes and it was a goal all of Posh's own doing as some poor passing across the back-four was intercepted by Martin, he drove to the by-line and delivered an inch-perfect cross to the back post where PRICE was waiting unmarked to drill the ball into the roof of the net.

Shaun Batt replaced Whelpdale on the hour with Boyd given licence to roam as Posh tried to break down their stubborn hosts by finding pockets of space around the penalty area. Martin made a fine block to deny Alexander as the Lions continued to roar with Posh looking nervous in possession.

Alexander was denied by Lewis on 72 minutes after more great work from Martin down the left who was terrorising his name-sake. Mclean was cautioned for a late foul on Scott Barron as the frustrations threatened to boil over.

Mclean then squandered a glorious opportunity to score after evading the offside trap, but he dallied and goalkeeper Forde made a routine stop with his legs. Boyd tried to overdo it as the ball ran loose and Whitbread hacked the ball away for a corner. A goal then would of set-up a grandstand finish.

Boyd was replaced with 10 minutes remaining and although he didn't get too much of the ball, it wasn't the best evening for the former Stevenage man. Coutts was denied by Forde on 84 minutes after letting fly from 25-yards, but the goalkeeper was able to comfortably stop the low effort.

Lee screwed a shot wide of the target as the game drew to a close and Ferguson will not be a happy man at his side's rather lacklustre display against their promotion rivals. Four minutes of added was indicated by the fourth official with Green firing the only chance over the bar.

Final Score: Millwall 2-0 Peterborough United

Referee: A Woolmer
Attendance: 10,518 (899 Posh fans)