DERBY County endured a frustrating goalless first half against Millwall at the iPro Stadium.
The visitors left the field the happier of the two teams, with the match very much in the balance.
Referee Mark Haywood dished out six yellow cards in the opening period - three to each side.
Derby were quick out the blocks but Jamie Ward was off target with two efforts inside the first three minutes.
In the ninth minute, Lee Gregory's goalbound shot was blocked by Zak Whitbread after good work from left-back Matthew Briggs.
Millwall felt they should have had a penalty from the resulting corner when Cyrus Christie appeared to push Gregory but the appeals fell on deaf ears.
Aiden O'Brien was then released over the top by Richard Chaplow but Craig Forsyth got back well to ease him off the ball.
The Lions broke from a Derby corner in the 21st minute but Gregory fired straight at Lee Grant after being freed by Chaplow.
Jordon Ibe beat two men on the left and centred for Forsyth, who could not quite take the ball in his stride.
It was end-to-end at this point and Briggs shot narrowly wide through a crowd of players following a half-cleared Millwall corner.
Ward's 20-yard curler forced David Forde into a good save, diving to his left.
Forde was then at the centre of a controversial flashpoint after 29 minutes.
Ibe went down in the box under a challenge from the keeper but rather than award a penalty, the referee booked the Derby man for diving.
A melee ensued between several members of each side, which resulted in Chris Martin and Forde being booked.
There was another sight of goal for Gregory in the 35th minute but, again, his shot from 20 yards was straight at Grant.
