HALFWAY through, and you couldn’t get a cigarette paper between these two.

Town created the clearer-cut chances of a play-off semi-final first leg which while it failed to reach classic proportions, was pretty absorbing nonetheless.

But Millwall had two strong-looking penalty appeals turned down while both sides had goals disallowed.

With their fans roaring them on and the chance of having flair players Danny Schofield and Chris Hackett back on duty after they failed fitness tests ahead of this clash, the Lions will fancy their chances down in South Bermondsey tomorrow.

Lee Clark, though, has created a side which is strong on the counter-attack, and by pushing forward more, Millwall could leave more gaps to be exploited.

It promises to be another exciting game, and if Clark’s side can repeat the resolution and effort shown on Saturday and find more of a cutting edge in the opposition penalty area, they have every chance of earning the club a first Wembley trip since 1995.

Their closest effort of the first leg came from just outside the 18-yard box, Danny Drinkwater bringing a fine diving save from David Forde with a well-struck free-kick awarded for Paul Robinson’s 29th-minute foul on Jordan Rhodes.

Rhodes, Town’s 23-goal top scorer, had threatened two minutes earlier, but with centre-back Robinson exerting pressure, he lifted Lee Novak’s neat cut-back of a Gary Roberts pass over the bar.

Roberts, again a lively focus for Town’s build-up play, posted early notice of his threat with a teasing fourth-minute cross which had Forde flapping (he finally pawed it away from underneath his bar).

Then the winger’s precision pass in the 14th minute played in Novak, who responded superbly to being handed a first start in 11 matches.

His lay-off set up Drinkwater in space 12 yards out, but the on-loan Manchester United midfielder’s shot lacked the power to seriously stretch Forde.

Other than a Steve Morison header which was held by Alex Smithies, little had been seen of Millwall attacking-wise.

But Barron, normally a left-back but playing on the wing, was insistent they should have had a penalty when his shot was blocked by Peter Clarke, who did have his hands covering his face

Referee Darren Deadman was unimpressed, and Town breathed easily again, just as they did in the 26th minute, when Smithies slid out decisively to clear from the onrushing Morison, by now sporting a bandaged head after taking a knock which necessitated lengthy treatment.

Millwall’s most forceful phase of the game came early in the second half, when veteran striker Neil Harris had a shot saved before Barron broke through down the left, only to go down under Peter Clarke’s challenge, Deadman waving play on once again.

Harris had the ball in the net from Barron’s 63rd-minute corner, but clearly used his hand, and was booked for his trouble.

Three minutes later, it was Town fans’ celebrations which were cut short when Novak shot home, only to see a flag raised after offside against Rhodes during the build-up.

Town were the more forceful for the remainder, with Lee Peltier’s teasing cross evading both Novak and Rhodes by inches.

Pilkington couldn’t get an 86th-minute free-kick over the defensive wall while Novak’s close-range back-heeled effort from Peter Clarke’s nod down was blocked.

Then, with the game two minutes into stoppage time, Pilkington’s low shot was held, meaning Town have still to win in any of their six home play-off games stretching back to 1992.

They have, of course, still made two finals, and the chance of a third remains very much alive.