Cardiff 1-3 Millwall

Dennis Wise restored himself to the Millwall starting line-up and helped to inspire his side to their first win in seven games.

The Lions, who have been badly affected by injuries since Wise took charge at the New Den, were full value for their victory against a lacklustre Cardiff team, who struggled to get going apart from a brief spell of pressure before the break.

Striker Neil Harris, back after a lengthy injury absence, tested Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander after just two minutes, but Millwall did not have to wait long before going ahead through a fortunate goal.

Andy Roberts curled in a corner from the left which caught in the swirling wind and changed direction before floating over Alexander's head and in at the far post.

Cardiff offered little until the half-hour mark when they equalised against the run of play, Rhys Weston crossing from the right for Peter Thorne to bundle in his seventh goal in five matches.

Minutes later a similar move almost led to a second Cardiff goal, but although Robert Earnshaw met Richard Langley's centre with a firm strike, Tony Warner pulled off a superb save to keep the scores level.

Cardiff's spell in the ascendancy was only fleeting, however, and Harris could have restored Millwall's lead just before the interval with an instinctive 25-yard volley which Alexander did well to touch wide.

They deservedly went in front on 65 minutes though when Wise clipped a ball over the Cardiff defence for Tim Cahill to score with a brave header.

Peter Sweeney then narrowly missed the target with a drive from 25 yards, before setting the seal on his side's victory with a composed finish from just inside the area after he was found in space by Cahill.