Ripley saves two penalties as Latics draw

DOUBLE PENALTY SAVE . . . Connor Ripley

ATHLETIC 0, MILLWALL 0

CONNOR Ripley saved two penalties in the final five minutes from Lee Gregory as a goalless game ended in incredible circumstances.

Gregory's 90th-minute spot-kick was stopped by the goalkeeper, diving to his right, after Chris Taylor had tripped Gregory in the box.

Then, with the final kick of the game on 95 minutes, Gregory went the other way but found the same result, Ripley parrying the ball out to preserve a point for John Sheridan's side after Michael Ngoo had handled from a Shane Ferguson's free-kick.

On a muddy, difficult surface, Harry Smith went close with a first-half header for the visitors, his effort flashing just wide after beating Ripley to the jump, before Paul Green nodded over the top for the hosts who had more of the territory in the first half.

Athletic were on the front foot after the break and twice Tope Obadeyi shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Peter Clarke had to be alert to clear off the line from a shot by Lions substitute Fred Onyedinma in the 64th minute, before Ollie Banks flashed narrowly off target from 25 yards out.

Banks the forced Tom King into an awkward low save from long range before late pressure from Millwall earned two penalties in the view of referee Carl Boyeson – but in the end, thanks to Ripley, no more than a single point.