West Ham United preserved their place near the top of the Championship by fighting back for a 2-2 draw in a fiery Dockers derby at Millwall. The result at The Den on Saturday, the clubs' first competitive meeting in 14 years, keeps West Ham second in the table with 15 points from eight games.

A dramatic comeback

Millwall dominated the first half and led 2-0 at the break through goals from Caleb Taylor and Camiel Neghli. West Ham, who had arrived top of the league after a 6-0 win over Wrexham, were staring at defeat. The comeback began with 16 minutes left when Mohamadou Kanté scored, assisted by Pablo Felipe Pereira de Jesus. Konstantinos Mavropanos then headed in the equaliser from a Manor Solomon cross with ten minutes remaining, completing a dramatic turnaround.

The match's intensity boiled over in the 89th minute when Kanté received a straight red card for pulling down Kyrell Lisbie.

Historic rivalry renewed

This was the 100th competitive meeting between two clubs formed in east London's docklands in the late 19th century. West Ham originated from the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, while Millwall were founded as Millwall Athletic. A popular myth links the rivalry's ferocity to the 1926 General Strike, but historians dispute this. David Sullivan and Brian Belton noted that "the story has survived for a century and become part of the mythology surrounding the fixture." Belton added, "the strike was solid in the Millwall docks, while only a handful of workers broke ranks around Canning Town."

Past meetings have been marred by serious disorder, including a death in 1976 and widespread violence during a 2009 League Cup tie. The two most recent league meetings in the 2011-12 season passed without major incident, making this long-awaited renewal a significant event. Brief scuffles between Millwall supporters and police occurred outside the ground after the final whistle.

Looking ahead

The point is a useful one for West Ham's promotion ambitions, keeping them firmly in the automatic promotion spots with a goal difference of +11. Mavropanos, the scorer of the late equaliser, is now the team's top scorer this season with four goals. The squad will now prepare for their next Championship fixture, a home match against Queens Park Rangers on 9 October. Defender Joël Veltman remains sidelined, but the team's current standings position provides a solid platform for the challenges ahead.

First reported at The Guardian Football