Ten man Cheltenham went down to their sixth defeat in eight games this season but they put up a more encouraging away performance this time.

Martin Allen has his team working hard and they held Millwall for 70 minutes despite having Barry Hayles sent off after only 27.

Hayles went following an aerial challenge - referee Jon Moss presumably seeing a high elbow - but Cheltenham went on to create two excellent chances after that with Alex Russell hitting the post and Paul Connor seeing a header saved by the goalkeeper from close range.

The deadlock was finally broken with what appeared to be a harsh penalty, although the second strike from David Martin was a clean, well struck shot.

This game had more spice to it than previous visits to Millwall - due to the presence of former West Ham player Allen in the Cheltenham dugout - but Cheltenham competed well enough and can count themselves a little aggrieved to have been on the receiving end of two crucial decisions.

TEAM NEWS: Manager Martin Allen made three changes from the team that defeated Bristol Rovers on Tuesday evening. New loan signing Drissa Diallo replaced Andy Gallinagh at right back and there was a return to the side for Paul Connor, who started in the centre of midfield for the first time in his career. The third change was enforced in the centre of defence where Shane Duff failed a fitness test on his injured Achilles and Michael Townsend returned to the line-up.
Millwall made one change with Serbian-born forward Ahmet Brkovic replacing the suspended Tresor Kandol in attack.

5th minute: Millwall win their second corner of a positive opening spell by the home side. The move ends with Shane Higgs making a diving save from a Gary Alexander header.

11: Millwall striker Lewis Grabban plays a clever one-two with right-back Chris Hackett but is unable to make firm contact with his cross. Debutant Diallo lies down on the floor to head it back to Higgs!

12: Grabban gets away from the Cheltenham defence and bears down on goal but Michael Townsend recovers to make a fine tackle.

17: Millwall shout for a penalty when a cross from Brkovic bounces up and hits Diallo but referee Jon Moss has none of it.

23: Cheltenham lose the ball in midfield and Millwall are quick onto the counter. Brkovic feeds Grabban who turns sharply but his shot clears the crossbar. Millwall's central midfield pair of Ali Fuseini and Jimmy Abdou are hustling and bustling in midfield, making life difficult for the Robins.

24: Lloyd Owusu runs onto a pass from Josh Low but Cheltenham's first shot of the game is mis-hit and goalkeeper David Forde gathers easily.

25 SUBSTITUTION: David Bird for Josh Low. Bird slots into central midfield with Connor moved to the right.

27 SENDING OFF: Barry Hayles jumps for a ball with defender Paul Robinson, who goes to ground holding his head. Referee Moss sends off Hayles, presumably for a high elbow.

35: A long throw from Bird is half cleared to Alex Russell on the edge of the box. His low, left foot drive strikes the base of Forde's right-hand post and bounces out.

44: Millwall left-back Tony Craig picks out Alexander with a cross but his half-volleyed shot lacks the power to beat Higgs.

HALF TIME: 0-0

56: Great chance for the Robins. Owusu crosses from the right, Scott Murray hooks it back across goal and Connor heads it from less than six yards but not quite wide enough of Forde, who makes a reaction save.

57 SUBSTITUTION: Millwall take off Ahmet Brkovic and send on Adrian Forbes in a like-for-like swap.

60: Paul Robinson releases Forbes down the right with the whole Cheltenham defence appealing for offside. The flag stays down and Forbes feeds Alexander, whose powerful shot is parried by Higgs.

61: The resulting corner ends with a shot from Grabban that flies well wide.

62 SUBSTITUTION: Ashley Vincent replaces Owusu, who has done most of the running up front on his own since the sending off.

62 BOOKING: Owusu is yellow carded for taking too long to leave the field.

65: Alexander dispays some quick feet on the edge of the box to engineer himself a shooting chance but blasts over the crossbar.

68: Forbes heads at goal from a Chris Hackett cross but Higgs gathers comfortably. Millwall starting to build up some pressure and making the extra man count a little.

70 PENALTY: Long ball from Craig finds Alexander running into the box with Gavin Caines alongside him. There appears minimal contact between the pair but Alexander goes to ground and the referee points to the spot. Alexander sends Higgs the wrong way to put his team in front.

73: Forbes crosses from the right. Alexander's first attempt at a shot is mis-hit but he recovers to stab another effort just over the bar.

78 SUBSTITUTION: Ben Gill for Paul Connor. Gill goes to the right of a three man midfield with Scott Murray pushed up alongside Vincent.

81 GOAL: Forbes collects a long ball on the right mid-way inside the Cheltenham half and switches the play to David Martin on the left. Martin takes a touch before smashing a left-foot shot back across Higgs and inside his far post from the corner of the penalty area. An excellent finish.

84: Diallo gets in ahead of the goalkeeper to meet an Alan Wright cross but Grabban boots the ball off the line.

89: Alex Russell shoots high over the bar from distance.

90+1 Forbes sends a flying volley over the bar after some good skill and a cross by Hackett.

90+2 Forde dives to hold a Murray header from a Wright cross.

FULL TIME

MILLWALL (4-4-2): Forde; Hackett, Robinson, Whitbread, Craig; Brkovic (Forbes 57), Abdou, Fuseini, Martin; Alexander, Grabban. Subs not used: Edwards (Gk), Frampton, Grimes, Laird

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Higgs; Diallo, Townsend, Caines, Wright; Low (Bird 25), Connor (B.Gill 78), Russell, Murray; Owusu (Vincent 62), Hayles. Subs not used: S.P.Brown (Gk), Gallinagh

REFEREE: J.Moss (West Yorkshire)

ATTENDANCE: 8,009 (169 from Cheltenham Town)