Millwall led 2-0 at half-time but West Ham United fought back to claim a point at The Den on Saturday, and the Championship derby left supporters on both sides with plenty to chew over. Here is what fans made of it.

Millwall fans: proud but frustrated

The overriding mood among Millwall supporters appeared to be one of quiet pride mixed with nagging frustration. One fan, Siddie, was keen to put the result in context: "In the cold light of day we should be proud of ourselves, given all the injuries. Sturge and Arconte looked dangerous. Just ran out of steam. I still feel lots of positives here and we just need to keep going."

Others, though, had more pointed tactical observations. Andy pointed to what he saw as a decisive moment midway through the second half: "Worked their socks off, deserved half-time lead. Thought we made a bad tactical change. Sturge, who had marked Bowen out of the game, was moved to midfield and Millwall played a back three. Both West Ham's goals were not the players' fault, just a bad tactical decision, which I am sure we will learn from."

Dave was blunter still, directing his frustration squarely at manager Alex Neil: "Alex Neil has cost us nine points this season by playing three at the back in the second half when we are dominating games." That is a sharp accusation given how brightly the Lions have burned in the first half of several fixtures this term. Whether Neil adjusts his approach in the coming weeks will be worth watching.

West Ham fans: a lucky escape

From the West Ham end of the ground, the mood was more relief than celebration. Chris acknowledged just how close it had been: "Poor start, even though we knew what was going to hit us. Too many passes going astray and too slow on the ball against a strong Millwall press. Fair play to Nuno with the subs. Lucky escape."

Simon identified what he regards as a recurring weakness: "Very poor performance, inaccurate passing in the first half. Fulham proved last match that if you press us, for the most part we can't deal with it and don't have the skill in the back line to pass out or pick a pass." He also took aim at skipper Jarrod Bowen for what he described as insufficient leadership on the pitch in the opening 45 minutes, adding that potential suspensions "could impact progress moving forward" for a side currently at the top of the Championship table.

Malcolm was the most scathing of the West Ham supporters who responded: "Totally outmuscled, sloppy passing and very pedestrian particularly in the first half. Defence was all over the place and continues to be a major concern. Better second half mainly due to Millwall tiring. Much work to be done."

What it means in the table

West Ham drop two points they may feel they should have banked, but their position at the summit of the Championship remains intact for now. For Millwall, the feeling will be more acute: a 2-0 lead at home in a London derby, lost in the second half, is the sort of result that leaves marks. Neil's side have shown repeatedly they can match anyone in this division for long stretches; converting those stretches into victories is the challenge.

The debate over the second-half defensive shape is not new at The Den. If three or four supporters are raising it publicly after a derby, you can be fairly sure it is already a live discussion in the stands and the terraces. Neil will have noted it. Whether he changes tack is the question Millwall fans will be watching closely between now and the next fixture.

For West Ham, the response to back-to-back away tests will give a clearer picture of whether the promotion credentials their supporters are starting to believe in are real or the product of an early-season fixture list that has yet to fully test them.

Frequently asked

What was the score in Millwall vs West Ham?
The Championship London derby at The Den finished 2-2. Millwall led 2-0 at half-time before West Ham fought back to level in the second half.
Why did Millwall fans criticise Alex Neil after the West Ham draw?
Several supporters felt Neil's decision to switch to a back three in the second half backfired, disrupting Millwall's defensive shape and allowing West Ham back into the game from 2-0 down.
Are West Ham still top of the Championship after the Millwall draw?
According to fan and press reaction to the match, West Ham remained at the top of the Championship table despite dropping two points in the derby.