Millwall's tough reputation goes before them and it is always with some trepidation that one enters the Lions' Den.

So it was with apprehension that I saw one of the "Menace that is Millwall" go before me when a small white car drove into the supermarket car park 48 hours before our trip to the new Den.

Said car positively bristled with aggression, covered as it was with stickers and scarves, all of which carried serious health warnings to anyone not supporting Millwall.

Although in fairness, the back window warned the rest of the civilised world that "No-One Likes Us," which added to the astonishment when the driver's door opened and a very little and very old lady emerged.

She could have been operating under deep cover as the mastermind behind the toughest of tough Millwall firms but from the way she tottered off into the town centre, it seemed much more likely that she had borrowed the car and really did not know what sort of impression she had given.

This failure to live up to expectations was pretty well matched at the New Den last Saturday.

Off the pitch that is. Because despite the air of menace that surrounds Millwall, those fans that actually qualify to get home tickets did not look capable of scaring the Easter Bunny, let alone visiting supporters.

The Old Den was a seriously frightening place which I visited once and came away with my life (just) and the certain knowledge that I would not make a return trip.

I was a "guest" in the home end and they certainly proved that no-one liked them, especially each other.

The New Den is impressive despite its distinctly Colditz feel, encouraged by the fortress-like segregation which delivers away fans straight into the ground through some seriously unbreachable gates and fences.

Once in there, however, there was beer, very good pies and an excellent view of the game, all helped by the delight that is having a roof to make a noise under.

Meanwhile, the home supporters straggled in to occupy perhaps a third of this impressive stadium and it was only ten minutes or so into the game before they had fallen out with themselves and the first of a series of sending offs (from the stands) took place.

Despite Millwall really wanting to rival the Palace in our disaffections, they cannot cut it.

No matter how many of their Neanderthal-looking fans gibbered up and down the stands incoherently waving their fat fists and providing positive evolutionary proof that whilst man has descended from apes, some of them have not made the cross-over yet.

In reality, serious football violence takes place far from the stands and terraces and has little to do with football and everything to do with much dodgier motives.

If there was crowd trouble at Millwall, it was not visible and after the game, while waiting in an endless queue to get onto the platform at South Bermondsey station, their fans were friendly.

Such aggro at Millwall kicked off on the pitch where the Football Genius was sent off for over-enthusiastic use of his elbow.

McPhee got a booking about ten minutes later and for a horrible moment in the stands, it looked as if Kitson was involved and about to get a second booking, leaving Hinsh to play that challenging new formation, 4-4-0.

That the Big Boys in Division One do not play nicely is apparent but there is no doubt that inconsistent refereeing has the same affect on pitchside tempers as inconsistent stewarding and policing has on fans.

Saturday's ref was a classic control freak and, as a result, lost control, although Pethick should remember his table manners. And watch where he puts his elbows.

Roz South edits Brighton Rockz fanzine, email roz@southspark.co.uk