Wolves' promotion hopes suffered a blow as they failed to break down dogged Millwall during a desperate Coca-Cola Championship clash at the New Den.

Mark Kennedy came closest to breaking the deadlock when his first-half free-kick hit the crossbar but neither side really looked like claiming the points.

Wolves, seventh before kick-off, will view this as a game they should have won against struggling opposition but showed a lack of ambition throughout and deserved nothing more than a draw.

The solitary point will be more than welcome in Millwall's battle against relegation and manager David Tuttle will have been pleased with the application of his players.

The visitors came into the game as strong favourites - with Celtic-bound striker Kenny Miller back in the starting line-up after suspension.

But it was the Lions who made the brighter start and they should have taken the lead after just five minutes. Marvin Elliott found enough space in the area to unleash a fierce strike but Stefan Postma was equal to it and parried round the post for a corner.

Glenn Hoddle's side struggled to get a foothold in the game in the opening exchanges - with the supply line to Miller and Carl Cort looking almost non-existent.

Wanderers failed to register a shot on goal in the first 30 minutes as Millwall battled and kept chances to a premium at the back.

Ben May was the next to try his luck as the hosts broke forward but again Postma was alert and held on to his 25-yard effort.

Wolves dominated possession during the first 45 minutes but struggled to create any meaningful opportunities.

Miller, who earlier this week signed a pre-contract agreement to join Celtic in the summer, never had a look-in against a well organised Millwall backline.

The away side did finally fashion an opening when Paul Ince was felled on the edge of the box, but Kennedy's fierce free-kick crashed against the bar.

Former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris tested Postma with a 25-yard free-kick early in the second half but the game soon settled back into the same pedestrian pace as the first.

Again most of the play was concentrated in the middle of the park with precious few openings at either end of the pitch.

Ince suddenly found space in the area on a rare break forward from Wolves, but he was unable to find a way past goalkeeper Andy Marshall who clawed away the former England captain's six-yard header.

Millwall responded with a free-kick from David Livermore in the 58th minute but Postma was never seriously troubled and tipped the ball over the bar.

Ince was again denied by Marshall when he sent in a thundering drive from 25 yards, before Postma held well from a similar effort from Morris as the game finally began to liven up.

But although Wolves again held the territorial advantage they could not break down their spirited hosts and the game petered out into the goalless draw it always threatened to be.

Teams

Millwall Marshall, Lawrence, Robinson, Whitbread, Craig, Dunne, Elliott, Livermore, Morris, Williams, May.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Braniff, Ifil, Hendry, Healy.

Booked: Morris, Williams.

Wolverhampton Postma, Lescott, Craddock, Edwards, Ross (Naylor 60), Ince, Anderton (Rosa 89), Davies (Seol 72), Kennedy, Miller, Cort.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Ganea.

Att: 9,905

Ref: C Penton (Sussex).