NEVER one of the smoothest journeys to negotiate - even when letting the train take the strain - the price of reaching the Den was a cup of scalding coffee in the lap just south of Crewe.

Some Burnley supporters were even less unfortunate and were forced to turn back because of a traffic snarl-up on the M6.

Yet the Clarets, understandably given the benefit of an overnight stay near the capital, don't seem to mind this tricky excursion south of the Thames.

Last season Burnley won here to record one of their four doubles.

And even though Tim Cahill's 70th-minute equaliser deprived Stan Ternent's men of maximum points on this occasion, this was still a significant performance.

Ternent shuffled his pack on the back of a second defeat of the campaign and more pointedly reverted to a 4-4-2 formation for the first time since the height of Burnley's woes last season.

Since then the boss has successfully utilised a 5-3-2 line-up which provided the Clarets with the base to avoid relegation and get off to a solid start this time around.

But with the time now right to up the stakes, Ternent threw off the shackles and dispensed with his extra defender.

John Mullin returned as an attacking midfielder with Lenny Johnrose also restored to the side on the left-hand side, while Andy Cooke made a goal-scoring return up front alongside Andy Payton.

It was a bold time to make the switch, given Millwall's current run of form and their unbeaten home record.

But it also reflected Burnley's need to start winning games again after picking up just a couple of points in their previous three outings. In that respect the ploy didn't quite have the desired effect as a brilliant first-half performance was negated by Millwall's bold second-half fightback.

But the Lions are an impressive outfit and most teams will regard earning a point in their Den as a good result, Burnley among them.

And Ternent's tactical switch looks to be the way forward for Burnley to get their promotion challenge back in top gear.

Gordon Armstrong could count himself unlucky to be the major casualty after being a mainstay of the side as sweeper, although his versatility means his time will come again.

But Steve Davis and Mitchell Thomas coped admirably against the Pauls - Shaw and Moody - while Paul Smith looked happy enough as an out-and-out left-back.

Elsewhere, Glen Little was back to doing what he does best in an inspired first 45 minutes of hogging the right-hand touchline, while with Cooke and Payton back in harness the focal point of the attack was re-established.

After surviving an early scare when David Livermore blasted wide, the Clarets produced their best football of the season for the next half-an-hour.

Cooke gave them the perfect lift-off after 11 minutes when he rose unchecked to head home Paul Cook's typically accurate corner won by Little's wizardry.

And the momentum was maintained as only the width of the crossbar stopped Davis netting a thundering volley which may have settled the outcome.

As it was the crucial second goal wouldn't come, as a last-ditch tackle from Ricky Newman stopped Payton from adding to his tally.

Davis piled forward again to fire just wide and, with Cook, Smith, Little and Dean West weaving their way up the pitch, Millwall were overwhelmed in the face of some illuminating passages of play.

Burnley had also done their homework defensively with Smith and the impressive Johnrose doubling up on dangerman Paul Ifill at every opportunity.

But the Londoners eventually managed to claw their way back into the contest and Paul Crichton made his first meaningful save in first-half injury time when he turned Shaw's effort round the post.

Straight from the re-start Mullin tested Tony Warner with a low drive but that was to be the exception rather than the rule for the second 45 minutes. Burnley weren't without their chances and apart from a couple of breaks that might have earned greater reward, Thomas also saw Warner acrobatically tip away his clever header from another Cook delivery.

But it was mainly a rearguard action against a Millwall side clearly intent on preserving their home record.

Crichton saved comfortably from Shaw and then brilliantly from Ifill but was then powerless to stop Cahill's equaliser.

With Thomas and Davis standing firm, it looked as though Burnley might repel the attacking force.

But then a deflection off Mullin caught everyone out and gave Cahill a simple chance from close-range.

That was deserved but a winner would have been unjust.

So Crichton's two late stops from the increasingly influential Shaw ensured a fitting reward for two sides that will both take heart from a cracking match.

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