Wanderers 1, Millwall 2 aet.

WANDERERS took Championship side Millwall all the way to extra time before falling at the first hurdle in the Carling Cup for the fourth year running.

The Blues haven't won a game in the competition since the 2006/07 season when they reached the semi-finals but they took Kenny Jackett's men the full distance before bowing out after a classic game of two halves.

They gave the Lions a real scare after taking 45 minutes to get over their inferiority complex and wake up.

A cup upset rarely looked on the cards in the first half as as they came up against a slick Millwall outfit who needed the full 120 minutes to gain revenge for the double defeat they suffered at the hands of Wanderers in the league last season.

Since then a two division gap has opened up between the sides with Millwall going into the Championship after beating Swindon in the League One play-off final and Blues being relegated to League Two.

And the two division difference showed in the opening half as Millwall had Wycombe chasing shadows.

They had too much pace and movement for a Wycombe side who can now get back to this season's priority of achieving promotion back to League One.

But the second half was totally different.

Blues were much improved, their midfield began to impose themselves, Matt Phillips showed flashes of the genius that brought him six England U19 caps this summer, and they seized control of the game.

Buteven though they were good value for Ben Strevens' 75th minute equaliser that took the game into extra time there won't have been too many tears shed at Adams Park over their early exit no matter how tough it was on them after their super second half show.

Yes a cup run would have been nice for the coffers, but it was clear from the teamsheet that this competitition was not top of the club's agenda.

The Blues showed five changes from the side which beat Morecambe 2-0 on Saturday to get their league season up and running.

Not surprisingly skipper Gareth Ainsworth was left out of the squad altogether following his troubles with Millwall last year, when he was sent off for clashing with Lions defender Tony Craig sparking a 21-man brawl for which both clubs were fined.

The other changes saw weekend supersub Jon-Paul Pittman promoted to the starting line up and first starts of the campaign handed to England U19 international Phillips and summer signing Marvin McCoy at right back along with midfielder Kieran Murtagh also coming in.

Jacket also rotated his squad with four new faces from the side that opened their Championship campaign by sticking three goals past England's World Cup keeper David James in a 3-0 win at Bristol City.

The best of the early chances went the visitors way as they threatened to overrun Wycombe.

Blues keeper Nikki Bull did well to push out a low drive from Jack Smith and then had to beat out another effort from the experienced Kevin Lisbie as the visitors dominated.

Millwall's pace in attack was causing Wycombe problems and Bull was in action again saving with his legs to deny Lisbie as Wanderers were exposed again.

The inevitable goal came on 25 minutes. Danny Schofield embarrassed Blues' one-paced backline and although Bull saved his initial shot Neil Harris was on hand to turn the ball into the net.

To minutes later and Blues could have been in deeper trouble.

Danny Foster this time was treading water as Harris beat him for pace and cut the ball back for Lisbie who was denied by another brave block from the overworked Bull.

Millwall looked like they could score with every attack as they toyed with Wanderers.

Kevin Betsy did warm Millwall keeper David Forde's hands with a shot on the break and Phillips sent a free kick over the top but that was it as far as Blues were concerned for first half chances.

But the home side began the second half with much more purpose as they woke up to the fact that they were playing for starting places as well as a place in the second round draw.

Again Betsy was a profitable outlet, sending a shot just wide of the post before Murtagh saw his effort deflected for a corner as the midfield of Phillips, Mutagh, Montrose and Betsy got a foothold in the game for the first time and began to dicate.

And the team was given better balance on the hour when left back Andy Sandell was introduced from the bench to replace Foster who had been operating out of position.

It was the supporters' first look at Sandell, who had missed all of pre-season with a groin injury and a couple of promising dashes forward offered a tantalising glimpse of what he could bring to the party.

Wanderers were now turning it into a cup tie and Montrose hammered in a shot which found the keeper's gloves.

Manager Gary Waddock twisted again with Matt Bloomfield and Ben Strevens coming on for Murtagh and Scott Rendell.

And just like against Morecambe his substitutions worked with Strevens nabbing a 75th minute equaliser after some sparkling work from Phillips.

The England U19 defender beat three defenders with the ball seemingly tied to his feet before cutting the ball back to the striker who opened his Blues account.

The goal woke Millwall up and straight away they returned to the levels of their first half show.

Harris was denied by a near post Bull save after defender Alan Bennett had given the forward too much room.

Then, from the resultant corner Schofield was denied by an equally impressive save from the Wycombe glovesman.

Next up it was Wycombe who had the chance to to win it with Montrose extending visiting keeper Forde.

Wanderers finished the 90 minutes with just ten men on the field as McCoy cramped up leaving skipper-for- the-night Betsy to fill in a right back.

McCoy returned to limp his way through the 30 minutes of extra time which Blues began on top.

Phillips flashed a daisy cutter just past the upright as Wycombe sensed an upset.

But Blues had a real let off when Bull sent his throw out straight to Millwall sub John Marquis, who had just come on, but fortunately the Wycombe keeper repaired his mistake with a low save.

McCoy was a virtual passenger and shortly after Bloomfield had gone close with a header, Millwall went downfield and stole the lead.

Marquis made the run and cut the ball back for substitute Alan Dunne to wrap in.

The score might have been higher as Wycombe tired at the end but a combination of Bennett and Bull on the line kept out Schofield's shot while Dunne was just a fraction away from a third and Bull saved again.

Blues may have gone out of the cup, but the way they performed for 75 minutes of the 120 minute contest will give them confidence for the league battles ahead.