Shaun Goater returned to the scene of his most frightening day in football last night and bagged his 22nd goal of the season in a 3-2 win over Millwall.

City's fans were banned from travelling to the New Den in London because of crowd violence between the two sets of supporters in previous encounters. Instead, the Manchester faithful had to watch the game on a jumbo TV screen at City's Maine Road Ground.

Three years ago City drew 1-1 with the Londoners but then had to run a gauntlet of hate as fans invaded the pitch spitting and throwing punches at the players. More trouble followed at the February return when there was a mini-riot between warring factions.

"Of course I remember the game, who wouldn't? It was the most frightening I have been involved in during my football career," said Goater prior to last night's match.

"I have tried hard to forget but I know exactly what to expect. We know there is going to be a hostile crowd and we know that we will not have any of our fans with us.

"That is a big blow because they always give us a massive lift when we are on our travels.

"We need a referee who is firm and decisive and who can stay in control. It can be a frightening ground for a youngster, but I have been there several times now and hopefully have learned to block the hostility out."

Referee Clive Wilkes was certainly firm last night.

If the official was ever on City boss Kevin Keegan's Christmas card list he will have been scrubbed off after awarding a 75th minute penalty to Millwall for handball.

Steve Claridge made no mistake from the spot to make the score 2-2 and Keegan was ordered from the dug-out for taking his protest with the man in the middle just a little too far.

That incident threatened to put a damper on City's night.

They had gone ahead through Goater in the 23rd minute, the Bermudian sidefooting home a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross.

However, a minute from the half-time the home side equalised with Richard Sadlier driving the ball into the left hand corner.

City retook the lead in the 68th minute when Darren Huckerby found the back of the net.

In celebration Goater and the rest of the City players ran to the empty stand clapping the imaginary fans.

Those celebrations were cut short when Claridge scored from the spot but with seven minutes left City scored the winner, Wright-Phillips choosing the perfect time to grab his first goal in senior football.