Sky Bet Championship: Ten-man Millwall rescue 2-2 draw against Blackburn

A late goal from Shaun Williams rescued a 2-2 draw for the 10 men of Millwall against Blackburn at The Den on Tuesday.

Tempers flared between managers Ian Holloway and Gary Bowyer after Andy Wilkinson's foul on Ben Marshall earned the Lions defender a straight red card midway through the second half.

Millwall boss Holloway took exception to Rovers counterpart Bowyer's response to the tackle and both managers had to be separated by stewards and members of their coaching staff.

Bowyer then appeared to try to make peace with Holloway, but the Den chief turned away and instead mimicked his opposite number's reaction to the challenge.

Bowyer was laughing moments later, however, when Rudy Gestede put Rovers two goals up and on course for what looked like being a fourth straight win.

Meanwhile Holloway, presumably still fuming, was later sent to the stands by referee Darren Deadman.

But Millwall are never a team to shy away from adversity and the 10 men secured an unlikely and dramatic point thanks to goals from Lee Martin and Shaun Williams.

Shane Duffy had earlier fired Blackburn into the lead with his first goal for the club eight minutes before the interval.

The Irish defender, a summer signing from Everton, lashed the ball home at the second attempt after Millwall failed to deal with Marshall's free-kick.

Duffy also proved his worth at the other end shortly after the break when his goal-saving challenge denied Martin from 12 yards out.

But events turned ugly just after the hour mark when on-loan Stoke defender Wilkinson went over the ball and caught Marshall on the shin, right in front of the dugouts.

Referee Deadman showed Wilkinson a straight red card and then had his work cut out to restore order on the touchline.

When the melee finally died down, Rovers promptly doubled their lead with Gestede heading in Tom Cairney's free-kick for his fourth goal in three matches.

However, Millwall, fired up by their usual sense of injustice, hit back almost immediately when Martin turned and fired home from 12 yards at the near post.

Holloway had obviously said too much for the fourth official's liking by this time and he was given his marching orders.

But his side were determined to take something from the game and their reward came two minutes from full-time when Williams took aim from 20 yards and lashed in a superb equaliser.