David Livermore headed a late equaliser as 10-man Millwall kept alive their slim Championship survival hopes with a hard-earned point against Ipswich.

The midfielder rose to nod high into the roof of the net past Shane Supple for only his second league goal of the season five minutes from time, just before Tony Craig received his marching orders following a second bookable offence.

Earlier, youngster Owen Garvan celebrated signing a new contract at Portman Road by scoring the goal to give Ipswich the lead.

The 18-year-old Irishman committed his future to the club by agreeing a three-year deal on Friday and marked the occasion in style with a thunderous strike after six minutes.

Garvan crashed home a left-footed volley from the edge of the box after the Lions failed to clear Scott Barron's long throw.

The game got off to a lively start and Millwall might have opened the scoring in the first minute had Paul Robinson been able to generate enough power from Livermore's cross to beat Supple with a far-post header, but his effort was pounced on by the home goalkeeper.

It was an early wake-up call for Joe Royle's men and his side responded with a wave of attacks to take hold of the game, starting with Ian Westlake firing narrowly wide.

Darren Currie had two opportunities either side of the five-minute mark. A goalbound angled drive was bravely blocked by Robinson, before the midfielder sent a curling shot just wide of Andy Marshall's left-hand upright.

So it was little surprise when Garvan finally made the home side's pressure pay with his third goal of the season.

The game mellowed somewhat after the goal but it might have been a different story had Jason De Vos not thrown himself in front of Craig's 11th-minute drive.

Craig saw another effort blocked just before the half hour, this time Fabian Wilnis diverted the defender's shot wide of the target.

Matthew Richards almost doubled the lead with a long-range volley just before the break but Marshall thwarted the defender.

The same player would have been disappointed not to have at least tested Marshall again at the start of the second half when he headed harmlessly over the crossbar from just six-yards.

On-loan Wolves midfielder Colin Cameron, making only his second appearance for the Lions since joining from Championship rivals Wolves earlier this month, flashed a swerving drive past the post as Millwall made a rare foray into Ipswich's final third.

The visitors had Marshall to thanks for keeping them in the game when he reacted quickly to keep out substitute Danny Haynes' close range header on the hour.

Haynes, on as a 54th minute replacement for Richards, met Wilnis' centre on the six-yard line and sent a powerful effort goalwards, but the former Ipswich goalkeeper parried the ball to safety to deny his old club.

Cameron fired over the bar as Millwall searched in vain for an equaliser, before Livermore snatched an unlikely point in the closing stages.

Sporting Life