The former Swindon striker, who had been out of the side with a head injury, nodded home after Darren Currie's opener had been cancelled out by a stunning effort from Lions substitute Ben May.

Richard Naylor was sent off for the visitors but the hosts could not take advantage and are still looking for their first league win of the campaign.

Millwall manager Colin Lee handed a debut to Carl Asaba following his free transfer from Stoke. Goalkeeper Andy Marshall returned from suspension and Carlos Fangueiro made his first start with Sammy Igoe dropping to the bench.

Joe Royle made five changes to his Ipswich line-up following the midweek defeat against Yeovil in the Carling Cup with Fabian Wilnis, Jim Magilton, Owen Garvan, Ian Westlake and Parkin coming in.

Millwall midfielder David Livermore had the first half-chance of the match, fizzing a low drive inches wide after just three minutes.

Ipswich survived the early scare and started to get on top with Naylor and Kevin Horlock threatening from corners before Currie made the breakthrough.

Midfielder Currie kept his cool to dink the ball over former Tractor Boys goalkeeper Marshall with 13 minutes on the clock.

Fangueiro tried to get his side back on level terms moments later but his effort was too high to trouble Lewis Price in the Ipswich goal.

The hosts enjoyed their best spell of the first half just before the interval but the final ball was lacking and Barry Hayles was unlucky not to get on the end of a clever pass from Asaba.

Asaba was quiet on his Lions bow and he made way for Don Hutchison early in the second half. The Scotland international unsettled the Ipswich defence but again there was a distinct lack of a cutting edge.

The visitors appeared happy to sit on their slender advantage but May made them pay with a spectacular equaliser after 68 minutes.

Josh Simpson, played the ball forward and May controlled it on his chest before spinning and sending an unstoppable effort into back of the net from 25 yards with Price rooted to the spot.

The visitors' cause was not helped when Naylor was dismissed for a professional foul on Hayles with quarter of an hour left and Paul Robinson brought the best out of Price with a fierce drive two minutes later.

But Ipswich refused to lie down and grabbed the winner with 10 minutes left when Currie worked himself some space on the left and crossed for Parkin who nipped in between two defenders to head home.

Sporting Life