ROVERS inexplicably threw away a two-goal lead to 10-man Millwall on a stormy night at the rain-lashed Den to miss the chance to move back into the Championship play-off places.

Gary Bowyer’s side looked to be cruising to a fourth straight victory after Andy Wilkinson was sent off for a shocking tackle on Ben Marshall and top-scorer Rudy Gestede doubled their advantage four minutes later with his ninth goal of the campaign.

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But Rovers, who led at half-time through Shane Duffy’s first goal for the club, saw their advantage halved in the 72nd minute by Lee Martin.

And disaster struck two minutes before the end of normal time when Shaun Williams, who had been a danger from long range throughout, earned the Lions the unlikeliest of points.

Rovers started in confident fashion, keeping the ball intelligently on a soaking-wet surface, and they carved out the first chance of the match five minutes in.

Tom Cairney was the creator, drifting in from the right to play a pass out wide to overlapping full back Alex Baptiste, who got a clean connection on the ball but sent his swerving shot into the side-netting.

Millwall, with just one win in their last 10 but with just one defeat in their previous five at home, did not get going in the first 20 minutes.

And they were grateful that Cairney failed to make the most of a good shooting opportunity, 25 yards from goal, after Marshall and Jordan Rhodes combined to tee him up.

Rhodes went closer in the 23rd minute.

Marshall ran at Wilkinson before laying the ball back to Markus Olsson, whose whipped first-time cross drew David Forde out of his goal.

Rhodes beat the Lions keeper to the ball but he saw his flicked header flash wide of the post.

But as the half wore on Ian Holloway’s side began to work their way into the game.

It was not until the 32nd minute, however, that Jason Steele was tested for the first time as he scrambled to his right to push Williams’ speculative 35-yard drive behind.

It was a good save and so too was the one he pulled off from Scott McDonald, this time low to his right, after the resulting corner found its way to the Australia international.

But just when Millwall were getting on top, Rovers scored in the 37th minute.

It came from a Marshall free kick wide on the right.

The ball broke to Duffy and, while his first effort was blocked by Wilkinson, the transfer deadline day signing made no mistake with his second, smashing the ball into the back of the net from close range.

And on the stroke of half-time Cairney came within a whisker of extending Rovers’ lead.

Again Marshall was the architect, showing skill and strength to tee-up his fellow midfielder who, from 18 yards out, switched the ball on to his left foot before dragging it inches past the upright.

Half-time came at a good time for the Lions who were beginning to feel the wrath of their supporters.

Unsurprisingly they started the second half better than they finished the first and they would have equalised in the 54th minute had it not been for a brilliant block by the recalled Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Ricardo Fuller caused chaos in the box before laying the ball on a plate for Martin whose first-time strike would have beaten Steele all ends up had Tunnicliffe, in for the injured Lee Williamson, not bravely threw his body in the way of the ball to deflect it over.

From the following corner Baptiste made an equally important block to prevent Fuller from stabbing home.

For the first time in the contest Rovers were under the cosh.

But within the space of four minutes, the match was seemingly taken away from Millwall.

Wilkinson’s studs-up challenge on Marshall was ill-timed to say the least and referee Darren Deadman had no other option but to brandish the red card.

The decision infuriated Lions boss Holloway who clashed with his opposite number, Bowyer, on the touchline.

And, while Marshall was off the field receiving treatment, Rovers rubbed salt into the wounds by scoring their second.

Holloway rested centre backs Danny Shittu and Mark Beevers for Millwall's trip to Watford on Saturday in order for the duo to be fully fit to go head-to-head with Gestede.

But they could do little to stop the towering targetman from expertly heading Cairney’s free kick back across goal and into the bottom corner.

Rhodes may have got in on the act moments later had Beevers not got back to deny him a clear sight of goal in the area.

It proved a vital interception as 18 minutes from time Martin gave the 10 men hope as he was allowed to cut in from the right before guiding a left-footed finish low past Steele into the bottom corner.

The goal was one of the last acts Holloway saw from the sidelines as soon after he was sent to the stands for something he said to Deadman who, in the eyes of the home fans, enraged by his decision to dismiss Wilkinson, was certainly aptly named.

But Holloway’s dismissal did not prevent Millwall from leveling the match in the 88th minute thanks to an unstoppable 25-yard shot from Williams.

Deadman added on seven minutes at the end and, after Tunnicliffe saw an attempt deflect over, Gestede curled just over the bar.

Millwall: Forde, Wilkinson, Shittu, Beevers, Briggs, Williams, Upson (Gregory 60), McDonald (Dunne 63), Martin, Fuller (Gueye 74), Woolford. Subs not used: King, Webster, Chaplow, Ranegie.

Booked: Williams, Fuller.

Sent off: Wilkinson 61.

Goals: Martin 72, Williams 88.

Rovers: Steele, Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson, Cairney, Evans, Tunnicliffe, Marshall (Conway 81), Gestede, Rhodes (Varney 87). Subs not used: Eastwood, Henley, Kilgallon, Dunn, Taylor.

Booked: Olsson.

Goals: Duffy 37, Gestede 65.

Referee: Darren Deadman.

Attendance: 8,250 (486 away).