MILLWALL took the lead but could not hold on for a crucial three points away at relegation rivals Blackburn Rovers.
Michael Obafemi came off the bench to grab his first goal for the club early in the second-half after a tepid first 45 minutes.
But a mix-up at the back shortly after would see Sammie Szmodics equalise in a game that threw up very few chances.
The match represented a chance for both teams to launch themselves away from the bottom three in a Championship relegation battle that is threatening the status of many clubs.
But Blackburn and Millwall remain level on points and level on goal difference, with Sheffield Wednesday’s win against Plymouth Argyle meaning the fight at the bottom has somehow become even closer.
It is the first game Neil Harris has failed to win since returning and he will know victory could have been Millwall’s without the frustrating error before the Blackburn goal. It is also now 26 points dropped from winning positions across the season for the Lions.
The relegation battle has suddenly become a tense and tight affair at the bottom of the Championship and that reality bore out in the first half at Ewood Park.
Neither side were willing to commit, open up or take too many risks, giving way to a first half that was forgettable and turgid.
Szmodics, the Championship’s top scorer, briefly looked like he might be the one to ignite this game in the early stages. He whacked a volley from an angle at Matija Sarkic after three minutes but the keeper confidently held a powerfully struck effort.
The 28-year-old then hit a strike over the bar from the edge of the area after 13 minutes.
Millwall were not much better and their only chance of the half came from a George Saville corner just before the half hour mark. An in-swinging delivery from the midfielder was flicked on by Jake Cooper at the near post before Zian Flemming hit an effort against the side-netting from the far post.
In the last meaningful action of the half, Japhet Tanganga would be booked for disrupting a Blackburn counter-attack with a late challenge.
Aidomo Emakhu, making his first start in 2024 after his injury issues, was hooked off at half-time for Obafemi.
The all-Irish switch paid dividends just eight minutes into the half. Blackburn failed to clear the ball from their box, it bobbled around awkwardly and sat up luckily for the Burnley loanee.
Obafemi made no mistake sweeping it past goalkeeper Leopold Wahlstedt to provide the first glimmer of quality in a match sorely lacking it.
John Eustace came into this game yet to secure his first Rovers win after five attempts. Having not long ago been the hard done by Birmingham City boss, shoved aside for Wayne Rooney, he needed his team to show some spirit to avoid slipping further into the relegation fight.
But ultimately it was a Millwall defensive mistake just nine minutes after Obafemi’s goal that opened up the door for the home side. Arnor Sigurdsson, two minutes after coming on for Tyrhys Dolan, intercepted a pass from Danny McNamara on the edge of the Millwall box and slipped it into Szmodics who swept home his 20th Championship goal of the season.
Two goals in nine minutes looked to have brought this game to life but it quickly slipped back into a slumber with both sides absolutely determined not to lose.
If Tanganga was allowing his mind to drift amid the boredom, he was brought back down to Earth when a vicious Blackburn effort smacked him square in the face and saw him temporarily go off the pitch to receive medical treatment with 12 minutes to go.
In stoppage time, Blackburn sub Yasin Ayari let rip from 25 yards out and forced Sarkic down to his right.
That would be it for a nervy game where both sides will know they have missed a big opportunity to pull away.
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Millwall: 4-4-1-1: Sarkic; Leonard, Tanganga, Cooper (c) McNamara (Bryan 75′); Emakhu (Obafemi 46′), Mitchell, Saville, Honeyman; Flemming (Watmore 90′); Longman (Norton-Cuffy 75′).
Blackburn: 3-4-3: Wahlstedt; Hyam (c), McFadzean, Wharton; Brittain (Chrisene 46′), Garrett (Ayari 61′), Buckley, Pickering; Dolan (Sigurdsson 61′), Szmodics, Gallagher (Markanday 84′).
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
Attendance: 11,711 (338 away)