Millwall 1-1 Derby County: Rams hang on for point after Nathan Byrne red card
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Festy Ebosele was making only his fourth start in the league for Derby
Bottom-of-the-table Derby held on for a point at Millwall despite having Nathan Byrne sent off following two yellow cards.
Wayne's Rooney's side took the lead when 19-year-old Festy Ebosele scored his first senior goal, from Tom Lawrence's pass.
The Lions levelled moments later in a frantic finish to the opening half as former Derby player Scott Malone beat Kelle Roos with a low angled shot after being found in space on the left-hand side.
Byrne was dismissed after fouling Malone, but Roos produced a fine save to keep out Benik Afobe's acrobatic effort - and Millwall's failure to win saw them remain a point outside the top six.
The Rams had won on their two previous visits to The Den and despite being without Ravel Morrison because of suspension, they gave as good as they got in the first 45 minutes.
Jake Cooper's excellent tackle prevented Sam Baldock opening the scoring after he beat the offside trap, but the forward's excellent pressing finally brought about opener as he won possession and backheeled to Lawrence, who laid off to Ebosele and he fired home.
The Rams, though, could not hang onto the lead until half-time as Malone levelled - and they could have fallen behind when George Saville was just wide of the target from Jed Wallace's cross.
Bartosz Bialkowski made a fine low save from Jason Knight's effort in reply, but Byrne's dismissal was a body blow for Derby, who had lost their two previous games and had not won in six.
Bialkowski saved with his feet from Baldock before Millwall pressed forward in the closing stages, with substitute Tom Bradshaw twice heading off target from balls into the box.
Derby are now nine points from safety, having been deducted 12 in September for going into administration.
Millwall boss Gary Rowett:
"For some reason, at home, we seem to just be a little bit edgy, we didn't move the ball well enough and I just don't think we played with enough belief.
"I said at half-time we scored a good goal at the right time - it was an excellent goal, a great bit of play by Jed that put Scotty Malone in for a brilliant finish.
"That was after us conceding a horrendous goal. We just overplayed, we tried to go backwards when we had a chance to play forwards.
"I would say, at that point, it was deserved because they moved the ball really well."
Derby manager Wayne Rooney:
"Talking 90 minutes, we've probably done enough to win the game. In the first half, especially, we were dominating possession and also creating chances.
"It's always tough when you go down to 10 men, do we go to a back five and defend the box?
"Obviously, we knew Matt Smith would come on at some point and he's a threat, so I wanted to keep the lads up the pitch as well to try and win the game because I felt we still could.
"There were gaps there and we had a few good chances when we went to 10 men so, overall, a point is never bad away from home, but I felt we could have got three today."