JOHN Marquis rescued a dramatic point at the death for the Lions against Norwich City last night.

The 18-year-old striker was given his first start of the season after strikers Theo Robinson, Neil Harris and Kevin Lisbie were ruled out through injury, while Steve Morison was suspended.

The result also avoided a fourth league defeat in five matches.

After a bright first-half which should have seen Millwall at least two goals to the good, they allowed Norwich City to dictate a lot of the play in the second period, which saw David Fox grab a stunning opener.

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett was delighted not have lost the game. He said: "It felt like a point gained tonight - credit to the players that they kept going."

"I felt a lot of our play was good up until the final third but we couldn't find the the finish and cutting edge. But we passed the ball well and we looked solid and defended well."

It was Norwich who had the first real chance on goal after just eight minutes, when Grant Holt burst through the middle following a fast break before feeding Chris Martin who forced David Forde into a decent save.

But it was all once-sided after that as the home side created chance after chance.

Defender Danny Shittu had a low shot from the edge of the area tipped around the post by Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy on 20 minutes, before Marquis had his first opportunity with a weak header at the back post from a Lewis Graaban cross.

James Henry went close after half an hour, when Danny Schofield sent in a deep cross from the left, but the wideman failed to jump high enough to connect with the ball.

Norwich striker Grant Holt then got a taste of what to expect when you're up against a defender like Shittu when the Nigerian rose powerfully above the striker for a header, and Holt fell to the floor as if he'd been heavy-handled.

Clearly unhappy with the challenge, the striker was lucky not to receive a booking, if not a red card, for an arm to the face of Shittu on 36 minutes.

The referee had not seen the incident, but the crowd's reaction gave him enough time to give the striker a verbal warning after consulting the assistant referee.

Henry then went close on 39 minutes, curling a free-kick from 25 yards over the Norwich wall, making Ruddy scramble across to his right with the ball taking a slight deflection.

From the following corner, the ball fell to Scott Barron on the edge of the box on the right, but the youngster blasted his shot over.

Henry then had a good chance to open the scoring from 12 yards out on 42 minutes after good work by Schofield.

The winger flashed a ball across the six-yard area from the left, and Henry came running in but his shot cleared the crossbar while under pressure from his marker.

Marquis was making a lively impression on the home crowd and forced Ruddy into a good save on the stroke of half-time after a fine ball in from Henry on the right.

The winger delivered a deep cross to the back post and Marquis sent a header towards goal but the goalkeeper parried the ball up and away.

In the second period, both Marquis and Graaban went close with chances in the early stages before the Lions felt they should have had a penalty on 58 minutes.

Graaban received the ball on the left of the penalty area and delivered a ball in to the danger area, but it seemed to strike a Norwich arm on the way through, but nothing was given.

Moments after, Holt nearly opened the scoring for the away side when he turned his marker on the edge of the box and fired wide via a deflection.

Jackett made changes on the hour when Shittu was sent to play up front alongside Marquis, with Darren Ward coming on for Graaban.

But Norwich began to dominate proceedings as Korey Smith tested David Forde with a shot from outside of the box from 20 yards, before they grabbed the opening goal on 74 minutes.

A long throw into the Millwall penalty area was half cleared and with the ball fizzing up in the air, David Fox timed his run to smash an unstoppable half-volley into the top corner from the edge of the box, leaving Forde rooted the ground.

The away fans were ecstatic, but to be fair to Forde, no goalkeeper in the world would have saved the shot - it was truly magnificent.

As time continued ticking away, Millwall looked for an equaliser and nearly got one through full-back Alan Dunne on 84 minutes with a shot from outside the box straight at Ruddy.

Holt was booked after several fouls, much to the delight of the home fans who had taunted the striker all game, but the striker nearly grabbed a second goal after holding off two defenders before shooting just wide on 86 minutes.

Millwall captain Paul Robinson was then cautioned for hacking down Holt on the left - a foul out of frustration - but with four minutes of stoppage time announced, the home fans urged the team on.

And they got their reward on 93 minutes when Marquis fired in from close range following a corner.

Henry curled a delightful ball to the near post and Ward rose to flick the ball to the back post leaving Marquis to slide in for a dramatic equaliser despite Norwich protests for offside.

Jackett was pleased with the young strikers contribution and felt he got into the game more as it went on.

He said: "He grew into the game for which he's shown a lot of promise and I'm pleased for him as I believe he does have a future at the club. He's only 18 years old and came through our youth policy, but it was his first start in the league."

"He's got a little bit of everything and he has a big heart as well which is a good quality."

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Barron, Robinson, Shittu, Trotter, Mkandawire, Henry, Schofield, Graaban (Ward 61), Marquis. Subs Not Used: Mildenhall, Craig, Carter, Laird, Abdou, Hughes-Mason. Att: 10,211.