Millwall were just minutes away from picking up a vital three points against Brighton & Hove Albion as they fell to a late equaliser from Kazenga Lua Lua on Tuesday evening.

It looked as if Kenny Jackett's men were coming back to South London with a big win under their belts after they twice led at the AMEX Stadium as they came away with a 2-2 draw.

Both teams began the match brightly and referee Anthony Taylor was quick to brandish the first yellow card of the evening to Millwall on-loan midfielder Ryan Mason for a foul in the middle of the park.

Millwall nearly carved out a chance after 10 minutes when a cross from the right found Henderson towards the far post, but Brighton's Lewis Dunk was quick to clear the danger.

And they nearly took the lead through skipper Robinson when the stopper shot through a crowd of players inside the box after a Lions corner wasn't dealt with by the home defence.

Albion went straight up the other end, and a teasing cross from Inigo Calderon was fired inches wide on the half-volley by Sam Vokes, with some sections of the home faithful believing the strike was heading for the bottom corner with Forde scrambling.

But the Lions drew first blood midway through the first half when Albion goalkeeper Peter Brezovan punched clear Scott Barron's corner, but the ball was played back into Alan Dunne, who headed back across goal for Andy Keogh to plant a header into the bottom corner.

Brighton responded but failed to create any real openings before Jackett's men went on the attack through Jack Smith down the middle just after the half-hour mark, but the midfielder shot wide from just outside the box.

And almost immediately, the hosts nearly grabbed an equaliser through Ashley Barnes, but his shot on the edge of the area was well saved by Forde down to his right.

However, Forde nearly gifted Albion an equaliser after 36 minutes when he spilled Barnes' shot from the edge of the box, and with Calderon lurking, the defender somehow screwed the follow-up inches wide.

It was a huge let-off for the Lions, who had Robinson to thank moments later when he threw his body in the way of a goal-bound strike from Alan Navarro after good work from Barnes.

But Jackett's men went into the break leading by the single goal.

Liam Trotter nearly doubled the lead just two minutes into the restart when he picked the ball up on the edge of the box before ghosting past a couple of Albion defenders, and his shot with the outside of his right boot was well saved by Brezovan.

Two minutes later, Keogh was guilty of missing the target from close range when he should have done better, and it proved costly as the hosts went up the other end to equalise through Vokes.

Navarro picked the ball up 25-yards out and was urged to shoot by the home faithful, which he did, and after a deflection off a Lions defender, the ball fell kindly to Vokes to stroke into an empty net.

It was a cruel blow to Jackett's side, who had looked fairly comfortable up to the halfway point.

Vokes nearly created a second goal for the hosts after 58 minutes when he nodded a cross back across the danger area, but luckily Robinson was in the right place to head clear for a corner.

Josh Wright replaced Ryan Mason just after the hour-mark, but it was the hosts who continued to ask the questions as Vokes got in front of his mark inside the box to poke an effort at goal, but Forde was equal to it with a good stop.

But a minute later, it was Jackett's men who took the lead after great work from Keogh and Henderson. The on-loan striker found his strike partner, who held off Gordon Greer on the left side of the box before squaring the ball across for Liam Feeney to stroke the ball high into the net.

And Trotter nearly extended the lead just moments later when he curled an effort towards the far corner following a mazy run through the Albion defence, but the ball crept inches wide.

Henderson was next to test Brezovan with a fierce drive from an acute angle following a delightful crossfield pass by Feeney, but Albion went back on the offensive through substitute Craig Noone who beat Dunne on the left flank, only for Forde to block his effort.

Forde was booked for taking too long over a free-kick, before Albion claimed for a penalty against Shane Lowry, but all handball protests were firmly extinguished by referee Taylor.

The hosts were running out of ideas but they nearly grabbed an equaliser on 86 minutes through Vokes, but the striker's curled effort flew past Forde's far post.

But, just two minutes later, they did get their equaliser through an emphatic free-kick from Albion substitute Kazenga Lua Lua.

Standing 20-yards from goal, the tricky winger struck a powerful drive through the Lions' wall, and the ball seemed to go through Forde's hands on its way into the back of the net.

It proved to be the final chance of the match as the Lions grabbed a vital point towards safety, but it could have easily been three points, and Jackett will take heart from his players before Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to Bolton Wanderers.

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Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Robinson, Lowry, Barron, Feeney, Trotter, Smith, Mason (Wright 62), Henderson (Kane 73), Keogh. Subs not used: Mildenhall, Henry, N'Guessan.