MILLWALL went level on points with League I leaders Scunthorpe thanks to a 2-1 win at Colchester.

The Lions’ first-half opportunism gave them the points and handed Colchester a fourth successive home defeat.

Lewis Grabban intercepted David Perkins’ sloppy pass to give Millwall the lead after nine minutes. Paul Robinson then doubled it with a far-post header from Marc Laird’s free-kick in the 22nd.

Colchester responded with a close-range shot from Kem Izzet, who also hit the bar in the second half.

Ex-Town loan man Paul Hayes rescued a point for Scunthorpe who stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games with a 1-1 draw at home to Southend.

Hayes converted a 79th-minute penalty to make up for two earlier misses.

Earlier Southend had taken a second-half lead when Lee Barnard headed home a corner to score his sixth goal of the season.

Scunthorpe’s Gary Hooper headed wide of an open goal in the first-half while ex-Town defender David Mirfin also nodded over from a corner before Hayes equalised.

Third-placed Leicester missed the chance to go top as they dug deep to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Walsall at the Walkers Stadium.

Alex Nicholls put Walsall ahead, bundling in the ball after Leicester’s defence made a hash of a clearance.

City steadied themselves when Andy King headed in an equaliser at the far post from Max Gradel’s corner.

Michael Ricketts put Walsall back in front, heading in after the break, but Leicester levelled it when Lloyd Dyer’s corner was met by Bulgarian defender Aleksander Tunchev.

Jermaine Beckford missed a penalty and hit the woodwork three times but fourth-placed Leeds still saw off Leyton Orient 2-1 at Elland Road.

Beckford slipped in his run-up to his spot-kick and fired over after JJ Melligan’s handball.

Orient took the lead when Dean Morgan found the bottom corner in the 38th minute but a Stephen Purches own goal brought Leeds level in the 38th.

Luciano Becchio headed the home side in front from Frazer Richardson’s cross just before the break before Beckford hit the bar once and a post twice in the second half.

Fifth-placed Oldham went down 2-0 at Bristol Rovers, for whom Rickie Lambert and Chris Lines scored.