Millwall moved back into the Championship’s automatic promotion position places but could only snatch a late 1-1 draw at already relegated Leicester.

Substitute Macaulay Langstaff’s first goal since February cancelled out a Foxes opener from Harry Souttar, who was playing his first game since rupturing an achilles 16 months ago. It moved Alex Neil’s visitors up to second, a point ahead of Ipswich who have two games in hand.

Ipswich play at West Brom on Saturday and Southampton on Tuesday, so Millwall must hope automatic promotion is still a possibility when they finish their season at home to Oxford next Saturday.

Leicester supports unfurled banners attacking the club hierarchy, with a plane flying over bearing the message: “King Power Out”. Abdul Fatawu sliced wide an early chance for the hosts, whose relegation fate was sealed on Tuesday.

Hamza Choudhury’s intervention then stopped Josh Coburn firing Millwall in front. Choudhury nicked the ball away as Coburn prepared to shoot and the forward, having connected with the Leicester captain instead, had to be replaced by Mihailo Ivanovic in the 10th minute.

Casper De Norre and Camiel Neghli had shots blocked by defenders and Ryan Leonard found the side-netting as Millwall applied a spell of pressure. Harry Winks scuffed a Foxes reply wide before Ivanovic required treatment after an elbow in the face from Souttar that referee Farai Hallam seemed to view as accidental.

Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk made his first save five minutes into the second half when Neghli met Sturge’s ball to the back post and Ivanovic saw his close-range hook blocked by the Pole’s legs.

Millwall captain Jake Cooper was booked shortly afterwards for a late challenge on Fatawu which left the Leicester man requiring on-pitch repairs. Home fans thought it should have been a red.

Stolarczyk, in for Asmir Begovic as one of four Leicester changes, then pulled off an even better stop by tipping over Thierno Ballo’s powerful header just before the hour mark. Choudhury was booked for too robust a challenge on Mazou-Sacko before Neghli flashed a pass across the Leicester goal.

Home substitutes Louis Page and Jeremy Monga both had efforts deflected before Souttar broke the deadlock in the 78th minute. Luke Thomas crossed to the back post for the Australia defender to bundle home as goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and two defenders tried in vain to stop him.

Millwall needed a response and substitute Langstaff provided it in the final minute. Leonard’s flick found the forward in space in the box and he lashed it past Stolarczyk to add a point that could yet turn out to be precious to his side’s total.