Matt Hamshaw hails ‘special’ point for Rotherham at Reading

Rotherham manager Matt Hamshaw admitted his side were denied victory at struggling Reading by a “worldie” of an equaliser from Charlie Savage in the 1-1 draw.

The depleted Millers, who were without 12 players due to injury, had led 1-0 thanks to a precise finish by Josh Benson in the 20th minute.

But Savage struck 12 minutes from time with a superb 30-yard effort, though Rotherham still extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches.

“It was a good point in the end,” Hamshaw said. “It’s no secret how low on bodies we are at the moment, especially with our attacking threat.

“The team are just giving us everything and they’re giving the fans everything as well.

“We are light [on players] and that makes the point even more special.

“We’re capable of great things, I’ve said that all along. But we’re a work in progress, we’re getting there, and the lads have trained really well this week.

“We are getting there but we just need a few of those [missing] bodies back.”

Of Savage’s equaliser, Hamshaw said: “What a goal.

“I said to the lads before the game that if Reading score a 30-yard ‘worldie’ and that beats us or means we get only a point, then it is what it is.

“I just didn’t want Reading to open us up and I thought that, from a defensive point of view, we looked good again.

“I think the team are showing a lot of positive signs of that DNA that I’ve spoken about quite a lot.”

Reading remain unbeaten in two league matches since new manager Leam Richardson, a former Millers boss, took over from the sacked Noel Hunt.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get all three points,” Richardson said. “You want to win every game.

“I thought we controlled enough of the game. We had around 70 per cent of the possession.

“We created some really good chances but without being really clinical in finishing them.

“In the final third, where the edge has got to come in, we have to get better – and we will.

“The game was a little bit stop-start due to the officiating and the opposition. You have to respect that as everyone has a way to try to win.

“Going 1-0 down, we were still in control in my opinion. We had enough chances in the first half to take the game away from Rotherham.

“They had something to hold on to but, to be fair, we never gave up and kept going right until the final whistle.

“We’ll just have to dust ourselves down, look back at it straight away and will be better next week.”