Rotherham United boss Paul Warne's praise for 'brave' Ollie Rathbone after Wigan Athletic draw

Goal joy for Ollie Rathbone. Picture by Kerrie Beddows

MANAGER Paul Warne saluted the courage of Ollie Rathbone after the midfielder's stunning strike earned Rotherham United a point at AESSEAL New York Stadium tonight.

The summer signing rifled in an second-half equaliser from 25 yards as the table-topping Millers did battle with League One's second-placed side, Wigan Athetic, who had been ahead at the break through Stephen Humphry's superb bottom-corner finish.

The clash finished 1-1, leaving the title fight between the sides wide open. Rotherham are six points clear but the Latics have two matches in hand.

"You have to be brave enough to take on the shot because there's a big chance you are going to miss," Warne said. "Ollie's bravery has got us a point, so fair play to him."

The Millers dominated the second-half and Rathbone's 75th-minute leveller was just reward for their superiority but Wigan defended superbly and a draw was a fair result.

"I thought it was two really good teams going at each other," Warne said. "At times we might have cancelled each other out. No-one gave an inch for the whole game.

"Wigan kept us quiet in the first half and in the second half we were in the ascendancy.

"It was just two wonder-strikes, two great goals that were befitting of two teams at the top end of the league.

"If you had offered me a 1-1 after 70 minutes I'd have taken it. I thought we were braver in the second half.

"We came to try to win the game and win, but we don't come away disappointed that we got only a point. We are in a good position."

Lancashire referee Jeremy Simpson angered both sets of supporters and both teams with some baffling decisions.

"There were some interesting choices on what was a foul and what was not a foul," Warne said. "I don't have a lot else I can say. It blows my mind. It was the same for both teams."

Wigan boss Leam Richardson said: "We tried to work hard out of possession and be a threat in possession. I think we achieved that. Rotherham are a good side under Paul Warne."