Fuming Matt Hamshaw's blast as Rotherham United fail to hang on to lead
ANGRY boss Matt Hamshaw pointed the finger at poor defending after watching Rotherham United pass up the chance of three priceless survival points at AESSEAL New York Stadium this afternoon.
The drop-zone Millers led 2-0 at the break in the League One lunch-time kick-off against Bolton Wanderers thanks to a Sam Nombe brace but conceded twice after the break as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
“I could swear,” said the boss as he reflected on a result that left his team in 22nd spot, two points away from safety.
He revealed that his players had felt the sharp edge of his tongue in the dressing room afterwards.
“Three first contacts (for the opposition) is unacceptable at any level,” he said. “And it wasn't only that. It was the body language and demeanour of the players who were in and around that ball. That's what winds me up.”
He was referring to the first Bolton goal, scored by Chris Forino six minutes into the second half when Rotherham failed to clear a corner.
Then, with time running out, Jamal Baptiste and Lenny Agbaire went AWOL and Sam Dalby's free header from Johnny Kenny's cross brought the equaliser.
“The players went off the game plan a little bit and that's frustrating,” Hamshaw said. “We were naive defensively.”
Bolton are in third place and are unbeaten in 12 matches and Hamshaw admitted he was have taken a draw before the game.
“When I woke up this morning, if someone had said that I was going to get a point, I'd have probably snapped their hands off, to be honest,” he said.
“I've got real admiration for Bolton as a club and a team - what they've built and what they've done. You've seen the options they're bringing on from the bench. They have a plethora of strikers. I think they had five on the pitch at one point.”
Next up for Rotherham, who have ten matches left in which to escape the drop zone, is Tuesday's trip to Peterborough United.
Bolton boss Steven Schumacher was disappointed his team didn't complete their comeback by finding a winner.
Wanderers are a fair way behind top two Lincoln City and Cardiff City and the head coach said: “It’s going to be hard to catch them because they have got such a points gap to us.
“We knew we couldn’t drop points, and we have. That makes it even more difficult. We have played well enough to win the game but haven’t.
“We have played so well and had so many chances. Their goalkeeper has made some brilliant saves and the ball was just not bouncing for us. There was a lack of composure as well.
“Credit to the players. they have good spirit. But I am gutted we haven’t won a game that we’ve been well the better team in.
“The two goals that we conceded were poor. From virtually nothing on our goal, Rotherham go in 2-0 up and we have loads of work to do.”