The cold, the fans, the controversy and the Thomas Holmes incident ... the story of Bolton Wanderers 2 Rotherham United 1

He'd been on the pitch for only eight minutes and he'd cost his side a prized point away to a team who look a very decent bet for promotion.

With time almost up, substitute Thomas Holmes just needed to thump the ball clear of the danger zone for Rotherham United to claim a hard-fought draw against Bolton Wanderers.

The loanee is having it tough at the moment. So, too, are the Millers whose season of hope is descending into a campaign of concern following four straight defeats.

The centre-half had been substituted at half-time in the previous game. Now, at the sub-zero Toughsheet Community Stadium, he dillied in possession and, before he could dally, had the ball whipped away from him.

He then had to watch in horror as the home side bagged a last-gasp winner as a result of his lapse.

“I know that the player who made the mistake will be in there hurting,” said pained boss Matt Hamshaw on the Toughsheet touchline at the close of hostilities. “But that doesn't bring us any points back. It was just a lack of judgement, an individual mistake.”

Boxing Day in the north west was cold, cold, cold, and the mercury wasn't the only thing plummeting. By the final whistle, Hamshaw's men found themselves back in the drop zone that they thought they'd vacated for good back in early October.

They'd fallen behind in controversial circumstances on the stroke of half-time, then weathered a barrage of Bolton pressure while remaining an attacking threat themselves.

A 90th-minute penalty tucked away by Sam Nombe - two goals in two matches since his return from injury - looked set to make the journey back across the M62 a happy one.

But their best defensive display since the end of the nine-match run that had pushed them close to the play-off reckoning at the beginning of this month would turn out to be in vain.

For the opening 20 minutes, Rotherham were the better team and fashioned several openings. For the next 25, Cameron Dawson - with a series of excellent saves - and Hamish Douglas - with a goalline clearance - kept them in it.

Suddenly, the ball was in the net via the right boot of Josh Sheehan, and goalkeeper Dawson, along with several teammates, was in an absolute rage, imploring referee Elliot Bell to disallow the strike for an infringement.

Replays backed him up - Wanderers wide man Thierry Gale had been in an offside position when he'd impeded Douglas's attempt to block the shot - but, sadly, Bell's protracted discussion with an assistant didn't lead to the decision being reversed.

“It's a bad time to concede, isn't it?” Hamshaw said. “Any goal you concede just before half-time is a bad goal.

“However, I think it galvanised the group a little bit. They felt hard done by. I felt that we created more than enough chances.”

There were opportunities at both ends - a decent number for Bolton and for Rotherham - in the second half, but the clock was ticking down without another goal until sub Nombe was felled by Cyrus Christie and picked himself up to confidently restore parity.

“I've not had a chance to look at the stats, but I would have thought we are one of the highest teams for xG (expected goals based on chances created) here,” Hamshaw said.

“They make it difficult for you. They keep the ball well and they've got pace out wide.”

So difficult, in fact, that Wanderers haven't been beaten on their own patch since the Millers managed to lower their colours last April.

As the Millers chased the game, Nombe and Reece James spurned inviting chances, Jordan Hugill tested Bolton keeper Teddy Sharmn-Lowe to the limit with a header and Douglas cleared off the line for a second time before fatefully departing and being replaced by Holmes.

Hamshaw performed a quick roll call of his better performers while managing to omit Dawson and James.

“We've got some good players,” he said. “Jamal did well, Hamish did well, Powelly did well, Gorey did well. Hugill and Nombe did well when they came on. I thought Kion did well - 60 minutes, didn't get much service. Nombe got his customary goal, and that's the bit we've been missing.”

Nombe's spot-kick was bottom-corner clinical and the travelling faithful were still celebrating when Sheehan robbed the dithering Holmes and was then on hand to convert Amario Cozier-Duberry's 93rd-minute low cross.

There was still time for Hugill and Nombe to spurn presentable back-post openings when they headed wide of the target from crosses by Ar'Jany Martha and Joe Powell respectively.

A bumper Christmas crowd included 984 away fans and, tellingly, they applauded their side at the end for their efforts.

”We had a great following today,” Hamshaw said. ”The supporters got right behind the lads. I can't thank them enough. I just wish we could have been clapping them with something in the bag, whether that was one or three points.”

He couldn't help reflecting again on that one horrible moment: ”I've just said to the lads: ‘We're just not helping ourselves.’”

Holmes continued to have a haunted expression on his face.

He looked downwards.

Just like his team were having to do following their dismal December.

Bolton (4-2-3-1): Teddy Sharman-Lowe; Cyrus Christie, Eoin Toal, George Johnston, Max Conway; Josh Sheehan, Ethan Erhahon (Xavier Simons 82); Amario Cozier-Duberry, Joel Randall (Kyle Dempsey 82), Thierry Gale (Mason Burstow 86); Marcus Forss (Sam Dalby 71). Subs not used: Tyler Miller, Chris Forino, Ibrahim Cissoko.

Rotherham (3-4-3): Cameron Dawson; Jamal Baptiste, Hamish Douglas (Thomas Holmes 82), Zak Jules; Denzel Hall, Dru Yearwood (Jordan Hugill 53), Dan Gore, Reece James; Ar'Jany Martha, Kion Etete (Sam Nombe 53), Joe Powell. Subs not used: Ted Cann, Joe Rafferty, Sean Raggett, Liam Kelly.

Goals: Sheehan 45+1, 90+3 (Bolton); Nombe pen 90 (Rotherham)

Referee: Elliot Bell (Merseyside)

Attendance: 23,416 (984)