The Rotherham United display that moved even 'ice man' boss Matt Taylor

The Millers were behind at the break but fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against opposition who were in the Premier League last term.

The boss normally keeps his feelings in check no matter what the score is at the final whistle.

However, he confessed that the character his side showed in pegging back the Saints after being totally outplayed in the first half had made him a proud man.

“I'm not an emotional guy but that certainly touches you a little bit,” he said. “We were so far off the opposition in the first half but somehow found a way to stay in the game.

"We had to tweak certain aspects as we went through it. In the second half, we were full of spirit and endeavour and showed a little bit of skill.”

The Millers, cheered on by a 1,000-plus travelling following, fell behind to a second-minute opener by Stuart Armstrong and levelled in the 74th minute through Jordan Hugill’s stunning long-range strike.

Injury-hit Rotherham, who remain in next-to-bottom spot, had lost all of their previous five league encounters on the road and this result will give them a huge lift heading as they head into the international break.

“It was crucial to keep it at 1-0,” Taylor said. “It was a fragile group after the run we've been on. A second goal would have killed us. It was a difficult first half to be a part of yet we stayed in the game. There was some good defending and goalkeeping.

"We were able to address a few things at half-time. We still rode our luck at times in the second half but you have to do that against quality opposition like Southampton.”

Home manager Russell Martin felt his side, who had won their previous two matches, had thrown away two points.

"It was a really good performance,” he said. “Anyone who came today will see we deserved to win.

“We should have been out of sight before Rotherham scored. It’s really frustrating. We were so good in the first half we should have been 3-0 up. We have paid for a lack of ruthlessness.”