Millwall manager Ian Holloway praised his sides renewed spirit after battling to a draw at home to Reading.

The Lions had been on a run of five defeats in a row, but the goalless draw with Steve Clarke’s men stopped the rot as Millwall occupy a spot in the bottom-three.

The draw was more impressive for the hosts when on the stroke of half-time academy defender Sid Nelson was shown a straight red for a late challenge on Michael Hector. 

And Holloway admitted he was appalled at the decision to send Lions fan Nelson off, one of many decisions the Millwall boss was bemused by.

"It was a shocking red card,” Holloway explained. “Having watched it again, it looked far worst than it was. Sid will learn a huge lesson, he can’t win everything.

“I don't think there was any malice there, it almost summed up the way things have been going for everybody, I don't think the players around the referee helped. I don't think their reaction helped. 

“It looked far worst than it was.

“He's got to learn though, and he will learn that sometimes he can drop off and dummy to do things, even with his headers.

“He will get there, I just love him to bits; he is committed, he didn't deserve that.”

Holloway added: “Then after that, I’ve have never seen anything quite so strange in my life where (Diego) Fabbrini gets tripped up, they take the ball, less than five seconds later, their player falls over just like Fabbrini did and they get a free-kick and we don’t! 

“Now, for me, that happens far, far, far, far, too many times – the officials are supposed to be impartial and come here and referee the same for the two teams.

“That cannot be consistent in my opinion and I see it week in and week out.

“Sometimes we lacked discipline, when (Stefan) Maierhofer smashed into someone and give them a free-kick just before half-time. 

“To be fair that was ridiculous, sometimes we get too carried away with the way the fans are – they're honest people shouting to the referee about giving us something.

“We don't get it, most home teams do – we don't. Kenny (Jackett) told me about it and I can't believe how I see things. 

“Sid will have to learn he can’t win every header or tackle, but he will learn.”

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