Gary Bowyer staying positive after Burton drop points late on at Rotherham

Burton manager Gary Bowyer refused to be too downbeat despite his team letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 at Rotherham.

The Brewers looked like jumping ahead of Rotherham in the table but Hamish Douglas’s late header ensured a share of the spoils.

The visitors had been in cruise control thanks to second-half goals from Kyran Lofthouse and Tyrese Shade.

But when Denzel Hall’s cross was diverted in by Toby Sibbick, the Millers had renewed hope.

They snatched an equaliser in the fourth minute of added time, with Douglas grabbing his first as a pro with a stooping header from Josh Benson’s corner.

Bowyer said: “With them scoring so late you’re disappointed, but I thought we were terrific.

“We were really, really good in terms of the chances we created and the saves the goalkeeper had to make.

“At the start of the second half we continued that.

“We scored from a set-piece – an area we had identified – and then the second goal was magnificent and it’s what Tyrese is capable of. He will grow again from that.

“Unfortunately their goal takes a horrible deflection and leaves Brad (Collins) rooted.

“Just at the death we didn’t manage to see it through. That is the frustrating bit, but I’m really pleased in terms of how they went about it.”

Burton had the best of the first-half chances, with Shade the danger man. Twice he had to be foiled by Cameron Dawson.

Burton got the breakthrough early in the second half, with Lofthouse heading home from Charlie Webster’s corner.

They then punished a slip by Kian Spence with Jake Beesley teeing-up Shade to curl home emphatically.

But Rotherham still showed plenty of fight and battled for a point.

Manager Matt Hamshaw praised their comeback and was particularly pleased for academy graduate Douglas.

He said: “I felt first half we were the better team without much cutting edge. We probably had better chances but didn’t capitalise on them enough.

“I don’t think Burton have done much and scored two goals.

“We got the goal and then in the last half-an-hour there was only one team in it.

“It was a rollercoaster but it was pleasing character from a team that has been questioned in previous seasons.

“The lads not giving it up until the end speaks volumes.

“It was fairytale stuff at the end. I’m really pleased for Hamish. I thought he did really well and took his goal well.

“He needs to be a big player for us. Opportunities arise like that and you have to take those chances when you get them.”