Salford manager Peter Cklamovski was quick to hail the fighting qualities of his 10-man side as they earned a precious point with Rotherham following a 3-3 draw at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
It was thrill-a-minute action in the first ever league meeting between the sides as Salford raced into a two-goal lead after Ryan Graydon and Joe Powell’s wonder strike from distance put the visitors in charge.
The Millers were soon back on level terms, however, through Brandon Cover’s first goal for the club and Paul Mullin’s penalty before Ossama Ashley, who swapped Salford for the Millers in the summer, capped the home side’s fightback by putting them ahead in the second half.
The Ammies looked to be staring down the barrel of defeat when Abraham Odoh was dismissed for two bookable offences in the 69th minute, but there was further drama to come when Macaulay Langstaff netted from the penalty spot with 16 minutes to go.
Speaking afterwards, Cklamovski was proud his side defied their numerical disadvantage to take a vital point back from South Yorkshire, and their first on the road this season.
“It was a great game of football. It was a roller-coaster ride for the fans of both clubs, and I’m proud of our players commitment, professionalism and desire to get through that game,” Cklamovski said.
“We take a point, but it feels like we dropped two a little bit. It was a crazy five-minute period for us to concede two goals. That was devastating for us and we did not manage it well.
“The boys never gave up. It was an interesting scenario when we go down with a red card and then the boys showed their character and resilience to continue to create chances with a man less and eventually we got the reward with the penalty.”
Alex Bruce, who was on Salford’s coaching staff last season, had mixed emotions from the game as his side came back from two goals down to go ahead before letting it slip late on.
“In the first 20 minutes, we were too passive and we were not at it. They had too much time on the ball. We were five yards off everybody,” Bruce noted.
“Fair play to the lads. When we kept the ball better, we showed we were a good team. I was pleased with the players’ reaction though. They dug deep and there were a lot of pleasing things to see.”
Bruce admitted the game turned on a momentary lapse of concentration from Sheffield United loanee Jili Buyabu, who was penalised for a shirt pull in the box on Will Aimson, when the Millers were leading and Langstaff punished him by netting his first Salford goal from the spot.
“It was a moment of stupidity from Jili (Buyabu),” Bruce bemoaned.
“He was not in the right position and he pulled the player’s shirt. He is a young boy and when you watch it back, it is just sheer naivety. I think he will learn from that.”
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