Holloway anger at Nelson red card

The Lions secured a battling point despite playing the entire second half a man down.

Nelson, 19 and making only his fifth appearance, was dismissed on the stroke of half-time for a late lunge on Michael Hector near the halfway line.

The offence was compounded by the fact the whistle had already gone for an earlier foul, and referee Andrew Madley duly pulled out a red card as a distraught Nelson ran straight down the tunnel.

Reading boss Steve Clarke felt the challenge was "reckless", although the former defender added: "You'd have got away with it in my day."

But Holloway, who has been less than impressed with some of the officiating at The Den this season, said: "It was a shocking red card. He was a split second away from kicking it but the whistle had already gone.

"It almost summed up the way things have been going for us. Some of the decisions we get, it feels like we never play play at home!

"I don't think the player's reaction helped, though. Sid has to learn and he will. He can't win every header and every tackle."

Millwall have now slipped five points adrift of safety but Holloway, who has overhauled his under-performing squad and started the match with five January signings, insists they can get out of trouble.

One of the new boys, Watford loanee Diego Fabbrini, offered glimpses of a brighter second half of the season, including one stunning run into the area in which he beat four defenders before his cross-shot was held by Adam Federici.

Despite the numerical advantage Millwall had the better chances to win it after the break, with Lee Gregory and debutant Jos Hooiveld sending headers off target.

"Some of my new players got standing ovations," said Holloway. "That was a Millwall fighting performance.

"I want to build a team that can win at this level and I'm trying to do that. It's not all doom and gloom."

Reading, sensing a chance to ease their own fears of slipping towards the relegation battle, also pressed but the closest they came to a winner was Simon Cox's late shot which was tipped round a post by David Forde.

"I'm frustrated more than disappointed," said Royals boss Clarke. "But in football you don't assume anything.

"Millwall defended really well in the second half. We got into some good positions but couldn't create anything clear-cut."