Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has praised his players after their 1-1 draw away at Reading.

The Saints went a goal down when Mikele Leigertwood struck with 20 minutes to go, and their afternoon got worse as Dean Hammond was dismissed for his second yellow card.

Despite the circumstances, Steve de Ridder earned the visitors a point with 10 minutes to play to leave Adkins beaming.

"What great character from the players because, at the end of the day, we came away from home, went a goal behind and down to 10 men," he said.

"That said, we probably played the best bit of football after that happened and we showed a desire to score.

"And we've got a point from nothing so we have to be pleased about that. I've got a very honest, hard-working bunch group of professional football players at our club."

The draw has kept the South Coast club top of the Championship table, three points ahead of Middlesbrough.