Millwall boss Rowett felt ref denied them a stonewall penalty kick in Huddersfield Town reverse
BY ALEX GRACE
Gary Rowett was left fuming with referee Geoff Eltringham after he failed to award his Millwall side a late penalty in their 1-0 loss at Huddersfield Town.
The ball appeared to strike the hand of Harry Toffolo after Ryan Leonard had shot towards goal.
“Disappointed in the last minute as we should have had a clear penalty, I’ve watched it back on numerous occasions,” said Rowett “Benik does a lovely bit of skill, backheels it past the defender’s legs to Lenny, who has a shot, and it’s Toffolo….he turns his back and gets both his hands up and they deflect it wide.
“The referee didn’t feel like it was enough for a penalty. It was a clear penalty. I’ll let people decide when they see it.”
The Lions went on to lose the game as Jonathan Hogg headed home a free header from inside the six-yard box.
“Did our performance warrant us winning the game? Probably not but I felt just before the 82nd minute we had done enough at that point to give us a really good chance at the very least of getting a point,” said Rowett. “So very disappointed to concede in the way we did.”
It’s just a second defeat in 10 matches for Millwall, who are three points outside the top six.
“Before today we were second, joint with Fulham in the form chart in the Championship, I don’t think it’s necessarily inconsistent,” said Rowett. “We are a team that has to work really hard to win games in this division. If we don’t do the right things then we won’t give ourselves the chance to do that. In the last 10 games we have only lost to Luton and Huddersfield but the way we have lost both of those games is disappointing.
“We always get to that point where we’ve won four in five, if we win today then we’ve got two home games coming up and we seem to struggle to take that next step – so I would agree that those are the games you just have to go and put you’re stamp on. Huddersfield are a good side, they’ve got really good home form and they showed today at times they are a difficult team to play. It was a game we should have at least got a point out of. A point and a clean sheet away from home I would have been happy with.”
