Martin Paterson thinks key decisions went against Terriers in loss at Rotherham
Posted Saturday, August 31, 2024 by PA
Huddersfield assistant coach Martin Paterson said key decisions went against them in the 2-1 loss at Rotherham.
The Terriers 100 per cent start to the Sky Bet League One campaign ended and they had red cards given to head coach Michael Duff, goalkeeper coach Andy Quy and striker Danny Ward.
Duff was dismissed after the final whistle for remonstrating with referee Sebastian Stockbridge and Quy also saw red for time-wasting, after substitute Ward had been dismissed for colliding with Jamie McCart in the air in the 72nd minute.
Mallik Wilks netted a late winner as Rotherham came from behind to win their first match of the season, after Jonson Clarke-Harris’ penalty had equalised Joe Hodge’s opener for the visitors.
Paterson said: “We think the key decisions probably were not correct but we transitioned for the lead and showed real good quality.
“Their tails were up and ultimately we are disappointed with our second half and the decisions that went against us.”
The penalty is the decision that irked the Huddersfield staff, with Paterson adding: “We don’t think it’s a penalty. It’s a player who goes through in the box and he wraps his leg around our player and goes down.
“It looks a soft penalty to us and something we are going to have to swallow.
“The gaffer has got a fantastic record of discipline not only through his playing career but his military background.
“It is very unlikely he (Duff) has done something that deserves a sending off. We saw the referee made quick decisions to send people off.
“We didn’t really get going at all in the second half. We did not stick to the process.”
Huddersfield had goalkeeper Lee Nicholls to thank for keeping Rotherham out twice early on.
He denied Sam Nombe on the angle and then did even better to keep out Clarke-Harris’ close-range effort.
The visitors then had chances of their own with Tom Lees guilty of missing the easiest as he headed off target at the back post.
Despite that setback, Huddersfield went in front two minutes later through substitute Hodge, after Josh Koroma had caused problems down the right.
However, Rotherham levelled from the spot after Wilks was adjudged to have been felled by Lasse Sorensen.
The Millers were clearly buoyed by the goal and got the winner in added time when Wilks cut in from the right flank and smashed a powerful effort beyond Nicholls.
Rotherham manager Steve Evans was pleased to see his team end their wait for a win.
He said: “That was a real team performance. We have beaten a very good team and we deserved to do so.
“We were dominant 11 v 11. We gave a naughty goal away but we got back in the game and we had the desire to win it.
“That is the DNA of Rotherham United. It was good times back at the New York Stadium again. This was us and what we are about.”
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