Referee’s call was out of my hands
KEMAR ROOFE refused to apologise after his handball kept Leeds in the top two.
Roofe’s controversial late strike cancelled out Jack Robinson’s first-half opener to secure a point from a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
“What do you want me to do? Go to the referee and say that it shouldn’t be allowed?” said the striker.
“The ball came across, I anticipated it, and yeah the ball hit my arm. The arm was by my knee and I just hit it.
“It’s the same with other decisions, free-kicks and penalties. Some you get and some you don’t.
“It’s up to the referee to make that decision. I’m just there to play the game.”
Billy Sharp fired Sheffield United top with his first hat-trick in 10 years in the 4-2 win against Wigan.
It was the perfect response after the striker was rested in midweek – and the 32-year-old Blades skipper said his reaction was a sign of maturity.
“When I was younger I’d have been frustrated and probably sulked a bit when I wasn’t playing. But I’m the captain and I have to set an example,” said Sharp.
Paul Lambert took training at Ipswich for the first time yesterday after watching his new side from the stands at Millwall.
Saturday’s 3-0 defeat left the Tractor Boys three points adrift at the foot of the table.
But Town stand-in boss Bryan Klug has urged Lambert to keep faith with 19-year-old midfield pair Andre Dozzell and Flynn Downes.
“We need some Championship
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experience and that is what Paul will bring. But hopefully he will see that those players have got a future,” said Klug.
Derby striker Martyn Waghorn admitted his side’s 1-1 draw at Middlebrough felt like a loss after the home side levelled through a late own-goal.
Waghorn said: “I’m bitterly disappointed.”
Birmingham extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
“I don’t think you’ll find many teams that go 11 unbeaten this season, especially in a Championship like this,” said Birmingham defender Marc Roberts.
Bolton manager Phil Parkinson insists he isn’t feeling the heat despite chairman Ken Anderson threatening change.
Wanderers slumped to a fourth defeat in five games after Fraizer Campbell’s goal secured a 1-0 away win for Hull.
Parkinson, in charge for two years, said: “A lot of people say I should come out and defend myself more. But I always try to keep my own counsel.
“That’s the way I have always been and that’s the way I will continue to be.”
Darren Fletcher’s 34th-minute strike was enough for Stoke to claim the points at Bristol City while Norwich moved up to fourth after Emiliano Buendia’s first goal in English football secured a 1-0 win against Brentford at Carrow Road.
Swansea beat Reading 2-0 thanks to two goals from Oli McBurnie and Preston were held to a 1-1 draw by Rotherham.