WELLS HAS NO ROOM FOR SENTIMENT

BRISTOL CITY HIDDERSFIELD

NAHKI WELLS showed no trace of emotion when burying the controversial stoppage-time spot-kick that denied former club Huddersfield Town an escape from the drop zone.

The Bristol City striker (above) remained ice cool amid the angry protests which followed referee Rebecca Welch’s 98th-minute decision to penalise substitute Ollie Turton for handling a Cameron Pring cross. He powered a sweetly-struck penalty past Lee Nicholls.

Wells netted in the shoot-out that settled the Championship play-off final in 2017, when Huddersfield beat Reading to reach the Premier League, securing himself an enduring place in Terriers fans’ hearts.

“Whatever the circumstances, I concentrate on going through the same processes, stay confident and back myself to score,” he said. “Huddersfield were really good on the day and caused us problems. We were a bit fortunate in how we equalised, but my only thoughts were on helping to extend our recent good run.”

The visitors thought they had won it when Josh Koroma fired past Max O’Leary from 10 yards on 81 minutes. It sent the travelling fans behind the goal into wild scenes of celebration, before Wells’ last-gasp contribution transformed their mood.

Turton appeared to turn his back on the ball when blocking Pring’s cross from the left. But Robins players and fans immediately screamed for a penalty and referee Welch obliged.

Huddersfield defender Tom Lees said: “It was a decision out of nothing, which I don’t think needed making. We were comfortable and not even hanging on.”

Head coach Andre Breitenreiter claimed the incident proved the need for VAR in the Championship.

“Had it been there justice would have been done,” he said. “My players are crying in the dressing room after a great performance.”