All we want is a fair crack: Hill

KEITH Hill believes inadequate officiating is denying Rochdale a fair crack at the League One play-offs.

Dale suffered a 3-1 loss against Peterborough at London Road on Saturday, where both Joe Rafferty and Donal McDermott were dismissed by Chris Sarginson while Jamie Allen was turned down for what appeared a stonewall penalty kick.

The result saw Dale drop to tenth in the table, five points behind sixthplaced Southend ahead of Tuesday night’s game against Port Vale at the Crown Oil Arena.

“I personally feel a little bit embarrassed for the Referees’ Association, because I’m quite fair and open with them,” said Hill the game. We’ve had that of the game. But the game Hill was working with limited we worked on it during after the Peterborough opportunity taken away was just too big to get resources ahead of the week. They were 100 defeat. from us and I don’t believe something out of in the the Port Vale game. per cent all in and that’s

“I try to do as much that Peterborough have end.” “I’ve got one or two why I trusted them. work as I can with them to taken that away from us. Hill felt Sarginson was players who are nursing They’ve been excellent. help improve the game, so “We’re going through it too quick to dismiss injuries, including Niall “It won’t be my plan for I’d be slightly embarrassed at the minute. McDermott, who was Canavan, and I’ve also got the remainder of the season, about the standards “We had the debacle at shown a straight red card illness in the camp,” he but I thought it could they are providing in Bolton and now we’ve had for a challenge on Jack said. have yielded and should League One because it’s a less than adequate Baldwin – himself later “We were down to the have yielded more opportunities. not good enough. standard of officiating in sent off in the game. barebones but we’re even

“There are livelihoods an extremely important “It looks a lot worse worse for Tuesday now.” “But once Joe Rafferty at stake here – staff and game against Peterborough. than it is,” said Hill. “I Hill’s selection of frontmen gets sent off and we go players, and supporters believe the referee has Ian Henderson and down to 10 men, it’s an have spent a lot of money “I take a lot of heart and made a very, very quick Calvin Andrew in the fullback uphill challenge no matter to support us. I think the a lot of ambition looking decision to send Donal positions at Peterborough who is playing at fullback, supporters have been at the players’ performances. off, but I think if he was to raised a few eyebrows or elsewhere on the magnificent on what has I can be critical look at it again, he’d see among the pitch. You’re just trying to been an extremely difficult from a technical point of that there is absolutely no travelling supporters and fill a hole that’s constantly day for us. view, but I can’t be critical contact whatsoever. the manager felt it was a leaking.

“These are game changing of their heart, spirit, fight, “It’s a less than nice ploy that had legs – until “I feel for the players decisions. It’s a shame desire and discipline at lunge but no contact is Rafferty’s dismissal just because they have 100 per for Jamie and it’s a shame times. There was discipline made, but he has sent him before the interval. cent committed. In days for the players who in position and discipline off and I’ve got to deal “I’m really pleased for of darkness, like we’ve had worked so hard to give in possession with with that now.” the two players because today, there is light at the ourselves an opportunity the way we tried to play to With Rafferty and they accepted the challenge. end of the tunnel, and the to get something out of try and get something out McDermott suspended, We had a chat then future is really bright.”

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