HILL IN A RAGE AS COUNTY HIT LATE
ROCHDALE boss Keith Hill lambasted referee Scott Mathieson for denying his side a win over play-off rivals Notts County as Garry Thompson’s late goal sparked chaos at Spotland.
Thompson snatched a 2-2 draw for the Magpies in stoppage time of a feisty clash despite Dale claiming two players were stood in offside positions when he struck.
But referee Mathieson allowed the goal to stand amid fierce protests which stopped Hill’s side from ending the Magpies’ unbeaten away record in League One.
After seeing Ian Henderson and Peter Vincenti cancel out Mike Edwards’ opener, Hill raged that his team had been denied all three points which stopped them from extending their lead over the Magpies in the top six.
“The players have done their jobs and we all expect the officials to do theirs,” he said. “They haven’t done them and the decision is as clear as day.
“There are two players offside and for whatever reason they haven’t given it. Those players were offside when the first ball came into the box so our players have done their jobs.
“It’s not their fault we have dropped points. It’s not my fault, it’s not the supporters’ fault, the chief exec’s fault or the directors’ fault.We can only do what we did and expect to be supported by officials who can do the job appropriately.
“Unfortunately it’s happened far too many times that we are falling foul of bad decisions.”
After taking the lead through Edwards’ cushioned volley from Elliott Whitehouse’s cross before the break, the Magpies let slip their lead just 28 seconds after the break when Henderson finished superbly.
Matt Done also cracked the foot of the post as Dale threatened to run riot.
And they eventually took the lead through Vincenti’s header , until Thompson popped up with an easy finish into an empty net.
Notts County boss Shaun Derry admitted his side could have played better but was pleased to keep the unbeaten away record intact.
“It was a frantic finish, but that’s the first time in a long time that I can say the performance wasn’t good enough,” Derry said.
“I felt in the first half we competed well as did Rochdale.
“But the first real quality moment of the game conjured us a goal.
“And then you go into the second half with a game plan and it goes completely out of the window in fewer than 30 seconds.
“You are on the backfoot and we didn’t look after the ball at all.
“But in the 95th minute to equalise typified our spirit.
“We went right until the very end. I’ve not seen the goal, but I was just delighted it went into the net.
“It keeps the unbeaten record intact and the challenge is now to keep it that way going into the New Year.
“But the players knew it wasn’t a good performance and they were subdued afterwards.”