SHREWS RAGE AT DALE LOSS
SHREWSBURY boss Paul Hurst was left fuming at referee Richard Clark for the overturned penalty decision he thought cost his promotion-chasers at struggling Rochdale.
With the Shrews trailing, Clark initially awarded a stoppage-time spot-kick when Jon Nolan was bundled down by Joe Rafferty before changing his mind after consulting with his linesman, reversing his decision.
Nathan Thomas struck the Shrews into an early lead at Spotland though an injury to defender Toto Nsiala saw play delayed and Dale levelled through Ollie Rathbone 12 minutes into first-half added time.
Super-sub Steven Davies then hooked struggling Rochdale back ahead late on before Ian Henderson wrapped up a massive three points for Keith Hill’s side in their battle for survival.
A furious Hurst, whose team host Oxford on Monday, said: “We lost the game, so naturally, I’m unhappy.
“We didn’t have the luck. We’ve had a penalty given that has then been overturned.
“There are so many things wrong with it.
“The referee is far closer to the incident than the assistant referee who gives it.
“He says he’s in line – he clearly isn’t as he’s on the edge of the box.
“They are saying whether it was the right decision. Forget that – it’s how he’s changed his mind.”
Hurst’s view wasn’t shared by his opposite number.
“It’s not worthy of a penalty decision but once he gives it, you just think the worst, but they’ve come to the right conclusion,” said Rochdale manager Hill.
“We got in their face in the second half. We had genuine runners in behind the defenders and we were honest in our performance.
“I’m pleased with the result and I’m pleased with the second-half performance but we crumbled after we went a goal down.”
Shrewsbury led after eight minutes through Thomas, who surged solo into the penalty area to plant a left-footed strike across goal beyond goalkeeper Josh Lillis into the bottom right corner.
Nsiala was stretchered off in a neck brace following a challenge with Stephen Humphrys, which saw play stopped for 12 minutes.
Dale equalised deep into stoppage time as Rathbone struck a dipping drive through a sea of players, which crept under keeper Dean Henderson and into the bottom left corner
Davies scored Dale’s second after finding space in the area following a corner. The forward, with his back to goal, looped the ball over his head from the right side of the penalty area, finding the top left corner. Following the earlier penalty controversy, Shrewsbury were punished as home skipper Henderson chased onto Brad Inman’s pass to convert into an empty net.
ROCHDALE: (4-2-3-1): Lillis 7, Rafferty 7, McGahey 7, McNulty 7, Nthle 5 (Inman 40 7) Done 7, Camps 8, Rathbone 8 (Wiseman 90 N/A), Humphrys 7 (Davies 76 7) Henderson 7, Andrew 7 Subs not used: Moore, Delaney, Hart, Dobre
SHREWSBURY: (4-4-1-1): Henderson 6, Hendrie 7 (Bolton 73 6) Nsiala 5 (Lowe 26 6) Beckles 6, Sadler 7, Whelley 7, Godfrey 7, Nolan 6, Gnahoua 6, Thomas 7 (Payne 73 6) Morris 7 Subs not used: MacGillivray, John-Lewis, Jones, Eisa