Football Hull’s second goal should have been disallowed, says Garner
BEN Garner believes a missed foul in the build-up to Hull City’s second goal was the turning point as Bristol Rovers let a lead slip to lose 3-1 on Tuesday at the Memorial Stadium.
James Daly put the Gas ahead with just a minute on the clock, showing predatory instincts to nick the ball off Josh Magennis and rifle home from the edge of the penalty area. But Rovers suffered in a nightmare second half, as a triple substitution from Tigers boss Grant McCann was vindicated with Keane Lewis-Potter, Regan Slater and Tom Eaves all getting on the scoresheet.
Garner is certain Slater’s goal - 14 minutes from time - should have not been allowed to stand by referee Brett Huxtable. Eaves’ legs tangled with Jack Baldwin’s, leaving the Gas defender down and out of position as Eaves crossed for Slater to score.
“There’s not much in the game at all,” said Garner. “I think the scoreline is very deceiving at the end with the late goal. We have a great start and get ahead with some really good periods of play.
“We need to be a little more cutthroat in that attacking third. We had a great chance to make it 2-0, we had really good positions at the start of the second half and then it’s a big decision that turns the game.
“Jack Baldwin’s running back, his heels get clipped. You get that given every time. For some reason, today it’s not given and that turns the game. There’s a couple of bits of naivety from us that we are disappointed with, but there’s also that decision that turns the momentum of the game and unfortunately we’ve had several of those this season that have cost us.”
A poor back-pass from Baldwin in added-time allowed Eaves to profit, rounding Anssi Jaakkola and slamming home, perhaps giving the scoreline a harsh look at fulltime.
But it all could have been so different had Zain Westbrooke converted a golden chance, one-onone with Hull goalkeeper Matt Ingram, in first-half stoppage-time.
Garner accepted that missed chance was costly, but he remains positive about his side’s prospects despite a five-game unbeaten run coming to an end.
“If you go in 2-0 up at half-time I think we go on to win the game,” said Garner. “That’s not a criticism of Zain, he’s done great to get there but as a team we need to be more ruthless in those situations.
“I’ve said to the players we’re not a million miles away off these top teams in the division. Hull have come down from the Championship with a fantastic squad, some really good players and we’ve pushed them all the way. We’re unlucky not to come away with something.
“There’s a lot of positives in there, we think there’s good progress in there and we don’t think we’re far off at all. Like I say, naivety on a couple of occasions on our part and a decision that meant we went 2-1 down, and I can’t emphasise enough how much that turns the game.”
» Former Bristol Rovers manager Graham Coughlan has been sacked by Mansfield Town.
The 45-year-old quit the Gas after a famous victory at Ipswich Town in December with Rovers fourth in League One to take the job at Field Mill, closer to his Sheffield home. But, after a difficult start to the season and a 4-2 defeat at home to Barrow on Tuesday night, Mansfield have parted company with the Irishman.