You can’t give that in a derby!

Huddlestone’s late red leaves Rowett seething

IT WaS hard to disagree with gary Rowett’s take on the late red card shown to Tom huddlestone in the first goalless draw between these rivals at the City ground since 1906.

‘ it’s a local derby for goodness sake,’ derby County’s manager said. ‘if someone falls over it doesn’t have to be a foul.’

huddlestone was sent off in the 81st minute for a second booking barely three minutes after his first. both were for fouls on lee Tomlin and the second card looked harsh, with Rowett insisting nottingham Forest’s playmaker had fallen without contact.

Referee Jeremy Simpson’s call prompted sharp reproach from Rowett after the game.

‘i spoke to the referee at half-time and my biggest frustration was what i felt would happen,’ Rowett said. ‘i’m a big admirer of lee Tomlin and he was just doing what any good no 10 would do for his side, which is to get freekicks. What i have got a problem with is the officials have got to see that.

‘i’ve watched it again and there’s clearly no contact. it’s a double whammy because we will lose Tom for the next game. it was a big mistake in a big game.’

Rowett spoke to Tomlin after the final whistle. ‘i had no problem with Tomlin,’ he said. ‘i was talking to the referee and one of their players trod on my foot.’

Rowett was also seen making a gesture to the Forest fans as he walked off. From one angle it looked crude but his explanation made sense.

‘i was trying to get four fingers up to say we’ve taken four points off them this season, for a bit of banter,’ he said. ‘There’s no malice involved at all.’

derby were in second place on February 10 but a run of seven games without a win means their bid for automatic promotion looks over. Rowett’s side will now concentrate on securing a position in the play-offs, with the gap to seventh back to four points.

aitor Karanka’s debut in this encounter for the brian Clough Trophy saw Forest extend their unbeaten run to six games but fail to record a shot on target. The closest the hosts came was when Tomlin shot wide from 25 yards.

derby went down the other end and created an opportunity that should have given them the lead. andreas Weimann broke free and pulled the ball back to david nugent, whose fierce strike was well saved by Costel Pantilimon. From the rebound, ikechi anya crossed for Tom lawrence, whose shot was diverted over by a combination of Pantilimon and Tendayi darikwa.

Rowett summed up the mood when he mimicked a yawn as Forest’s fans mocked his footwear. ‘When this level of fashion hits nottingham in about six months then you’ll probably see about 25,000 people walking around this city with these type of trainers on,’ he said with a smile afterwards. ‘until someone opens the door to this type of style they will have to make do with the wellies.’

Karanka played with a straighter bat, appealing for patience after a frantic transfer window.

‘if we played now very good and we score perfectly, it would be a miracle,’ he said. ‘People have to realise 10 players have arrived in the last month. We are working on the training ground and now we look like a team on the pitch.’