LAST-GASP WELLS RESCUES ROBINS
Terriers pay the penalty
ANGRY Huddersfield Town head coach Andre Breitenreiter called on VAR to be employed in the Championship after seeing his relegation battlers cruelly denied at the death at Ashton Gate.
Nahki Wells’ stoppage-time penalty denied the Terriers a crucial win after Josh Koroma’s opener looked to have been good enough to hand Town a huge victory.
Referee Rebecca Welch had judged substitute Ollie Turton to have handled a Cameron Pring cross, with Wells’ spot-kick, in the 10th minute of added-on time, ultimately breaking the visitors’ hearts.
Breitenreiter said: “I have said before that the Championship needs VAR for sure and this moment proved it.
“We don’t think it was a penalty and a referee needs to be 150 per cent sure to award one in the 98th minute.
“VAR would have meant justice for my team. I spoke to the referee afterwards and she explained her reasons for the decision, but that doesn’t change anything.
“I feel so sorry for my players because they are crying in the dressing room, yet their performance today was all I could have asked for.
“Maybe we should have scored a second goal, but we defended well as a team, which is what we needed in past games.
“Ollie Turton is in the dressing room trying to apologise for a mistake. But he didn’t make a mistake.
“It isn’t the first time a big decision has gone against us. But I would rather talk about the performance than over which we have no control.”
The visitors made all the early running, Jack Rudoni shooting wide and Delano Burgzorg firing over from a Sorba Thomas cross.
Having demolished Blackburn 5-0 in midweek, the hosts were unable to mount any serious attacking threat. A Koroma shot was deflected behind for a corner as Town continued to bely their lowly league position.
The half-time whistle went without City having registered a goal attempt of any sort. The home side improved after the break and at last forced a save from Lee Nicholls, who dived to smother a low 58th minute drive from Matty James after a good run by Tommy Conway.
At the other end, Michal Helik sent a tame volley straight at Max O’Leary, before City head coach Liam Manning made a change up front, sending on Wells for Conway.
Still Town looked the more likely scorers and Rudoni was narrowly wide with a low shot from inside the box.
Koroma sent an acrobatic volley at O’Leary as Huddersfield struggled to find the finsomething ish to match their approach play. Then O’Leary had to make a smart save to keep out a Thomas shot.
When Koroma fired the visitors in front from ten yards after 81 minutes after a Rudoni shot was deflected into his path, it seemed Huddersfield would lift themselves out of the relegation zone.
Substitute Rhys Healey almost made it 2-0 when heading over from a near post corner before referee Welch’s last-gasp penalty decision broke Huddersfield hearts.
Turton was penalised for handball and Wells sent his spot-kick beyond Nicholls.