Hurst angry after late ‘farce’ at Rochdale

Posted Saturday, March 31, 2018 by PA

Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst blasted referee Richard Clark and his officials after the promotion-chasers were beaten 3-1 at relegation-threatened Rochdale.

The Shrews, who had defender Toto Nsiala stretchered off with a suspected fractured cheekbone earlier in the game, were awarded a penalty in stoppage time with Dale leading 2-1.

But before Hurst’s men had the chance to salvage something from the match, referee Clark changed his mind and awarded a corner after consulting his linesman – and to rub salt in the wound, Dale broke downfield and scored a third.

“I’m naturally unhappy with the ending,” said Hurst.

“We didn’t have the bit of luck that you need at times – we hit the woodwork twice, we’ve had a penalty given that has then been overturned and we’ve lost Toto as well, so it’s not been a good day at all.

“The incident at the end summed it up. There were so many things wrong with it.

“The referee is far closer and has a better view than the assistant referee who (eventually) gives it. He says he’s in line – he’s clearly not in line, he’s on the edge of the box and has a defender in his eyeline.

“So I really don’t understand what’s gone on. Forget whether it was a the right decision or not. It was how he’s changed his mind – he can’t change his mind like that.

“It makes a farce of anything the FA want to do – it says to me that my players should go and surround the referee or his assistant every time. Having given the penalty there is no way in a million years he should change his mind.”

Hurst’s side made the ideal start when Nathan Thomas broke clear and fired past Josh Lillis eight minutes in but their momentum was broken when Nsiala suffered his injury after an accidental clash with Stephen Humphrys which required 11 minutes of onfield treatment.

Dale levelled in the resultant 12th minute of first-half stoppage time when Oliver Rathbone fired home and substitute Steven Davies’ overhead kick handed them an 80th-minute lead.

It appeared Shrewsbury could save the day when Joe Rafferty was penalised for a challenge on Jon Nolan in time added on. That was until referee Clark changed his mind and awarded a corner and with Shrews goalkeeper Dean Henderson up for the set-piece, namesake Ian broke downfield and scored Dale’s third.

“Regardless of the emotions, it wasn’t worthy of a penalty,” said Dale boss Keith Hill, who nevertheless cautioned against players surrounding match officials.

“We have been reprieved. I’ve not got a clue why he gave the penalty in the first place.

“I don’t like players surrounding the referee myself but they got to the right decision and I believe if my players hadn’t done it we might not have had the right decision so in this case, in the position we are in, I’m glad they did it – but I don’t 100 per cent endorse it.”