Neil Warnock slams what he thought was a ‘very lucky’ Millwall over some of the referee’s decisions including one on an ‘elbow’ incident.
The Huddersfield boss believes that the Millwall defender Jake Cooper was “very lucky” to not have been sent off in the Terriers’ 1-0 away win over Millwall on Saturday.
Danny Ward’s second-half strike was the difference as they beat playoff-chasing Millwall with relegation-threatened Huddersfield clinching all three points at The Den.
Ward came on for Martyn Waghhorn and helped his side to a much needed win for the Terriers, turning in Ben Jackson’s cross to secure the win.
This was Huddersfield’s first win in six games thanks to the determination of their back line, helping them boost their chances of avoiding the drop.
Neil Warnock’s side moves up to 22nd in the Championship and are now three points away from safety. Millwall, however, remain in sixth place in the playoff zone.
Coming into Saturday’s triumph, the Lions had only picked up on defeat at home since October, just showing how more impressive the victory was for Huddersfield.
The win could have been made easier however with criticism aimed at referee Andy Davies for not sending off Jake Cooper when he sent Jack Rudoni to the ground with a flying elbow as the duo went for the ball mid-air.
Warnock wasn’t happy with the decision to let the Millwall player go unpunished, saying as per ExaminerLive: “I’ve got to say, I thought Cooper was very lucky to get away with the sending-off.
“The referee is on his own and the way he [Cooper] came with his arm, he might have been in the way of it so I’ll give the referee the benefit of the doubt. But the linesman has got to have seen it, dear me.”
“How that is not a red card, I’ll never know.”
Warnock also suggested his team should have been awarded a penalty late in the first-half when Josh Koroma went down under a challenge from Danny McNamara.
“Josh is convinced. I wasn’t sure at the time, Ronnie said he thought it was iffy, but I’ve seen it again now and it was a penalty I think. But hey ho.”
Elbow incident pic.twitter.com/sh8NXPrB2Z
— Htafc Dreams (@HtafcDream) March 20, 2023
Jack Rudoni absolutely clotheslined in the air by Cooper with the medical staff out to make sure he’s okay – which he is, thankfully.
Free kick awarded against him, though…
[⏰ 21′]
— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) March 18, 2023
Speaking to HTTV, he added: “As a Manager, all you can ask is that they give you everything, and I’ve said that to them.
“The last three games I think we’ve been very good, but I’d told them before the game that it’s going to be difficult, we know what they’re good at, but we’ve got to be disciplined, everyone has got to know what you’re doing, where you’re going if your man makes runs – we’ve worked on it all week, and I think you could see that.
“It’s great for Wardy to score as well, but there were some really good performances, I don’t think some of them lads have ever worked as hard in their lives if I’m honest!”
On his own emotions at full-time, Warnock admitted to feeling: “Relief, happiness…both, everything!
“I’m ecstatic, that’s why I’ve been in the game so long, to enjoy moments like that and celebrate with your fans.
“Then you go in the dressing room and say a few works, and look at their faces and they’re all listening intently to everything you’ve got to say – you just feel so proud, really.
“I’m getting on a little bit aren’t I? You don’t get too many days like this!”
Millwall boss Gary Rowett meanwhile explained why it was tough for his side to play to their strengths.
“When you get those moments (chances to score) they are rare because of the amount of bodies in and around the box,” said Rowett, as per London News Online. “They played a centre-half in holding midfield to do a job on Zian (Flemming). They played a centre-half at right-back, to give them more size set-piece wise.
“They are entitled to do whatever they want to do. They got a result, they won the game and move on really happy. It’s a good tactical set-up by Neil (Warnock).
“But for us, you have to make those moments of space and moments of quality around the box. We couldn’t quite do that.
“It was a different game and frustrating in some ways. It was one you couldn’t just play forward early.
“You play forward early but if there is no space to play into then it’s very difficult. We had to be patient and move the ball around, whenever we’ve had these type of games we probably need to be better equipped to do that.
“At Millwall you can’t suddenly be equipped to deal with everything in your squad. There are certain strengths we have and certain weaknesses we have.
“We couldn’t quite find that moment to open the game up.”
Fans reacted as Neil Warnock slams a ‘very lucky’ Millwall over decisions including the ‘elbow’ incident…
@KaineHall: Still don’t understand how Rudoni was penalised for this 😂
@PaulbatesMN: hes a huddersfield town player thats why
@PaulbatesMN: hey @EFL care to explain why the guy clothslined in mid air was penalized for a foul and the guy committing the assault wasnt sent off ?
@pwwilson: Why is his arm up like that? Not a natural position when jumping unless aiming to leave one in on his man. I really have no idea how any official could see a foul on, not by, the Millwall man #htafc
@AverageBloke7 (Replying to @HACKETTREF): I’d love to know how the ref not only failed to give this as a free kick to against Cooper, but gave it the other way? Surely a yellow, if not a red card to Cooper?
@Terracesider: Surely must be eligible to be review for a retrospective red card … as the ref did nothing but actually booked the same player later
@Jack_Nattress: EFL refs, gotta laugh
@RichardBas2471: Red Red Red 100% definitely. Against Town = Play on nothing to see here.
@ArchieLingard: Clear foul by rudoni 🙄🙄
@stevvy1986: Sounds about right for the standard of refs we get in this league
@JoeKelly14: Somehow a free kick to Millwall 😅
@terrierDawni: Should of seen red for that
@Steve_Bee21: Standard officiating
@NobleofLiam: If this isn’t standard @EFL referees then I don’t know what is 😂
@divadawni: Absolute joke clear red that!!
@robdnoble19: That was like a WWE move
@htafcmax: Top class officiating
@DeanLomas6: One of the strangest decisions i’ve seen
@cattanach1974: The level of refs in this league is shocking that’s assault
@_YorkshireLass_: Ridiculous officials yet again 🤬
@suggyrocks: Fucking joke these refs 🤯
@lewiishall: That’s the worst decision I’ve ever seen
It’s a punch.. pic.twitter.com/Dd8v2SEL9I
— Steve (@Steve_Bee21) March 20, 2023
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