Yet another referee’s penalty decision leaves Harris frustrated
Manager Neil Harris admitted he is fed up of complaining about referees after his Millwall side were on the receiving end of another controversial decision at the Madejski.
The Lions boss felt aggrieved at the first-half penalty the hosts were awarded at a crucial stage in proceedings, just before the break. Mahlon Romeo made a challenge on left-back Tyler Blackett and it seemed like he got a slice of the ball, but ref David Webb pointed to the spot.
Sam Baldock swept home from 12 yards from the resulting spot-kick on the stroke of half-time, after Murray Wallace had levelled for Millwall.
Reading forward Yakou Meite – who opened the scoring on 28 minutes – then sealed the victory four minutes from time, but it was the penalty that left Harris frustrated.
He said: “Ultimately, the decision the referee has made on the stroke of half-time has gone against us. I’ve seen it from two different angles and I think he’s got it wrong. If you see a different angle and think he’s got it right, then no problem.
“At the time our players said no. Mahlon Romeo said he got the ball. Does he need to make the tackle? He put himself in that situation – that’s the debate. He put his hand up and said he didn’t need to make the tackle, but he ultimately feels let down because he gets the ball, but gives a penalty away.
“I couldn’t go to see the referee this time. I’ve had to go two or three times. You try not to lose your temper because they’re good men, they make decisions. But I’m getting slightly fed up of having to write reports about incidents and getting horrendous answers from people sitting behind a desk.”
Harris admitted he had little faith that his complaint would lead to action, because a previous one, after the 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest on October 3, had been disappointing.
“The report I got back from the Forest report I wrote was embarrassing,” he said. “The authorities need to look at themselves because today…I’ll have to look back from different angles before I can say too much.
“That’s why we’re sitting here saying again: excellent Millwall performance, but nothing to show for it.
“We dominated the game with and without the ball and created chance after chance. I’ve run out of things to say to you guys. We should have won the game.
“There’s no point in going to see the referee – he’s made a split-second decision and if he’s got it wrong then…hopefully referees can’t keep giving decisions against us.
“They look back but they have to make sure they look at the right incidents.
“If that’s in the middle of the pitch, is it a yellow card? The handball decisions that have been given against us, I don’t really know what the rule is. I’m not sure referees do, either. If it’s a foul he’s got to be 100 per cent sure it’s a yellow card.”
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