Johnson: Red card borne out of frustration

DAVID Mellor has words with referee Richard Clark and Lee Frecklington before he is sent off.

FRUSTRATED and angry, Lee Johnson promised that David Mellor would receive a hefty fine for the red card the Athletic manager believes cost his men the game at Rotherham.

With the home team a goal up through a Daniel Nardiello penalty after making a strong start at the New York Stadium, Mellor was sent off for violent conduct for reacting to a kick from Lee Frecklington.

Referee Richard Clark showed the 20 year old red in front of a manager who felt let down after installing Mellor to the first team at the expense of James Wesolowski.

“I didn’t see it, but if he kicked out then it is ill discipline, and I won’t stand for ill discipline,” said Johnson.

“He (Mellor) will be fined the maximum amount.

“It was probably down to frustration at his poor performance in the first 20 minutes. He came in and couldn’t really handle the occasion. I was disappointed with him, but the boys rallied round.”

While Mellor could be missing two weeks’ worth of wages, there was plenty of cheer in the performance of “eight or nine” of Athletic’s players as far as Johnson was concerned.

Goals from Cristian Montano and Matteo Lanzoni — his first for the club — put the 10 men into a shock lead early in the second half.

But Frecklington and then, at the death, Nardiello turned the game decisively back in the favour of Steve Evans’ side.

“In the first 20 minutes we were poor and played into their hands,” Johnson added. “There were three or four things didn’t go right for us on the day — a few little breaks and decisions — which on another afternoon they turn round and the momentum swings your way.

“I was very pleased with the way we came back: the red card actually got us going.

“For some reason, we seem to need that punch on the nose — maybe I should start giving them a punch on the nose.”