Hill blasts refereeing ‘injustice’

KEITH HILL put Rochdale’s third successive away day defeat down to a refereeing ‘injustice’.

Two weeks after incurring the wrath of the FA following barbed comments aimed at referee Craig Pawson following the 2-1 loss at Bristol Rovers, Hill hit out in similar vein on Saturday.

This time Kevin Wright was the recipient of Hill’s tongue-lashing, having awarded a soft penalty to Orient just after half-time.

Nicky Adams and Dean Cox collided in the area and the Dale man was adjudged to have fouled the Orient player. Ben Chorley converted the spot kick to level the game.

Chris O’Grady had fired Dale ahead on the stroke of half-time when he converted Brian Barry-Murphy’s cross and Hill felt his team would have emerged with something from the game but for Wright’s intervention.

“There’s an injustice occurred,” said Hill (pictured). “From a manger’s point of view, from a team’s point of view, from a football club’s point of view.

“Anyone with an honest appraisal of this game will realise an injustice has occurred and we should be going home with at least a point, possibly three, because a referee’s decision again has changed the course of the game

“In my opinion, and I think in everybody else’s opinion, it was never ever a penalty. The momentum of the game changed. They have got a good home support, but the performance in the first half reflected our dominance and the scoreline should have been more.

“We are deeply disappointed in the manner of which they equalised.

“The referee has got a job to do, I fully respect the job that they do, but as I’ve previously mentioned they should be made accountable via the media as well as the Football Association, the Football League and the Referees’ Association.

“I think it’s the wrong decision, but I can’t complain too much because I don’t want another letter off the FA.”

Dale’s disappointment at the penalty decision was compounded in the 66th minute when Cox fired home the winning strike from the edge of the area.

Rochdale: Lillis, Wiseman, Holness, Dawson, Widdowson (Joe Thompson 71), Adams, Barry-Murphy (Gray 71), Elding (Done 71), Jones, Kennedy, O’Grady. Subs not used: Edwards, Goodall, Josh Thompson, Flynn.

Leyton Orient: Butcher, Omozusi, Chorley, Forbes, Cox (Chambers 79), Dawson, Revell (Tehoue 90+5), Daniels, Jarvis (Walker 59), Spring, Smith. Subs not used: Jones, Whing, Brown, Cestor.

Referee: K Wright.

Att: 4,880.