adminMillwall head coach on his frustrations with Southampton penalty in 3-2 win – ‘They didn’t prevent it today’
ALEX Neil explained what frustrated him about Southampton’s penalty in Millwall’s 3-2 win over the Saints.
Southampton were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute after Jake Cooper was deemed to have pulled down Taylor Harwood-Bellis during a corner. Adam Armstrong stepped up a duly converted the spot kick to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.
The Lions eventually won the game courtesy of Tristan Crama’s 97th-minute winner.
Neil gave his thoughts on referee Ben Toner’s decision.
“I was really disappointed in the free kick leading up to the penalty,” Neil said. “The one with Femi at the edge of the box. I didn’t think it was a foul at the time. I might be wrong when I watch it back, but at the time I didn’t.
“What frustrated me with that as well is, I think if anybody watched the Sheffield United derby, they stopped it about three times because the lads are holding each other to make sure they don’t have to give a penalty. But we didn’t stop it today.
“Not only that, their goalkeeper, I think, in the first half, fell over twice. The guy who does the middle six for them fell over twice. They got fouls on every occasion. It’s not the first time they’ve done it. We watched the set plays; they do it all the time.
“If it’s a penalty, it’s a penalty. But I think there’s been a higher tolerance this year. I think they’ve stopped it and preempted it. One of the games, when I spoke to one of the fourth officials, he actually said to me: ‘We’re told to try and stop it so we can prevent that.’ They didn’t prevent it today.”
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