Hull City boss Liam Rosenior was not happy with the decision to award Bristol City a decisive penalty kick in their 1-0 defeat at Ashton Gate, but says that was not the result of his team being beaten at middle of a below average performance.
The match was settled after 20 minutes when striker Nakhi Wells came on from the bench to score the penalty, sending debutant Karl Darlow down the wrong path.
City, however, were furious with Sam Barrott’s decision to penalize Cyrus Christie for what appeared to be a heavy ban.
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That emphatic blow was enough for Nigel Pearson’s side to extend their unbeaten run to 12 games and leave City facing a fourth game without a win.
Rosenior’s men were second best for much of the first half and although they improved, it took until they were behind to get a shot on goal.
That came from half-time substitute Ryan Longman, who had replaced Ozan Tufan, and fellow arrival Benjamin Tetteh saw a cannon effort go back off a post in the middle of a melee in the penalty area.
“It was way below par,” Rosenior told Hull Live. “We’ve been consistent, but that’s two in 16 games (loss to Norwich and Bristol City). We didn’t deserve that luck. We had the change with Longy and Benji, but that’s the reaction to missing a goal.”
“We needed that reaction from the first whistle and we didn’t have it today, and that’s something that bitterly disappoints me. I’ll accept losing because that’s part of football, but I can’t accept that first half because we were very lucky to come in with 0 -0.
“The two center backs were absolutely outstanding as they have been, and normally they’re part of an organized, disciplined team performance and we’re hard to take down. If you don’t do the job in front of them and protect them then they have to make last minute tackles, not I want to see my defenders jumping in front of the ball six yards from their goal.
“I want to see us thirty or forty meters further up the field dealing with it up there. We were at the end of a narrow but deserved loss. It’s a tough job, everyone knows it’s not a penalty. Can I sit here in front to you and say that’s the reason we lost the game?
“Definitely not. Look, it’s a tough job and key decisions when they go against you are always frustrating, but the finger of blame is pointed at me and the team today.”
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