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First Team News

Late Controversy Frustrates Simon Grayson

14 April 2017

First Team News

Late Controversy Frustrates Simon Grayson

14 April 2017

Simon Grayson took to PNEPlayerHD to highlight his frustration after late drama denied his side a point.

A header from Jordan Hugill 20 minutes from time looked to salvage a point from North End after goals from Elias Kachunga and Jack Payne cancelled out Aiden McGeady's opener, however, deep in stoppage time, an off the ball incident between Jordan Hugill and Elias Kachunga saw Huddersfield awarded a controversial penalty - a decision which aggrieved Grayson after the full-time whistle.

"I've been in to see the referee, I've spoke to the players I've seen the DVD and it's a real poor decision," said Grayson after the game.

"There was a little bit going off between them both; both players have got up, the player's turned to Jordan, the plays gone on, the lad has walked past Jordan and held his ground and ultimately gone down. The referee's seen him go down and he's adament
he's been pushed and stamped on; there's no evidence to suggest that's been the case so obviously we feel very aggrieved that the penalty's been given; fortunately we save it but then they follow in the rebound.

"I think there was a lot of decisions for both teams that the ref got wrong today."

Although the spot kick took by Aaron Mooy was saved, Colin Quaner met the rebound to slot the ball home to cruely deny North End a share of the spoils.

"I thought the performance today was very good," continued the gaffer.

"They had a lot of the ball but a lot of that is in their own half but they didn't hurt us; we hit them on the counter attack with a great goal from Aiden. We've given away a poor goal through a set piece. They score a scruffy goal but then it's a great goal from Jordan but we deserved something from the game without a shadow of a doubt; It's a travesty that we've not got anything out of it."

It took another masterclass from McGeady to open the scoring in the game - the Everton loanee surging forward before releasing an unstoppable drive from 25 yards out.

"Aiden's got that in his locker," Grayson continued on McGeady's finish.

"The way he moves the ball, the way he commits defenders and he's hit it in the top corner which gave us a good platform to build on.

"Chris Maxwell has hardly had a save to make, yes they had a lot of possession but possession in your own half doesn't cause us problems so I was quite happy.

On the second goal, the gaffer added: "It was good for Jordan to get on the end of it - it's what we deserve, we changed the formation to get back into the game and that's what it did. They didn't have many clear chances."

The performance was all the more impressive considering the early injury to skipper and centre half Tom Clarke, who, on his return to his former club came off midway through the first half, and the manager provided PNEPlayerHD with an update following the conclusion to today's game.

"It's a little bit early at the moment but it looks like he's done his achilles, hopefully it's not too bad but we'll have to see."

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