Rejected penalty call leaves Rotherham United boss frustrated

The hosts dominated for large spells but had to dig in and fight to clinch three points after Rotherham rallied late on.

Captain Matt Grimes scored his first goal from open play for five years in the 27th minute when he fired a half-volley from the edge of the area that scrambling goalkeeper Jamal Blackman failed to keep out.

But Swansea were forced to hold on and could have conceded a penalty in the final minutes when Ryan Bennett looked to have committed a handball on his own goal-line after Michael Smith headed Kyle Vassell’s cross towards goal. But their protests were waved away by referee Matthew Donohue.

“I thought our first-half performance was lacklustre, and it just wasn’t us,” said Warne. “The joy of having five changes is good when things aren’t going great, and it allowed us to make a couple of changes at half-time and then tweak the system.

“We caused them more problems and on another day we might have got a penalty or a tap-in from the goalkeeper’s drop, but Swansea could have scored more as well.

“My lads are really honest, it’s a weird one with penalties, if players don’t appeal the ref doesn’t give them. They all appealed which is quite unique and I was disappointed not to get it. Did we deserve it on balance of play, probably not.”

Swansea City: Woodman, Roberts, Cabango, Bennett, Naughton, Fulton, Grimes; Bidwell, Dhanda (Palmer 77), Cullen (Routledge 74); Lowe (Smith 87). Unused substitutes: Manning, Benda, Latibeaudiere, Rushesha, Cooper, Williams.

Rotherham United: Blackman, Olosunde (Clarke 46), Ihiekwe, Angus MacDonald, Harding, Lindsay (Miller 46), Barlaser, Crooks; Jozefzoon (Vassell 62), Hirst (Smith 54), Wiles. Unused substitutes: Johansson, Jones, Thompson.

Referee: M Donohue (Lancashire).

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