Huddersfield Town midfielder Duane Holmes believes that the refereeing team got two big decisions wrong in the play-off final against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
The Reds secured their place in the Premier League thanks to Levi Colwill’s own goal just before half time. Steve Cooper’s men came out as 1-0 winners after 90 minutes at Wembley Stadium.
But, things could have been different in the second half as Huddersfield had two shouts for a penalty turned down by both the on field refereeing team and the officials in the VAR booth in Stockley Park. Harry Toffolo was shown a yellow card for diving after going down under a challenge from Jack Colback, and a VAR review stuck with the original decision.
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There was also a second appeal for a penalty when Lewis O’Brien went down under a challenge from Max Lowe. That incident wasn’t officially checked by the Video Assistant Referee.
Speaking after the game, former Derby County man Holmes, spoke of his disappointment at the two decisions. "We had a meeting with the referee's about VAR," He told YorkshireLive. "We got told not to surround the ref etc when everything is getting checked. Maybe I am biased but I believe they were both penalties. It is one of them.
"We have had a great season but we came here to win. I think there were two decisions that didn't go our way."
The Huddersfield man said that his team hadn’t received explanations over the decisions. "No, nothing. We had a meeting with the referee's and we got told not to crowd the ref because everything is checked,” he added. “I don't know how you can check it and get it wrong.
“We defended really well. They normally create a lot of chances.
"We nullified them. We defended really well and I thought we attacked really well in the second half.
"We probably should have had two penalties and I don't think I am just being bitter but that's how football goes.”
