NEIL Harris hopes “what goes around comes around” after feeling Jake Cooper was denied a clear penalty against Blackburn Rovers last Saturday.
Cooper appeared to be bundled over in the box by Sam Gallagher when the score was 1-0 to Rovers at Ewood Park. The hosts went on to score a second for a 2-0 win.
Referee Dean Whitehouse had spoken to Gallagher before the ball was delivered from the set-piece. But when Cooper appealed after being floored he claimed the referee said he hadn’t been looking at the two players.
Cooper said after the 1-1 draw against Hull City at The Den in August that he felt he should have had three penalties in the Lions’ six league games. The defender scored seven times last season but has yet to get off the goal mark this term.
Harris hopes his side’s luck will change and referees spot infringements against his players at attacking set-plays.
“You speak to the referee in a controlled manner and ask questions,” Harris said. “It’s about learning as well. The one last Saturday, if it’s not a penalty then why? Because if I’m getting it wrong there’s no point complaining and moaning about it.
“You’re told he didn’t see it. Well he must have seen it because he spoke to the players 10 seconds earlier.
“The whole time this is going on Jake’s not going to get on the scoresheet, he’s not going to get a chance to head the ball because he’s getting fouled.
“We have to hope that what goes around comes around. We’ve had a couple where I felt we were a little bit fortunate not to have given penalty kicks away in the opening seven games of the season. But we also could have had a lot more.
“Sometimes when you’re trying to find a way to goal you need that little bit of luck, a deflected goal or a penalty. You need a run, and if there’s a penalty a game for six games, then so be it. Teams foul us because they struggle to deal with us.
“There’s no point having free-kicks or corners in games if you’re not going to be able to make the most of them.”
Image: Millwall FC