Town boss Paul Hurst is considering an appeal against Toto Nsiala’s red card and believes the controversial dismissal had a significant bearing on the Blues’ 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

“I don’t feel I need to say anything. Everyone’s seen it. I’ve been told that their guys have said it’s a totally wrong decision,” Hurst said when quizzed on the 75th minute red-carding.

“I’ll try and be careful with my words because it seems as though we can’t criticise when people get things wrong, which isn’t right to me.

“I criticise my players, I’m sure people criticise me if they feel you’re getting things wrong. It’s his job, he’s got to do better than that.”

Did it change the match significantly? “I think a helluva lot, it has to. Naturally it gives them that lift. It’s not long after when they score. We’re a man light for those situations and arguably our best header, certainly one of our best headers, is off the pitch.

“Does he head it? No one knows for certain. I dare say he certainly helps out. It was in an area where he would have been and he’s already won a couple of a good headers in the second half in that position. So, of course it played its part.

“Even with 10 I thought Wednesday were not hanging on as such but I think they were still relieved to hear the final whistle, they weren’t comfortable.

“We had a couple of situations, one with Ellis in particular, and a couple of balls into the box when they were clearing their lines and we didn’t have too many scares, in truth.

“Massively disappointing and yet another game where it’s difficult to give a true reflection on everything that’s been and gone.”

Asked whether he will be appealing the card, he said: “Everyone’s telling me I should. But genuinely I’ve seen decisions before in the past and people appeal them and they still don’t overturn them when I think we could have a roomful and only one person thinks the opposite, so there are no guarantees.

“I don’t understand what the lad’s supposed to do after winning the ball. His leg drop off? He can’t do anything more.

“Forestieri runs into him and actually kicks Toto. We had one with Jon Nolan. Bannan’s gone sliding in, Nolan gets out of the way, he gives a freekick.

“Am I supposed to tell my player, ‘It’s not nice but stay on your feet, make sure he makes contact and then he gets sent off’. I don’t want to do that.

“It’s been brought on by the opposition player that even he’s come into contact. I’ve watched it back, he should have just left it alone.”

With Luke Woolfenden injured, Town are already short of central defenders and the prospect of losing Nsiala for three matches - the suspension for serious foul play - increases the need for an additional centre-half.

“These are the scenarios which will occur over the course of the season whether you like them or not,” Hurst reflected.

“I’ve said all along, we need more cover than we’ve got. And specialists, not someone filling in there.

“Yes, every now and again a team has to do that but you want to start with people that can play those positions.”

Long-time target Curtis Tilt, who was linked with the Blues again last weekend, was left out by Blackpool today, but asked whether that was likely to be related to Town’s interest, Hurst said: “I don’t know. I think I had a similar question at the start of the season. I don’t know.

“I’m surprised he hasn’t played that’s all I would say having played the last couple of games and kept clean sheets. Unless there’s an injury I’m not aware of it seems an odd decision.”

He confirmed the 27-year-old is a player he remains interested in: “Yes, I’m not going to change my mind and think he’s suddenly a bad player or anything but he’s one of the players [I’m interested in], no secret.

“I don’t particularly like speaking about other players but it’s out there but it’s been discussed numerous times already.”

Another of the central defenders he was interested in bringing in, former loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers, has completed a loan switch to Swansea.

Hurst reiterated that in addition to a centre-half and a striker, a wideman is also on his wish-list.

“For me, it’s an area where we do need to bring someone in,” he said. “I thought Ellis did quite well today at times and gave us a different option out there, a different threat.

“The thought was also that if we did want to change we could change without making the substitution if we wanted to go to two up top.

“I thought he’s had a good effort well saved by the keeper and caused a different sort of problem out there for us.

“But an actual winger as such, I think that’s an area where I would prefer another option certainly.”

Despite the loss there were positives in the performance, but Hurst says that’s not too much consolation immediately after the match.

“The points total and the record books they don’t say anything about that,” he said. “I’d take a really scruffy victory at the minute, I think we all would.

“It’s difficult to think about too many positives when you’ve lost the game. The manner that we did is difficult to take. So, it’s another frustrating afternoon.”

Both Wednesday goals came from set pieces, Town’s defensive achilles heel in the opening weeks of the season, seven opposition goals out of nine having come via that route.

Questioned on whether defending corners and freekicks will be something the squad will be working on in the days to come, Hurst said: “It’s difficult. You can keep doing them and doing them but I think ultimately people have to do their jobs.

“The second one, like I say, we are a man light. We’ve still got people around it and the lad wins the header still.

“The first one, there’s no point in hiding it, it’s Trevoh’s man, he knows that, you could see it in his face at half-time, he knows, having defended the previous one very well in a very similar scenario. But it’s far too easy for Joao to head it in.

“I think things can often go in cycles and at the minute that’s clearly something that’s causing us an issue, albeit some of the goals have been a little bit different. But the second one, to lose with 10 men to that sort of goal, is extremely disappointing.

Hurst agreed that the Blues haven’t have too much good fortune in the first few weeks of his tenure.

“People might say we had a bit of luck with our goal,” he said. “Ellis is an offside position but doesn’t go for the ball. Again, maybe you’ll have to get the referee in and get him to explain whether that should have been or not.

“My understanding is that it should be because he’s made no attempt to play the ball. I get why people get annoyed with things though, because I guess he is in a position not too far from the goal-line. But overall I don’t think we’ve been the luckiest of teams so far, shall we say.”

The defeat, Town’s second this week, sees the Blues drop to the bottom of the Championship, a position Hurst admits he hadn’t envisaged his side being in at the start of the campaign.

“Of course not, and no one wants to be in that position,” he said. “A few things have gone against us but we’ve got to try and overcome that.

“And certainly at Rotherham, for example, we should have won the game and that was down to ourselves and nothing else and ended up losing that one.

“There are some other bits along the way that it does feel we’re being harshly treated for one reason or another.

“But there’s only us that can try and change that and there’s no better time to attempt trying to do that than next Sunday against Norwich.”

Prior to the game boyhood Wednesday fan Hurst was looking forward to returning to Hillsborough but says the result put a cloud on his homecoming.

“I said I came to the game in midweek and it’s a stadium which brings back good memories, whether it’s playing, whether it’s watching the team, whatever it is,” he said.

“But it doesn’t make it feel any better sitting here right now. But when the teams come out and they start the song before kick-off I think everyone appreciates that whether they’re a Wednesday fan or a visiting supporter or player, it gets the game off in a great atmosphere.

“And then in large parts I thought it was quite quiet, partly down to ourselves perhaps causing them a few scary moments.”

After a frantic spell of fixtures coming thick and fast Hurst says he’s looking forward to a full week on the training ground ahead of Sunday’s East Anglian derby against Norwich.

“Yes, it’s been a busy start, as it has for everybody and with the midweek games it’s difficult in terms of preparation, the travelling that we have to do from where we are, that cuts things back a little as well,” he said.

“But there should be no need to get anyone up for that game next week. Clearly we want to keep working hard and we want to look at one or two things ahead of that game and see if we can give everyone a lift but also particularly a result that the Ipswich fans have been waiting for for some time, I believe. That’s what we’ll be trying to do.”

Owls manager Jos Luhukay felt Town made the game very difficult for his team, especially before the break.

“I think today was a totally different game to Wednesday [when they beat Millwall 2-1]," he said. "It was so tough in the first half.

“We had no rhythm. Ipswich closed the lines and we lost a lot of balls.

“We had no combinations, no chances and the set pieces were dangerous just twice, one we scored from.

“In the second half it was better in the beginning, we had some chances to score the second goal but the game went right until the end. We had to give a lot of energy and work hard for the three points."

Regarding Nsiala's dismissal, he added: "The referee is very close at the moment the defender goes in on Fernando. It was hard I think, the red card, but there's a decision [to make]. The referee stays very near, so this was his decision.

"But it wasn't easier in the last 15 minutes, it was too hectic, we didn't control the game with one player more and Ipswich played very fast with long balls and there were moments in or around the 18-yard box."

Photo: TWTD

BlueandTruesince82 added 10:55 - Aug 26 Swn yes points in the board count but equally if we are on the end of a bad decision every week then we are handicapped. Yes there is something wrong...... with the standard of refereeing. Am I saying everything is rosy? No BUT you cannot blame Hurst for red cards that never were, that is beyond his control and can't be legislated for. That is undeniable. Those plus the pens would have had at least another 4 points on the board 3 vs Barnsley and 1 today which woukd put us exactly where we would expect. You say this time last year, where did we finish? My post is really v balanced if you read it properly, perhaps time to stop picking fights with all and sundry? What's is a real shame is you seem to be revelling in this... You would rather the club suffer so you can be proved right.... that's how it comes across at least

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Bert added 10:59 - Aug 26 Some decent football at times, a Manager most people told Evans to get but poor defending at set pieces is why we are bottom of the league. Remedy that, get a proper centre half in, put the ball in the net and this new team becomes exciting to watch. How many people ranting on TWTD would only give an employee five shifts before calling for his head ? Ridiculous talk. It wasn't Hurst's fault that Waghorn and Garner wanted to go but go they did and that's why the alternative was to build a new team with newbies. Hurst would not have been my choice but I support my team and my club in difficult times as true supporters always should. Thump Norwich and we will feel better.

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Northstandveteran added 11:22 - Aug 26 I keep reading about the 'minority' of numbskulls making a noise hounding McCarthy out. How about the thousands (myself included) that just didn't attend due to our negative,boring style of play? I genuinely believe crowds would be below the ten thousand mark had things not changed. But please, don't consider relegation an option. It really isn't. It could lead to years in the wilderness. Agreed with an earlier post. We haven't been tonked, been a bit unlucky and had some bad refereeing decisions go against us. I have complete faith in the new management team and know it is only a matter of time before Hurst turns things around. Looking forward to Sunday with a valid sense of optimism.

4

TimmyH added 12:03 - Aug 26 None blinder than those who won't see - hey Corfu72, if you can't recognise the difference Garner and Waghorn (occasionally Celina) made last season in tight games then nothing will ring home.
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Swn98 added 12:46 - Aug 26 If only!!!!!
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blueboy1981 added 12:49 - Aug 26 Swn98 .... maybe that's why you talk such nonsense ? - never been involved so therefore know no better. You probably still take your wooden rattle, bobbehat and scarfe, have your pie, and maybe even a pint! -and wouldn't care, or know, a good game from a bad one. At least I can prove what I claim - challenge me, on anything you wish, at anytime.
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blueboy1981 added 13:03 - Aug 26 ..... careful Swn98 your vocabulary is drying up ! - you're back down to two word posts - similar to the number of shots we used to manage per game, on an extremely good day when your messiah was Manager. By the way - Has he got a job yet ? - silly me, I forgot it's not Xmas yet and no one is desperate enough to be bored grinding a fee points out for survival.
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Swn98 added 13:03 - Aug 26 Thats ok Blueboy self praise is no praise old fella.
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blueboy1981 added 13:07 - Aug 26 .... another lesson for you - There is a difference between ficticious self praise, and stating facts. Not expecting it to sink in - but one never knows, and can but hope !
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Dissboyitfc added 13:12 - Aug 26 timmyh not disagreeing about the quality we have lost, but we had the luck at the start last season. Football is about small margins, poor decisions, hitting the post( Edwards against Villa, had that of gone in, its a different game) as i say we have not had the rub of the green, yet! Will be interesting to see how Waghorn gets on this season? i liked him but i can see last season perhaps being a one off,, we will see!

2

TimmyH added 14:04 - Aug 26 as they say (mainly the pundits) :)...luck evens it self out over the course of a season. Mind you not sure it works out that way.
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Hegansheroes added 14:57 - Aug 26 Does anyone know where in Lancashire a man called Jeremy Simpson lives, he deserves to be hounded for some diabolical decisions, never, ever a sending off. Is Simpson on some kind of back hander?
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ivegottheblues added 15:18 - Aug 26 Sorry Shepton, meant to up vote you. A ridiculous sending off & it shows how easily these pathetic refs can get conned. Also it looks as if racism is alive & well & thriving amongst championship referees
0

Northstandveteran added 17:33 - Aug 26 Agree with your second sentence Ivegottheblues, However, suggesting Nsiala got sent off because the referee is racist?! Hmmmm......... I wouldn't have thought so.
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Facefacts added 20:26 - Aug 26 Forestieri is a renowned cheat. He will see his action as a success because he 'won the sending off' just as if he had 'won a penalty' by taking a dive. It's 20 years since Simeone kicked David Seaman in the groin to dive to 'win a penalty' in the World Cup in France. Look at Grealish of Aston Villa too. These players are clever because they know how to stage manage the 'offence' so that the referee sees it from the correct angle to make it look as disadvantageous to their enemy/opponent as possible. Our players just have to be more careful about going to ground/sliding in. They have come from lower League, so have a steep learning curve ahead of them. Premier League pro referees would not get bitten twice by cheats like this. They would get together and not give these cheats anything. They got wise to Luis Suarez in the end. Doesn't happen in our league but Forestieri has been operating here for a good few seasons. I would worry about appealing the sending off because the referee will not want to admit that he was duped by Forestieri. Cheating is killing football. Slowly but surely. It isn't going away.

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Xatticus added 21:07 - Aug 26 He clearly got the ball before the contact, but he left his studs up and his leg was extended. I don't think the leg was straight though, so I'm hopeful that it is overturned. I can't blame Forestieri and I can appreciate why it looks bad to the official, but I don't think it was a dangerous challenge.
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Monkey_Blue added 02:35 - Aug 27 We lack quality.... and by that I mean other teams have better players. We've replaced players who have left itv players who are not as good... simple and it's why we will struggle to stay in this league
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jimmyjames added 09:19 - Aug 27 it was a good strong tackle, clearly got the ball. He's been very hard done by. Appeal, get it over turned. Now focus on Sunday. Bring it on.
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ChrisFelix added 09:20 - Aug 27 From what I can see there was no contact with the Wednesday bloke. So why did he go down as if he had broken a leg. Decent professionals would have got up & shown the ref that he hadnt been touched
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JewellintheTown added 09:05 - Aug 28 Why do some keep on harping about us selling Waggy and Garner? As we understand it they wanted to go, not let go, so either blame or try to understand their reasons. Can't keep players like that if they no longer a happy fit. We don't know the full story but I'm sure if they wanted to stay then they wouldn't have gone. Made a few decent quid so mutually beneficial of sorts. Life moves on. Get over it.

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thundercat600 added 09:58 - Aug 28 Interesting bit in today's daily mail about MM, its about the boo boys who forced him out. We are now sitting just where we belong at the bottom of the championship, the boo boys got their way and becauce of that we are were we would have been a long time ago if it was not for MM and TC. Thanks boo boys you have done us proud
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