Matt Hamshaw's 'schoolboy' blast as Rotherham United fall in Yorkshire derby
FUMING boss Matt Hamshaw condemned his side's defending as being below the level of school football after watching his team lose for the third game in succession to slip only a point away from League One's drop zone.
An abject first-half display this afternoon saw the Millers gift a trio of goals to Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town and they went on to lose 3-1, with fit-again striker Sam Nombe grabbing a late consolation.
Hamshaw responded by making a triple change at the interval and bringing off defenders Thomas Holmes and Joe Rafferty.
The manager said: “We have handed Huddersfield the game. There’s no two ways about it. That is what narks me.
“The goals aren’t even schoolboy goals. I have spoken a lot about our DNA and what I expect. Us not showing that is on me.
“We know what we are capable of doing and we fell way below that standard.”
Hamshaw's side are failing to hit the form that saw them go nine matches unbeaten recently and the boss is planning to bring in new faces in the January transfer window. "I know what’s needed and what we are going to have to get better at," he said.
His mood was in stark contrast to that of Huddersfield counterpart Lee Grant who had been under pressure before goals from Lynden Gooch, Bojan Radulovic and Leo Castledine gave the Terriers a victory that was far easier than it should have been.
The Town chief felt that his team executed the game-plan that had been worked on during training.
“The lads put a lot of hard work in this week,” he said. "Today was a step in the right direction and we have got to keep pushing.
“It’s really hard for me to pick which half I enjoyed the most. Rotherham's goal took the shine off it, but I loved the second half. I am incredibly pleased. We gave Rotherham nothing. I think they had one shot in the box and it went in."