Ian Holloway criticised the penalty decision that led to Bournemouth’s first goal as the Championship leaders won 2-0 at Millwall.

Yann Kermorgant sent the ball beyond David Forde in the 32nd minute after referee David Coote pointed to the penalty spot when Lee Martin brought down Charlie Daniels on the edge of the area.

Harry Arter doubled the visitors’ lead three minutes before half-time, ensuring Bournemouth remain undefeated in 14 and a fourth straight home defeat for Millwall, who had Shaun Williams sent off in the 79th minute for an attempted stamp on Callum Wilson.

“I expect a free-kick to be given, but not a penalty,” Holloway said.

“I couldn’t believe how quick he blew the whistle. You gotta be 100 per cent sure. Well, to be honest, he’s 200 per cent wrong, because it’s outside the box.

“Did we need to make a tackle? No.

“And then we go and get a player sent off, which is unforgivable. It’s ridiculous. He was wronged. ‘You’ve just got to get on with it, Willo (Shaun Williams), look like you’re hurt, then he’d have been in trouble’.

“What are we doing? We were already two down anyway.

“The lads are fuming about the second goal because they feel it was offside.”

Arter’s goal prompted furious protests from both Millwall fans and players but replays later showed Danny Shittu to be playing onside those involved in the move.

Given Holloway had made seven changes to the team that lost 6-1 at Norwich just two days earlier – including the selection of defender and debutant Sid Nelson –  the manager was keen to highlight what he saw as positive and to focus on the imminent opening of the January transfer window.

“I decided to shake things up and put a young kid (Sid Nelson) in defence, probably on the wrong side as well,” he said. “I though he was absolutely excellent.

“He’s my man of the match. 18 years old? Brilliant. That’s all I can say. His whole family are Millwall.

“The response from the lads was the least I expect, to be honest.

“Norwich, for the first time since I’ve been here I saw people almost give up, so that was shocking, I couldn’t put up with that.

“What I felt we did out there (against Bournemouth) deserved a bit better.

“Harry Arter should shut his mouth. He was shouting and balling in the tunnel and his manager’s apologised.

“Williams was literally lifted off the floor and thrown over. He retaliated, you’re asking for trouble. He’s got to not get emotional and not respond like that.

“We’re gonna have to simplify things.

“I’m gonna need some more choices, and I’m gonna need some now, to help this group out.

“I’m gonna have to bring in some other people. The money was all spent but I’m sure my chairman will help me because a lack of confidence could spread really quickly.

“We’ve got to stop the rot. We wanna stay in this division and I wanna be given a chance to build.

“I need some more options, particularly up front.

“The closer we are to the wrong end of the league, who’s gonna wanna come here? It’s gonna be tough, we know that, and this is the worst window you ever gotta deal in.

“I need a couple of different options so I can play a couple of different formations.

“We had to have some sort of reaction and we got it, so I’m not unhappy with them today.

“For the last three years this group has struggled, so it ain’t no different, is it?”

 “(It was a) big win for us,” added Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, who also distanced himself from interest in Crystal Palace’s managerial vacancy.

“It was very hostile and I thought we handled the challenges they posed.

“I didn’t ever feel we were under pressure.

“In the second half we were professional.

“Without being at our very best it was a comfortable win.”

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