Chairboys boss says he would have gifted Rotherham 'free goal'

Mar 13 2013 By Yann Tear

Gareth Ainsworth

  GARETH Ainsworth insists he would have allowed Rotherham to walk in a goal unopposed had Dean Morgan scored during a controversial moment in Tuesday's night's clash.

  He said the Chairboys striker was dopey rather than dishonest for causing the furore.

Morgan drew a furious reaction from the visitors when he abandoned the normal practice of allowing a ball to be returned to the opposition after an injury.

Sam Wood launched a drop ball towards the Rotherham half from the Wycombe penalty area, but Morgan took possession and raced in on goal from half way with only one intention in mind.

A fine save by Rotherham keeper Andy Warrington in the one on one did not spare Morgan some choice words and Ainsworth was forced to placate United boss Steve Evans afterwards.

“Dean's asleep on the pitch at the best of times. Sometimes, he's in his own world,” said the Wycombe boss.

“I've asked him about it and he actually thought it was a free-kick and didn't see the drop ball. He thought he was in, so it was totally innocent and there was no bad blood in that at all.

“I got a bit of an earful from Steve Evans and I told him that if they'd scored, I would have done the right thing and let Rotherham kick-off and score to even it up.

“However much I wanted the points, it would have been the right thing to do.”

Ainsworth added: “It was quite a comedy moment, though at the time it didn't feel too good. I did feel a little bit bad.

“But that's Deano, he didn't mean any malice. He was the first one to hold his hands up and say he thought it was a free-kick.”