NEIL Lennon bemoaned yet more ref justice at Rotherham last night – but admitted there were other reasons for his side’s defeat at the New York Stadium.

The Wanderers boss was at a loss to explain how a penalty appeal had been turned down at the end of the first half, for what seemed a clear-cut foul by Richie Smallwood on Josh Vela.

After watching his side slump to a 4-2 defeat, Lennon believes the decision came at a pivotal moment in the game.

“If he gives the penalty and we score it’s 2-1, we’re right back in the game,” he said.

“Instead they go up the other end and make it 3-0. Everyone in the stadium thought it was a penalty except for the referee.

“It was an awful refereeing performance tonight.

“But the nuts of bolts of the game were that we were very tired. Saturday obviously took a lot out of the team.

“I blame myself for team selection – I maybe could have made a few more changes but I didn’t want to do too much and stop the momentum.”

Wanderers had looked jaded for the first hour of the game before Liam trotter and Matt Mills helped give the scoreline a more respectable air.

A second penalty appeal was also waved away by the Lincolnshire official in the second half, this time as substitute Jay Spearing was felled as he wound up to shoot eight yards out.

“For me it was a foul on Spearing but then he gives a foul against us,” he said. “It was just bizarre.

“I can’t blame the referee for everything that went on tonight but goals change games and we would have been right back in it.

“In the end I’m having to throw a centre-half up front, so it shows you the injuries are coming back to bite us. We need bodies in.”