'Quite nasty' - Connor Hourihane on Billy Sharp incident in Doncaster Rovers' loss to Barnsley
There were plenty of talking points to emerge from Doncaster Rovers' slender derby loss to Barnsley on Saturday.
As well as three fine goals - the contest being edged by the visitors - there was also a hotly-debated incident involving Rovers forward Billy Sharp and the non-award of a penalty late on in the contest after the veteran appeared to go down in the box after a collision with a visiting player.
Whilst Grant McCann bemoaned that, Reds' chief Conor Hourihane took umbrage with another flashpoint concerning his former Sheffield United colleague Sharp in the first half of the game involving opposition defender Jack Shepherd.
"I played with Billy and I've nothing but admiration for him," said the Irishman. "But the incident in the first half, I think it's quite nasty, the one with Shep early on when he left a little bit on him. I think that was our talking point, over the penalty.
"But overall, I'm delighted. It's great to come out on the right side of a really tight game. I don't think we've had that too many times this season.
"I thought the lads put in a real, real positive performance with and without the ball. Young players getting guided by David McGoldrick and Mark Roberts and Luca Connell as captain. I thought we just looked really hungry and energetic.
"I'm really pleased, and proud of the lads as well. They showed some real character and togetherness to come through at the end of the last five, six minutes."