Lee Clark had to watch his side concede a 90th-minute winning goal from the stands after he was sent off during Bury’s 3-2 defeat at Rotherham.
Kieffer Moore twice put the Millers ahead, but they were pegged back in each half by Jermaine Beckford and Nathan Cameron headers and when it looked like the Shakers may cling on for a share of the spoils, Richie Towell drilled home the winner in the final minute.
It was the second time in as many weeks that Bury had conceded a crucial late goal, leaving Clark wondering about his side’s psychological state.
“We have got to learn,” Clark said. “We have taken a step back before we go on to play without fear. We wait until we go one down before we try to have a go to get back into the game. It’s like a boxer, they give us a whack before we then respond.”
At half time Clark had a verbal altercation with referee Chris Sarginson in the tunnel which resulted in him watching the second half in the stand next to chairman Stewart Day.
However, the Bury boss denies using any foul or abusive language and says he apologised to the team of officials.
Clark explained that the referee asked him to stay up in the stands because the referee felt he acted in an aggressive manner in the tunnel area, pointing out that he has since apologized for his behavior to the referee and the fourth official.
Bournemouth loanee Mihai Dobre was handed his debut from the bench in the 55th-minute to become the 29th player to play for the Shakers this season and Clark was shocked when he was told that statistic after the game.
Clark admitted that he didn’t even realize that was the case, exclaiming it was a really high stat!
