Ian Holloway is furious with referee Stuart Attwell after the official denied Millwall a blatant penalty during their 1-0 defeat to Bolton at The Den on Friday night.

Darren Pratley earned the visitors all three points with a composed finish midway through the second half, but the goal came after Lee Gregory’s convincing penalty claim was waved away.

The striker raced through on goal and was brought down by Trotters’ goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, but Attwell was surprisingly unmoved.

Holloway vented: "If that’s not a foul on Gregory then he should have been booked for diving.

"I just can’t believe it. It was so clear to everyone, even Bolton’s bench. In fairness they’re chuffed but they know that should have been 10 men and a penalty.

"Do me a favour, book my man for diving or send their keeper off, don’t just wave your hands in the air and play on.

"It’s very difficult to take because it would have changed the complexion of the game."

Despite feeling aggrieved over the penalty incident, Holloway acknowledged the Lions’ performance was inadequate.

The 51-year-old manager said: "We didn’t look like the team I saw in training at the start of the game. We’ve got to stand up and be counted, we’ve got to be positive, we’ve got to get forward.

"They looked a damn sight more relaxed than we did to be fair.

"I’m fuming because the goal’s come from our free-kick. We shouldn’t have even took the free-kick because our structure wasn’t right and then they go and score.

"I feel very hurt and I don’t want this place to turn into an Achilles heel rather than somewhere we’re looking forward to play."

Holloway also insisted that his team, who currently sit just four points above the drop zone, require reinforcements in the January transfer window to aid their relegation fight.

"It was looking like a nip and tuck in January and it might be major surgery," he said.

"We promised so much at the start of the year but I’m going to have to look at January and try to get some new people in to deal with this. I can’t wait for summer we’ve got to do that now.

"We need some pace. What I want for Christmas is some pace."

Holloway’s men travel to Norwich on Boxing Day, who sit seventh, four points off the Championship’s play-off places.

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