Red cards for Kyel Reid and Jose Semedo were followed by Chris Powell being banished to the stands. Powell accepted Reid’s dismissal but was dismayed at the decision to send Semedo for an early bath. Powell was also highly critical of his opposite number, Stuart Campbell:
‘We were in control of the game. We were in the ascendancy throughout the first half and scored a wonderful second goal and then there was the Kyel Reid sending off, which I would say was right.
‘He’s just been booked earlier, so obviously that’s in the forefront of the ref’s mind but the second one I just can’t believe what he’s done. Stuart Campbell has got a tough job, he is trying to keep his team up. If he wants to wink at his staff and clap to his fans when he knows he’s got a player sent off, if he feels that’s right, then fair enough.
‘In the spirit of the game, if you feel you are going to do that to someone as an opposing player, if you do that – and it was seen by our bench – it’s not right,’ said Chris, who added he had seen Campbell’s reaction, ‘Absolutely. He knows that but he is fighting for his life and fighting for his team. He is doing what he has to do to win a point or three.’
Benson’s early opener was followed by a Reid special at the beginning of the second half. Charlton looked to be heading for a comfortable win but the two red cards changed the game, as Powell agreed:
‘No, not when you’ve got nine players on and not when there is a good chunk of the game to go.
‘I applaud the character of the players, to show that effort and dig in and do the hard stuff against 11 men was second to none.
‘They (Rovers) scored the first goal and of course we were going to be on the back foot and chasing but the second goal, which is why I had to see out the remainder of the game in the dressing room, was because we felt it was a handball.’
Powell went on to add his thoughts about Gavin Williams’ late equaliser:
‘It’s very tough when you look at it again on the laptop.
‘The players thought it was handball and they were closer, and the referee was closer.
‘I look at it, it looks like the top of the shoulder. He’s got to make a split-second decision, I accept that, but really, looking at it, you can tell by the reaction.
‘It was a fantastic finish by Gavin Williams – a player I know well – but these things change games, change people’s lives, change careers. Really, I’m hugely disappointed because our fans were in good voice, the players did really well and we should be looking at a win,’ said the manager.
Williams appeared to control the ball with his upper arm though Powell thought it was the top of his shoulder – which is not handball! Chris then added his thoughts about the referee’s performance:
‘He never gave us anything all day, but that’s his prerogative. He’s telling us that he will send one of our players off and in fact he got two off.
‘It was just a bizarre day and a bizarre game. We are always talking about standards of play, we are always talking about standards of refereeing. Everyone that has seen the game today can make their own mind up.
‘He just said that I’ve got to go off. Obviously, I came on the pitch and explained that it looked like handball and whether that’s his thoughts saying I was on the pitch, you will have to ask him.
‘I’m not going to ask him because I’m not getting any sense, so I will leave it.
‘I’ve had three people sent off today, two players and myself. That’s wrong by me. I should have led by example because I am manager of the team, but I’m disappointed we have only got one point.
‘It feels like a loss to me because we controlled the match. What’s done is done and we move on to Monday’s game.’
Powell will obviously be keen to return to winning ways against Rochdale. Dale have over achieved this season but stuttered against Carlisle at Spotland on Saturday.
The manager will have to change his midfield with Semedo and Reid serving bans. The last half hour on Saturday will have drained his players so the manager will need to assess the fitness of his squad.
John Sullivan is likely to have an unchanged back-four in front of him, though Chris Solly could challenge Simon Francis for the right-back berth. Scott Wagstaff’s hamstring niggle will probably sideline him again with Therry Racon and Alan McCormack coming into the reckoning. Another option would be for Nathan Eccleston to slot in on the right flank with Wright-Phillips partnering Benson in attack.
Charlton could look like this:
Sullivan; Francis, Doherty, Fortune, Bessone; Eccleston, Parrett, Stewart, Racon; Benson, Wright-Phillips.
Subs: Worner, Solly, Llera, McCormack, Stavrinou, Harriott, Nouble.
Pat Miller from Bedfordshire will be the man in charge.
The long season may be catching up with Dale. Charlton will fancy their chances of winning this one.
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