The players have got to learn but that goal came beyond the added five minutes – Charlton boss Lee Bowyer devastated after Addicks drop points late on again
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer was devastated as his side conceded a 96th-minute leveller against Hull – extending the winless run to ten games.
Keane Lewis-Potter’s header somehow edged over the line via a combination of the post and Addicks stopper Dillon Phillips in the sixth minute of added-time to rescue a point for the Tigers. Naby Sarr had restored Charlton’s lead after Jared Bowen had cancelled out Darren Pratley’s first-half opener.
Bowyer’s side looked destined to hold on to a vital three points until Lewis-Potter outjumped Ben Purrington at the very death. Five added minutes had been displayed be the fourth official but referee Andy Davies had allowed for some extra seconds to be played.
“My head is not in a good place at the moment,” admitted the Charlton manager.
“What do you say? Where do you start? I get one-hundred percent that we must defend to the final whistle, but for the three points to get taken away like that. The players have got to learn. On Tuesday, the conceded with 30 seconds to go. Tonight, it was beyond time. That’s the thing that’s doing my head in the most.
“They put up five minutes and it was beyond five minutes. It was five minutes when the foul was given. That’s it, time up. He lets them put the ball into the box, that’s fine I’ve seen that happen. But then you defend that cross and then the whistle goes. Not here, not tonight. He lets them get another ball into the box and then – goal. That’s wrong. Now my players are going away with one point instead of three. Our fans were unreal all night. I feel for everybody to do with the club. We didn’t deserve that. It’s a point but it should have been three.
“My players gave everything and they don’t deserve to be leaving with a point. It’s a flipping joke. It’s wrong on every level. This is the league we’re playing in. You have to defend to the end. Do the basics, defend to the end, the whistle goes and everyone is happy. We haven’t done that in the last two games.
“They’ve given everything. They’re distraught in there. Rock bottom. They’re so low at the moment because what more can you do? I said to them ‘I can’t fault any of you.’ Even Ben (Purrington). He got done on the goal. I said to him ‘Ben, you know to go and head it and that’s it. Don’t even answer what I’m saying, because you don’t need to. I’m just thinking out loud. You need to go and head it.’ I’m upset but I say ‘don’t answer me, because you’ve given me everything.’ I can’t ask no more.
“We need help. We need players back. It’s that simple. We’ve played a very good Hull side with 10, 11 out and we were still better than them. The players gave me everything. The fans were unreal. The place was bouncing. The ref decides to play a bit of extra time on the extra time and it costs us. Not good.”
PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS/ KEITH GILLARD
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