Charlton boss Lee Bowyer felt his side were robbed of a point at Sheffield Wednesday after hosts bag added-time winner from free-kick
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer felt his side were conned out of a point at Sheffield Wednesday after the hosts grabbed an added-time winner.
Referee Oliver Langford awarded a soft free-kick inside the Addicks half for a foul on Owls substitute Atdhe Nuhiu deep into stoppage-time after a scrappy affair at Hillsborough had remained goalless.
The set-piece was floated into the penalty area, where chaos ensued and a Jason Pearce slip presented Steven Fletcher the opportunity to head home and end Wednesday’s seven-game winless run.
“In the end, we’ve been conned,” bemoaned Bowyer.
“I think that is a fair word to use. We’ve been conned. That was not a foul. He’s just given a foul there, I don’t know, the referee just said to me ‘he’s been sandwiched.’ That’s not a rule. We’ve got one player in front and one player behind and that’s a foul. It’s ridiculous.
“It’s cost us a point. A good point. We deserved that point. The players gave everything. To get that taken away from you, in that manner, is wrong.
“They didn’t deserve that. Sheffield Wednesday might argue that they deserved it but I don’t believe so. Lyle [Taylor’s] chance hit the bar. He had another chance that was a great block. We deserved a point. A point would have a fair result.
“I thought we deserved something from the game. First-half, we were sloppy in that final-third but second-half, once we won the ball back, we created them problems. They’re a good side, Sheffield Wednesday.
“To lose to a goal like that, it’s wrong. Dillon [Phillips] made some great saves but that is what he’s there for. He’s been doing that. I’m just gutted for the players and everyone to do with the club because we deserved something from the game.”
The result, coupled with Wigan’s 3-0 triumph at Reading this evening, leaves the Addicks sat four places but only two points above the Championship relegation zone.
“Obviously, there’s pressure,” added Bowyer, with his side now set to stay in Yorkshire until the weekend when they face 19th-placed Huddersfield Town at the John Smiths Stadium.
“There’s pressure on everybody. Like I said at the weekend, nothing has changed for us. We know how many points we have to reach. Nobody gives you anything in this league. You have to earn it. You have to fight for every point. We’ll keep doing that. I have no doubt.”
PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS
I f Lee Bowyer thinks we were robbed of a point he must have been watching another game his negative tactics all night lost us 3 points.
I’m a Wednesday fan and I’m pleased that we won, but I agree with Lee Bowyer. That’s football, it’s happened to us often enough.
Conned? That’s rich coming from a team that brought the dark arts to the second half! If Bowers team had played the game without time wasting at every opportunity then there would have been less “injury time” justice was done thanks for the 6 points!
Wigan, Barnsley, Luton are just going for it, while we park the bus against the lowest scoring team on their own patch in the division. Clueless, embarrassing time-wasting tactics. We’ve seen it too often this season, and then the manager comes out with the pathetic ‘we wuz robbed’ excuses. Let’s at least go down trying to play football
I was disappointed we couldn’t see it out for a point of course, but don’t feel we were robbed. The time wasting and kicking the ball away was driving me mad, and I’m a Charlton fan. The amount of times we worked hard to win the ball, then give it straight back to them was alarming. I love Bowyer but have to disagree with him on this one. Sheff Weds were a poor side on the night and were there for the taking. I can see why they’ve gone so long without scoring at home, they were only ever going to score through our own sloppiness and inability. 3 point opportunity thrown away. We’ve got some decent players, play football and attack, try to score, this is becoming dull to watch and ineffective. How many times have Charlton done this late on in games, it doesn’t work – learn – change
if bowyer had done his homework he’d have seen Wednesday’s problem is defending, particularly late in the game. Instead he came for a draw and deservedly didn’t get it.