Charlton boss Ben Garner: Linesman guessed for Stockport County’s crucial corner
Charlton Athletic manager Ben Garner admitted an FA Cup replay will only put further pressure on his depleted squad – and claimed the corner which led to Stockport’s late leveller should never have been awarded.
Myles Hippolyte headed home in the seventh minute of stoppage time to make it 2-2.
And it means yet another fixture to be added into the Charlton schedule.
The Addicks had fought back from Chris Hussey’s third-minute goal, the former AFC Wimbledon defender producing a curling delivery which evaded everyone on its way into Ashley Maynard-Brewer’s net.
But Charlton turned the tie around before the interval. Steven Sessegnon’s run and cross ended up with a combination of goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe and Joe Lewis diverting into the County net. Then Albie Morgan scored his third goal of the campaign, bringing down George Dobson’s chipped pass and finishing.
But Garner, back on the touchline after serving a two-match suspension for his dismissal against Ipswich, felt County’s corner was guesswork.
“The build-up to the goal we can deal with better, the set-piece we can deal with better but I’m really disappointed that the corner is given – because the ball is not out of play,” said the Charlton chief.
“The linesman is on the opposite side of the pitch, he’s not up with the game – he’s looking across and almost through Ash. Basically he has guessed and you can’t be doing that.
“It’s a frustration because we are a minute away from being in the next round. It’s a disappointed dressing room but we have to prepare for another game.
“We had chances to get the third goal and kill the game. I don’t think we were clinical enough in those situations. We should’ve put the game to bed and that can always come back and haunt you – which it did.
“I imagine the replay will be next Tuesday. So that will be Stockport and Morecambe away that week. We had a little bit of a break in the calendar in terms of some week’s of prep leading into games. Being blunt and honest we could really have done without having another fixture, just in terms of pure numbers and where we are with the squad.”
PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS