Charlton boss Lee Bowyer pleased with display after late Chuks Aneke strike earns point at Gillingham

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Lee Bowyer says he’ll take plenty of positives from Charlton’s 1-1 draw at Gillingham.

The Addicks dominated play in Kent, enjoying 69 percent of the ball but fell behind after Jordan Graham broke the deadlock for the hosts from the spot 17 minutes from time.

Conor Washington had already failed to score a penalty of his own during the first-period but substitute Chuks Aneke did grab a goal for the South Londoners as he levelled up inside the final ten minutes.

The visitors had hit the woodwork twice in the first-half and had a number of chances throughout, although stopper Ben Amos did make a couple of important saves at the other end.

The lunchtime result extends the Addicks’ unbeaten league run to eight games and brought them to within two points of the league leaders before the 3pm kick-offs.

Bowyer said: “Crazy game. First-half I thought we had a lot of possession but didn’t really hurt them too much. They hit us on the break on the odd time or something fell in their path from something going into the box. Second-half, I thought we controlled the game. From start to finish we moved the ball really well today.

“On another day we probably score four goals. The finishing was just a little off. Overall, to show the character they did and we didn’t get sucked into their game. We just kept passing the ball, even when we went one down. We got a deserved point.

“The most important thing is that you don’t lose. Obviously, we want to try and win every game and, on another day, we win comfortably. There’s a lot of positives to take from today. Not the three that we wanted but one is better than none.”

Both penalties awarded by referee Robert Lewis seemed soft. Omar Bogle was adjudged to have been pulled down at a corner despite very little contact, with even less visible as Chris Gunter supposedly tripped John Akinde for the Gills’ spot-kick.

“Two penalties, in my eyes both of them shouldn’t have been penalties,” added Bowyer.

“I think both penalties were soft. There were some crazy decisions out there. Their player gets injured, he’s off the pitch and he stopped the game. He gave a foul against Ben Watson in the first-half and said ‘it was the way he won the ball.’ What sort of a rule is that? The way he won it. How do you want him to win the ball? Is there a special way to win it?

“I think cos the ref gave us one, he wanted to naturally even it up. There was no contact from Gunter on their striker. None. He gives a pen, he took about 30 seconds to make a decision and, even then, he still comes to the wrong decision.”

PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS