I can’t believe Jason Pearce wasn’t sent off – Bolton boss Ian Evatt admits both sides should have received red cards during Charlton’s 2-1 loss

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Bolton boss Ian Evatt says he was baffled that Charlton skipper Jason Pearce avoided a second yellow card during his side’s 2-1 win at the University of Bolton Stadium.

The Addicks defender was booked early in the second-half after getting into a tangle with Dion Charles. He was then penalised for becoming embroiled in another wrestling match soon after but referee Ben Toner kept his cards in his pocket – with Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson replacing him with the returning Sam Lavelle moments later.

Evatt also admitted his side were perhaps also lucky to keep all 11 men on the field after a high challenge from Gethin Jones on George Dobson in the first-period resulted in just a yellow card.

“I cannot understand for the life or me why it wasn’t [a second yellow for Pearce], said Evatt.

“ It makes it even more obvious when they take him off immediately afterwards. The whole stadium knew he should have been off the pitch but perhaps it evens itself up because the Gethin one in the first-half could quite possibly have been one as well. It’s probably 1-1 on decisions on the night.”

The win was Bolton’s fourth in a row at home but Evatt felt his side weren’t at their best.

He added: “I think, in and out of possession, we looked jaded. But it’s been a long time since we’ve won a game with a set-play and won when we’ve played poorly. We can be a lot better than that. The most positive thing was that we’ve won the game. Two years ago if you’d said we’d do the double over Charlton Athletic, I think everyone would have bit their hands off.

“The result [pleased me most] and that’s about it.”

Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson also reckoned Jones should have been dismissed for his challenge on Dobson, saying: “I was [surprised it was only yellow]. It thought it was a red card. It was a bad tackle from the lad. He’s caught George late and high up. It’s not on his foot, it’s above his ankle and his shin. It’s not a good tackle and should be a red card.”

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