Lee Bowyer calls for more consistency from officials as Ryan Inniss is sent off during win over Oxford
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has asked for more consistency from referees after Ryan Inniss was sent off for two bookable offences during the 2-0 home win over Oxford United.
The big defender was pulled up for two fouls in the space of four second-half minutes in a game where referee Craig Hicks showed a total of seven yellow cards – and he could easily have dished out more in a stop-start game under the lights at The Valley.
Bowyer felt his centre-half was hard done by to be given his marching orders by the official.
The Addicks manager said: “Soft. So much inconsistency from the officials. Week in, week out I have the same discussion. I’m so sick and tired of talking about big decisions from officials. Both yellow cards. The second one was just an honest attempt to go in for a block tackle. The fella toes it away before Ryan.
“It’s maybe a ticking off at worst. It’s never been a yellow card. Omar Bogle is rolling people on the edge of the area. That was on the halfway line, just a 50-50 tackle that was mistimed by a split-second. Omar Bogle is rolling their centre-half on the edge of their box, they’re pulling them back and it’s not a yellow card.
“Omar Bogle, second-half, running through, the fella blatantly trips him up on the edge of the box again and it’s no yellow card. I’m not saying I want to see yellow cards but for what he’s just been sent off for, it’s not right. The consistency is miles apart.”
Inniss will now miss Saturday’s trip to high-flying Portsmouth due to his suspension, as will midfielder Ben Watson after the veteran picked up his fifth yellow card in as many league matches.
“We’ve got some cover but Ryan will be a big miss,” added Bowyer.
“He’s been solid defending our box.
“Ben, with his experience, Pompey, it’s a tough place to go Portsmouth. To lose those two players, it’s going to make it even harder to get something from the game. But I believe in the rest of the players and I trust them. There’s two changes that we have to make.”
PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS/ PAUL EDWARDS