Addicks boss Ben Garner praises performance but says referee ruined game during draw with Wycombe Wanderers

Charlton boss Ben Garner reckons the point taken from today’s draw with Wycombe is a good one – but felt the contest was ruined by the officiating from referee David Rock.

The man in the middle showed a total of seven yellow cards to players from both sides – with Garner also finding himself in the notepad for a second week running.

The Addicks chief also said that the official denied the South Londoners a penalty when Jayden Stockley was felled in the second-period.

Both sides had to settle for a point after Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi cancelled out Anis Mehmeti’s 14th-minute opener – the leveller coming just 60 seconds after the hosts broke the deadlock.

Wycombe were the stronger side for the remainder of the first half but the Addicks grew into it after the break – although a blocked shot from Fraser was their only real opportunity after the break.

Garner said: “It’s a difficult place to come. Anyone coming here in League One this season will be happy with a point, but it wasn’t a point where we weren’t looking like winning it. We were looking like winning it. We were strong in the closing stages. We were really good second half. I was really proud of the players, they were excellent to stand up to how Wycombe play. But then, most importantly they showed the bravery to play how we play. That was really pleasing.

“Up until their goal we were excellent. We started it really well. They score, we react brilliantly. Then the game was spoiled by one person in the middle for both sides. Wycombe played really well, they’re really good at what they do. We played well but there was some weird and wonderful decisions out there that affected the game.

“George [Dobson] got kicked in the head,” added Garner, when asked about the circumstances that saw him pick up his second yellow card in as many weeks.

“I said: ‘He’s been kicked in the head’ and he took that as dissent. Hopefully I’ll get off that one. I just felt the end of the half allowed them to build momentum because he missed so many fouls. They were coming through the back of us constantly. They then get the ball, then it’s in our box. We managed that better second half. We were much better with the ball.

“And then there’s key decisions wrong again. When Scott Fraser has a shot blocked, Jayden Stockley is the wrong side of the defender and the defender trips him up. That’s a penalty. Again, it’s been missed. It’s gone against us but I don’t want that to detract from our players today because they were outstanding.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS