Charlton Athletic to appeal Lyle Taylor red card – and Bowyer on late penalty winner

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Charlton manager Lee Bowyer confirmed that they will be appealing Lyle Taylor’s red card in today’s 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley.

The Addicks striker and visiting keeper Jonny Maxted were both dismissed by referee John Busby – the ensuing scrum of players clashing causing multiple flashpoints.

Bowyer said: “We’ll appeal it. Lyle is blocking the goalie, so he can’t come for the cross. 

“They’ve given the foul and the goalie is on the floor. They’ve both gone on the floor and people have gone treading all over them. 

“Unless they show us something separate but all that time Lyle was on the floor getting trod and stamped on. I can’t see it, no. The keeper did nothing wrong either.

“I’ve looked back at the sending-offs and for me I don’t understand why them two have been sent off. Those two have done the least. Lyle laid on the floor through the whole incident. He got trod on.

“If look at the goings-on while Lyle is on the floor – there are two or three more that could’ve got sent off.

“I can’t see what Lyle has done or the keeper. At least one person treads on Lyle’s head and another one half treads on it – from what I’ve seen. Those two things are worse than Lyle and the goalie.

“They should appeal as well, because he has done nothing wrong either.”

Karlan Grant’s late penalty ensured the Addicks picked up the victory. But Busby’s decision – following consultation with his assistant – to give the spot-kick for a handball on Ben Reeves’ shot – enraged the visitors.

“If you ask me if it was a penalty – it was,” said Bowyer. “We had one at Scunthorpe that distance away. The lad put his arms up he was blocking the shot – and it’s a penalty.”

There was more trouble at full-time as the two sets of players headed down the tunnel.

Accrington captain Sean McConville appeared to walk into Bowyer after the full-time whistle.

Asked if it was an accident, Bowyer replied: “What do you think? I don’t think it was accidentally, no.

“I stayed out of the way [from the tunnel clash]. I didn’t see anything happening in there while I was there. The fourth official took me aside once that fella bumped into me, if you like.”

Grant held his nerve from the spot. Accrington’s number three Mark Hughes was guilty of a verbal tirade at the referee’s assistant on that side – before and after the penalty was awarded.

“Of course I feel for their players – they’ve given everything,” said Bowyer. “To have a penalty awarded against you last minute is hard to take. Especially one like that where his arms were risen – it’s not like a tackle and you can half-accept it.

“They are passionate people. They want to win – like my players. It’s hurt them because they have not won and I get that. Accrington are mid-table and they’ve come here and given everything. 

“We had one at Scunthorpe with Pearcey [Jason Pearce]. You’ve seen so many of them given and not given.  

“I don’t think there was anything controversial about it. It was a penalty.

“It was a good penalty. He took one the week before and went the other side so I was thinking ‘where is he going to go?’. For a young lad he showed great composure.

“The most important thing is the three points. That was massive today. We are four behind Portsmouth, who are top. That’s nothing – one win – and we have to play them soon. That’s what I’m looking at. Luton had a good result again today but them two above us, we’ve closed the gap on that.

“It was massive today. It wasn’t pretty at times but when you have to dig deep that’s a sign of winners when you can win ugly. We’ve done that today.”

IMAGES BY PAUL EDWARDS