Charlton defender Naby Sarr: I let myself off the hook with the late leveller at QPR
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton defender Naby Sarr admitted he had let himself off the hook when he bagged a 95th-minute leveller at QPR on Saturday.
The Senegalese international latched onto Geoff Cameron’s misplaced header deep into added-time before prodding the ball beyond Joe Lumley. Rangers veteran Cameron was the beneficiary of a sliced Sarr clearance when he had opened the scoring early on at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with the tables turning in the dying stages in west London.
Sarr, who was making his 100thappearance for the Addicks, was pleased that he could reconcile for that error with the equalising goal after being pushed forward for the final stages by boss Lee Bowyer.
“I’m happy, especially as the first goal was because of me,” admitted the 26-year-old.
“I should have cleared it better. I’m happy that I scored this goal. It’s always good to score, especially in front of more than 2,000 Charlton fans. That was a great feeling.
“The guy flicked it in behind. I was there, tried to have a great touch and I just finished it. I shanked it a bit but it still went in. I’m happy.
“When we’re chasing to score, sometimes we [push Sarr forward]. It’s not always that I score in the last minute but today I did it and I think everyone is happy about this point.
“I think they could have won the game in the first-half and we could have won it second-half. I think the draw is a fair result, even though we wanted the win of course. But we’ll take a point.
“To play 100 games for a club, I think you should be proud. I am very proud of this. Now I want even more, I’m looking forward to the rest.”
The draw extended Charlton’s winless run to eleven league games, but at least halted succession of games where the South Londoners have been pegged back by late goals themselves. Huddersfield Town and Hull City had both bagged added-time strikes in the Addicks’ last two outings.
“So many games, we’ve deserved more than losing or just a point,” added Sarr.
“Last Friday (against Hull), we deserved a win but conceded a last-minute goal. It’s a long season, we just have to keep going. We’re coming into a period where there is a lot of games so we just have to focus, stay on it and I’m sure things will turn around.
“I think we made it difficult for ourselves. We shouldn’t have been in that situation, we should have done better. It is what it is, it’s football. Normally it’s us who concede on 95 minutes. Today we scored the late one. Everyone is happy and it proves that this group just keeps going and never give up.
“We started [the season] very well but we had so many injuries that we maybe had to play some players not in the right position. It’s a long season, I think we’ll get some bodies back soon. When everyone is fit, I think we’ll be stronger and will start winning again.
“The first objective of Charlton in the Championship is to stay in the league. That’s what we’re fighting for and is the main objective. I will try to help the team as long as I can.”
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