Lee Bowyer has say after Darren Pratley is sent off during Charlton’s loss at Hull

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Darren Pratley is set to be suspended for three games after being dismissed for violent conduct during Charlton’s 2-0 defeat at Hull City.

The veteran midfielder, who has been filling in at centre-half for the Addicks recently, was shown a straight red card midway through the second-half of the loss at the KCOM Stadium after kicking out at the Tigers’ Malik Wilks.

Addicks boss Lee Bowyer says the 35-year-old apologised to his teammates for his moment of madness – Pratley’s first red card since being sent off for Bolton during a 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest in 2013.

Bowyer explained: “Darren is out for three games. Not only has he cost us for today, I’ve said to him you’ve let us down there. You’ve cost us. He obviously apologised but it’s not just about today, it’s the next three games as well. He’s going to be a big missed because he’s done well for us.

“It’s so soft. It’s a flick. He’s flicked out at the fella. Letter of the law, it’s probably a red card because it probably looks worse than what it actually is. Would it have hurt the lad? No, of course not. It was a little flick out at him.

“Did the officials actually see it? I don’t know. Their bench made the fourth official aware. I don’t know if the fourth official saw it. If you watch it back on the video as I’ve just done, it’s a red card as by the letter of the law.”

Bowyer will also be without Ben Watson for a spell after the midfielder picked up a hamstring problem during the opening exchanges at Hull.

PHOTO: KYLE ANDREWS