West Ham loanee Josh Cullen claims that Charlton’s goal at Doncaster Rovers belongs to him

Josh Cullen hopes he can claim his first goal in Charlton colours after his part in the Addicks’ opener at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

The 22-year-old midfielder’s low cross was headed beyond his own goalkeeper by Donny striker John Marquis to give the Addicks a 72nd- minute lead at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Mallik Wilks levelled up for the home side four minutes later with the game ending all-square. Lee Bowyer’s side maintained their five-point cushion above Rovers in the race for a League One play-off place.

If the goal is awarded to the West Ham United loanee, it would be just the second of his senior playing career after notching his first whilst on loan at Bradford City in 2016.

“I’ve said to Brett in there, on the video, that it looks like it’s on target,” said Cullen.

“I see it’s gone down as an own-goal but I will get them to ask the question and appeal it. It’ll be nice if they can give it to me. It’s on target, so fingers crossed.

“I think you always are [disappointed not to win] when you take the lead. You want to hang on. You work hard to get in a position to be winning the game. It’s disappointing not to come away with three points. But it’s a tough place to come and a point, considering where they are just behind us, is better than no points. We move onto another big game next weekend.

“First half-hour of the game we were playing some lovely stuff and opening them up. Disappointed not to be two or three up at half-time. Second-half was more of the same really. They had a little rally for the first ten minutes of the second-half and then I thought we were on top and looked likely again. We get the goal and then things changed for whatever reason but that’s football. We move on now and it’s another big game next weekend.

“We know we’ve got good enough players, good enough finishers, good enough creative players to open any team up and create chances. It think it’s a matter of time before the goals start flying in and we start scoring three or four in games. We’ve just got to stick to what we’re doing, keep working hard on the training pitch. Practicing finishing, creating chances, final pass, final cross. Things will change and the goals will start flying in.”

Cullen has started each of the last seven games after returning from two-and-a-half months out with a dislocated shoulder and hopes he will be able to help the South Londoners finish strongly as they look to cement their place in the play-offs.

“It’s always nice to come back from an injury and get a run of games like I have. I feel like I’m up to speed now. I just want to finish the season strongly and give everything for the club and the team. Hopefully it’ll be a successful end to the season for us.

“We’re in the run in now. We can’t afford to lose any games. [Next Saturday’s opponents] Portsmouth are a good side, at the top end of the table. They’re coming into our backyard and we’ll be right up for it and looking to put on a good performance in front of our own fans and get the three points.”