Barnsley 1 Charlton Athletic 1
Fourth draw in five league games, but a much better performance today where we actually stuck to it for the whole game.
Although a draw I felt was the right result if it wasn’t for more rubbish officiating we would have taken all three.
From the live pictures the whole ball was behind the corner flag when the Barnsley players swept back on and from that they scored to looks of incredulity from Charlton’s players.
8 players were booked plus Appleton in a game that had the occasional edge to it, but only really due to the referee’s ineptitude. One decision where he gave a goal kick instead of the corner was one of the most perplexing I have seen for a long time.
We started both halves brightly. The first sticks in the memory for CBT’s direct involvement down the left but poor and selfish final balls, but in the 2nd he was much more menacing and equalized with an excellent finish.
We controlled the game for long periods and had most of the possession but without any real cutting edge.
I thought the back four played well, as did Dobbo. AMB was competent but May was left to fight over the scraps but surely the time has come to drop Fraser for Watson (L).
Kanu again made a difference when he came on, but that bench shows what Appleton has to operate with and although a point at Barnsley on a winters day is a good one, we have to turn draws into wins.
MoM: Dobbo
Appleton of my eye: Maybe the first 90 minute performance of the season, but he must be hoping for better officiating and a January player windfall.
Elsewhere: Pompey moved 7 points clear at the top with a very good 3-0 win at Shrewsbury. Peterborough are 2nd after winning at Fleetwood. Derby gave up a 98th minute equalizer at home to Wycombe and Bristol Rovers had the result of the day winning at Bolton.
A much better performance with some cutting edge play from our key players.
We were inventive and prepared to play with vigour (not a new Turkish player on loan !!! ) and determination.
We were let down by the referee and his assistant who mirrored how refereeing is not good in league 1.
I was again dismayed that Louie Watson was on the bench again…he is a major influence and will provide killer passes.
It’s going to be a busy period coming up and we need to adopt the attitude demonstrated today to get up the table.
I’d just like to say I’m glad a proper defender is ok best wishes tom
I reiterate those wishes Danny. That was a horrible moment today. Best wishes to Tom and his family.
Totally echo your comment, Tom was a great player for us and my est wishes to to him.and his family for a speedy recovery.
Credit to all the medical staff for their speedy a times and to all the fans in the stadium.
Obviously the big controversy in this game was; was the ball out of play for Barnsley’s goal. Angles make such decisions difficult to judge.
I think the rule is the problem. “whole of the ball over the whole of the line”
It should be ‘did the ball break contact with the outside edge of the line’ Thus if grass can be seen between line and ball, it’s out of play.
Last week a penalty for an outside the box challenge, this week the referee not noticing that the ball was out of play, and he then compounds that by booking AMB and MA. His assistant was on the far side of the pitch so could have been blocked but the referee has to see something like that himself – there was six inches of turf at least. But what goes around etc, we’ll get a dodgy all go our way soon enough, these things balance out.
Perhaps though my biggest grumble was CBT not squaring the ball in the opening few minutes for Alfie May and taking on a tricky shot himself. I assume he was convinced that he’d score, but with the form May is in that was a dead cert goal. We can’t afford to let those chances slip away, especially away at a rival.
Other than that we grafted hard and everyone put a shift in and deserved at least a point and if we’re being honest we’d have taken that at 3PM.
And yep, horrible news again about Tom Lockyer, that’s the second time he has collapsed. Get well soon.
Appleton’s relentless refusal to play Louie Watson, even as fresh legs when wheezy Fraser inevitably slows to a standstill after an hour, smacks of the triumph of arrogance over competence.
Louie must have nicked Apple’s teddy bear or something.
Apples is defiantly denying the evidence of his own eyes and we’re haemorrhaging points as a result – 4 in the last 2 games alone
Un-For-Givable
Interesting comment on Louie Watson. No idea why he has been phased out but Appleton was known to have his favourites in his previous job’s. McGrandles being one who was back in the team as quick as you could say dodgy hamstring!