Fair way to go for Robinson
OXFORD manager Karl Robinson says his players may be too honest after they crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Portsmouth.
The new Us manager saw Alex Mowatt sent off when he slapped Nathan Thompson after hitting the post with a penalty with the score 1-0.
Robinson felt referee Charles Breakspear robbed them of victory. “I’m angry, he cost us the game. He has run 20 yards to stand in his face and goad Alex – I have not seen that for a long, long time,” said Robinson. “He told my players that he booked Thompson.
“That’s a red card because he was booked in the first half. Maybe some of our players need to have that little bit of a cheating mentality at times.
“They’re honest, fair, they play like a controlled team and they play within the letter of the law. Alex is in tears in the dressing room. It was a great penalty, it’s fractions from going in. It was a poor reaction from him, he’s been told.”
Kal Naismith, Brett Pitman and Jamal Lowe got Pompey’s goals.
Lee Bowyer enjoyed a dream debut in the dug-out as Charlton beat play-off rivals Plymouth 2-0.
Bowyer was placed in temporary charge of his boyhood club following Robinson’s midweek exit.
“It couldn’t have gone any better,” said Bowyer.
Stefan Payne’s goal earned Shrewsbury a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon that took them back to the top of the table. Wigan moved up to second, above Blackburn, after winning 2-0 at Bury.
Wigan manager Paul Cook said: “I wish Shrewsbury or Blackburn would go away.”
Dominic Poleon’s goal earned Bradford a 1-0 win against Gillingham– their first under Simon Grayson at the fifth attempt.