‘Boring’ Millers annoy Luzon
GUY Luzon hit out at Steve Evans and his negative football after Rotherham frustrated Charlton at The Valley.
Charlton dominated against the Millers but fell behind to a first-half Farrend Rawson tap in.
Patrick Bauer equalised but a point was the best Charlton could manage, much to Luzon’s frustration.
“We should have won, we had more than 60 per cent of the game and we haven’t won,” Luzon vented.
“We had 21 shots on target.That is enough to win the game but we didn’t.We tried to play positive football to create something and try to win the game.
“Rotherham came here to waste time and play the long ball throughout. They came here not to win the game but came here for a maximum of one point.
“They had only one chance in the second half and no other crucial chances.
“You need to ask the coach of Rotherham why he does not play positive football. Ask him why his team is just there to frustrate us rather than play themselves.
“If we continue to play attractive football and they continue to play the way they do we will have more points than them at the end of the season.”
Charlton flew out of the blocks and almost took the lead in the opening minutes when Jordan Cousins slipped past two defenders, only to be denied by Lee Camp.
Camp was to play a vital role in Rotherham’s point and he denied Cousins again on 15 minutes.
Rotherham were under the cosh, but went in at the break with the lead, albeit in controversial circumstances. The Millers were handed a free-kick, which appeared to cannon off one of their own players and away for a goal kick.
But referee Keith Stroud gave a corner and while Charlton were busy arguing Rawson tapped home at the back post from Joe Newell’s delivery.
Charlton returned from the break looking for vengeance and Camp had to be on top form again to tip over Igor Vetokele’s effort.
On the hour Rotherham reminded Charlton they were still a danger and goalkeeper Nick Pope stood up and took note. Pope put out a big hand to deny Tony Andreu what would surely have earned the away side all three points.
Luzon made a change just after the hour, bringing Simon Makienok onto the pitch to change things up.
And he quickly did so, as the big man chested the ball down, played it across goal and allowed Bauer to tap home with 65 minutes gone.
The crowd urged their side forward but a share of the spoils was all they could muster with Rotherham boss Evans insistent that a draw was the fair result.
“I think we were good value for the point at least – I think we could have even earned all three with our second-half chances,” Evans said. “Charlton had a lot of the ball but they didn’t really do much with it to threaten us and the two best saves of the game came from their goalkeeper.
“When that chance in the second half fell to Andreu there wasn’t a person in the stadium that didn’t think we had grabbed a second.
“But credit to their goalkeeper because he has put out a strong hand and earned them a point.
“I think a draw was probably a fair decision for the neutrals before that chance came up but that was one hell of a save.
“The goalkeeper also pulled off a great save to deny Chris Maguire from miles out so I think we were definitely worthy of the point.”