ROBBO RAGES ATLATEDRAMA
CHARLTON boss Karl Robinson blasted an “atrocious” refereeing performance after his injurydepleted side conceded a late equaliser to Blackpool to drop two crucial points.
Joe Aribo scored his firstever league goal in superb fashion, jinking past two defenders and coolly slotting home from 12 yards out.
Leon Best spurned two good chances to extend the hosts’ lead before the break, with Blackpool the stronger side in the second half.
The Seasiders’ aerial bombardment finally broke through the Addicks’ defence in the penultimate minute of regular time, Clark Robertson getting enough on the ball to divert it into the net and salvage a welldeserved point.
But Robinson blamed referee John Busby for the late equaliser, accusing the ref of doing “everything he possibly could today to get them the ball in the box.”
“When we have so many players out injured like we have got at the moment, it is hard,” Robinson said.
“The disappointing thing for me is I won’t start telling my players to dive. I won’t tell them to go to ground.
“I’m trying to get our young players to be honest and try and do the right thing and by trying to do the right thing we get punished.
“I’m not happy at all with the refereeing display, I thought he was atrocious.”
Charlton keeper Ben Amos made a fantastic reaction save on 14 minutes to claw Armand Gnanduillet’s deflected header from inside the post.
A minute later, Aribo produced his sensational solo effort, dribbling into the box and producing a sharp finish to give Charlton the early lead.
Best then wasted two quality opportunities in five minutes to double the lead, Ben Williams palming away his diving header from point-blank range after 29 minutes, before the Irishman dragged a shot wide while unmarked.
Blackpool started the second half with real purpose, Colin Daniel slicing over on 64 minutes after a goalmouth scramble as the visitors penned Charlton in their own half without creating real chances.
But the Seasiders salvaged a point on 89 minutes, Robertson diverting Gnanduillet’s header into the net from a corner.
Gary Bowyer agreed with Robinson’s assessment of the referee, but emphasised he was delighted with his side’s fighting spirit.
“We weren’t a fluid footballing side as we have been in previous weeks,” Bowyer said.
“But we needed to come and fight for a point – minimum – and I thought that the way that we stuck at it, the lads deserved something for their efforts.
“We’ve been in the game throughout and we’ve had a right good go.
“That was fantastic from our players, the way they kept going and kept believing and, at 1-0, you are always in with a chance.”