Wrong Decision v Charlton

DEREK Adams felt that referee Dean Whitestone was wrong to allow Charlton’s first goal in their last-gasp 2-1 victory over Argyle.

Graham Carey had given the Pilgrims an early lead in the Sky Bet League One game at the Valley, only for Karlan Grant to level almost immediately with a close-range effort following a corner.

The Argyle players protested long and hard that the goal should not have stood. Those complaints were redoubled later in the first-half, when Antoni Sarcevic’s challenge on Ben Reeves led to a Charlton penalty that goalkeeper Matt Macey superbly saved from Lyle Taylor.

Pilgrims gaffer Derek said: “We started the game every well. We went ahead – a great cross into the box from Joel Grant and great header by Graham Carey – then they get a goal which we believe is a foul on Matt Macey. His hands were stopped from getting to the ball by one of their players.

“They get a goal out of nothing really to make it 1-1 and that gives them a lift.

“After that, the referee decided to give a lot of fouls against their players in the 18-yard box, but he got that one wrong.

“Then there was a penalty-kick which was soft, from my point of view; Matt Macey made a very good save from it.

“I didn’t think it was a penalty. I thought Sarcevic slid in and I didn’t see the player going over the top of him. I didn’t see much in it but I did think it was a great save.

“You know, at Charlton, when things are not going well, it gets a wee bit restless. We tried to get it to that stage; we didn’t quite get there.

“It’s a difficult league but when you get decisions against you like we did today, to make it 1-1, it doesn’t help.”