A desperately narrow defeat today at the Galpharm to a Huddersfield side who were aided by a referee who appeared to favour them with the majority of decisions. The fact that we conceded an early penalty and had Daryl Russell sent from the field thirty minutes didn't help but we did everything but score. With Sheffield Wednesday squeezing past the O's in East London, it's a case of one step backwards, so we need to do the same next Saturday when they come through the tunnel next week.
The match commentator on Radio Kent may be a tad biased but he was very vocal on several occasions about poor decisions that went against us. Scott Wagstaff was clattered during the first half and the Charlton bench were all on their feet in protest only to see Antony Kay escape without a card and the referree then angered the visitors by restarting the match with a drop-ball.
Paul Hayes started the match in place of Yann the Man who had apparently gone down with a bug. N'Guessan started again and Leon Cort held his place in defence. Town started strongly and Hamer pulled off a classy one-handed reflex save to deny a powerful close range header. Huddersfield weren't to be denied though, and Chris Solly conceded a penalty minutes later as Town piled on the pressure. Mr Rhodes netted from the spot to break the League One scoring record but after that we more than held our own.
We were having a right go in the second-half and threatening to score when Daryl Russell's temper got the better of him and he kicked out at the combative Kay after another heavy tackle. Russell walked and Kay was booked - if he had been booked as deserved for clattering Wagstaff in the first half, then it would have been ten against ten. No matter, we still took the game to the home side who clung on for the last 30 minutes as we missed several great chances to equalise.
Fact are, we are 8 points clear of the Owls with 7 to play and 9 clear of the Blades and they have 8 to play. Huddersfield have a distant shout of catching us but they would need to make up 11 points in 8 games. The rest are out of it. We have no big sides left to play and even allowing for nerves and a few losses, I am confident we will collect at least half the points left on offer, enough to ensure automatic promotion and collect the title.
Bring on L'Orient!
The match commentator on Radio Kent may be a tad biased but he was very vocal on several occasions about poor decisions that went against us. Scott Wagstaff was clattered during the first half and the Charlton bench were all on their feet in protest only to see Antony Kay escape without a card and the referree then angered the visitors by restarting the match with a drop-ball.
Paul Hayes started the match in place of Yann the Man who had apparently gone down with a bug. N'Guessan started again and Leon Cort held his place in defence. Town started strongly and Hamer pulled off a classy one-handed reflex save to deny a powerful close range header. Huddersfield weren't to be denied though, and Chris Solly conceded a penalty minutes later as Town piled on the pressure. Mr Rhodes netted from the spot to break the League One scoring record but after that we more than held our own.
We were having a right go in the second-half and threatening to score when Daryl Russell's temper got the better of him and he kicked out at the combative Kay after another heavy tackle. Russell walked and Kay was booked - if he had been booked as deserved for clattering Wagstaff in the first half, then it would have been ten against ten. No matter, we still took the game to the home side who clung on for the last 30 minutes as we missed several great chances to equalise.
Fact are, we are 8 points clear of the Owls with 7 to play and 9 clear of the Blades and they have 8 to play. Huddersfield have a distant shout of catching us but they would need to make up 11 points in 8 games. The rest are out of it. We have no big sides left to play and even allowing for nerves and a few losses, I am confident we will collect at least half the points left on offer, enough to ensure automatic promotion and collect the title.
Bring on L'Orient!
