CHARLTON manager Chris Powell revealed the assistant referee apologised after tonight’s 1-0 derby defeat to Crystal Palace for ruling out Bradley Wright-Phillips first half header for offside.
The Addicks striker thought he had put his side in front but the flag was raised immediately after the linesman adjudged he was offside despite Darcy Blake, who had fell to the ground, playing Wright-Phillips onside.
Kagisho Dikgacoi went on to score the winning goal for Palace early in the second half and even though Charlton had chances to equalise, with substitute Ricardo Fuller twice going close and keeper Ben Hamer almost grabbing a dramatic late point, it wasn’t to be.
Powell said: “To be fair to the assistant referee he came into my room after the game and apologised.
“Obviously it doesn’t do much good for us but I can see why he gave it because he wouldn’t have seen Darcy Blake in his eye line, he would have seen Bradley Wright-Phillips first, but of course you want them to get those decisions right.
“It is fine margins at all levels of football.
“This evening some people could argue that cost us the game but surely if we had gone 1-0 up obviously it would have had a different complexion on the game but it wasn’t to be.
“We had to carry on, Palace defended like an away team should and they got bodies in the way and it just didn’t happen for us this evening.”
Powell was ultimately philosophical about the result, claiming in the end it simply was never going to be Charlton’s night.
He added: “It was a good local derby with two teams really going for it.
“I felt Palace started particularly well but I felt we grew into the game.
“Obviously a big turning point for us was the disallowed goal which should have stood.
It was just one of those nights, it just wasn’t going to be really.
“We had chances, a couple cleared off the line.
“Palace had some chances as well and it was a decent game and a well taken goal, but we had those chances near the end and it just didn’t happen for us.”
Powell also had some bad news on Rhoys Wiggins after the defender was forced off midway through the first half by injury and replaced by Lawrie Wilson.
The Addicks chief said: “He’s got a swollen foot, he will have an X-ray.
“It doesn’t look too good.
“Whether it is a toe, a metatarsal or whatever it doesn’t look good but I hope he is going to be OK.
“He is a very important player for us.
“It is a real shame he had to come off against a team where he started but of course if Rhoys goes off he is definitely hurt because he fights through and normally plays through the pain barrier, but it doesn’t look a good one for him.”
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