Referee ‘a disgrace’, blasts Charlton boss Bowyer

Lee Bowyer branded referee James Linington a “disgrace” for “robbing” Charlton with the late penalty that gave Peterborough a 1-0 victory at The Valley.

Jason Cummings scored his fourth goal of the season from the spot to maintain his team’s winning start to the League One season and keep them top of the division after Lewis Page was harshly judged to have fouled Ivan Toney – shortly after Charlton had appealed for handball from Toney and a penalty of their own.

Bowyer had been booked during the first half for challenging the official after his opposite number Steve Evans — similarly booked at half-time — had consistently done the same.

Charlton’s interim manager felt his improving team had been on the verge of a valuable victory when the 89th-minute penalty was awarded, but that by the final whistle they had been “cheated”.

“It’s an absolute disgrace he’s made that decision – a disgrace,” Bowyer said on the evening of his 100th yellow card.

“He’s just robbed us of a point – maybe three, because we were the team on top. You don’t want to know what I said to him at full-time.

“We were the better team. They did everything I asked, and they’ve been cheated. There’s no denying it. It’s not a penalty – it’s never been a penalty. He’ll go home and sleep alright; I won’t and my players won’t.

“He shouldn’t be reffing, he shouldn’t be able to ref the next game. (Page) tried to dive to head the ball; there was no push.

“(Evans is) bullying the fourth official, constantly hammering him; maybe (Linington’s) afraid. Maybe he’s been bullied into that because every slight decision went to them. He doesn’t understand the game – he’s not played the game. You can’t just guess and gamble. It’s wrong.”

Evans’ team have four victories from four, and he said: “We should have been two or three up, but Charlton are full of quality.”

Of his booking, he explained: “I asked the ref in a strong way why (Siriki) Dembele had been hit waist-high. He said don’t ask me in that manner about the challenges on Dembele. I’m okay with it. He’s a good referee.”