Huddersfield’s physical approach was not to Chris Powell’s liking and the manager felt that referee, Carl Boyeson, interpreted some incidents incorrectly.

Anthony Kay’s challenge that left Scott Wagstaff needing treatment was deemed fair, with the game being restarted with a drop-ball. Chris gave these thoughts to the press after the game:

“I felt we more than warranted a point. We started off well and then Jordan Rhodes had a very good chance brilliantly saved by Ben Hamer.

“Then we had the penalty incident, which I have no problem with but I’m more frustrated with the tackle on my player that is restarted by a drop-ball.

“I’ve seen it. I’ve just asked the referee to have a look with me in his dressing room.

“They always say to come in half an hour later and I’ve done that, and then he’s told me he’s not allowed to look at it because of rules and regulations by his seniors.

“It’s a disgraceful tackle, I’m not here to try and say people should’ve been sent off but if we’re talking about trying to stamp out dangerous tackles and make the safety of players paramount then when everyone sees it they will see that it’s not right,” said Chris before moving on to discuss Darel Russell’s sending off, “I’ve no problem with the sending off, if you kick out, or if you raise your hands, which Lee Novak did, although he only got a yellow card. Kay got a yellow card and Darel Russell got a red card. If that’s how he sees fit, no problem, we move on.”

The scenario raised a number of questions. Kay was yellow carded for the foul on Russell, who received a red for kicking out in retaliation. The game should have restarted with a free-kick to the Addicks but it was Huddersfield who were given the award. Powell is correct about Novak, raising his hands and shoving Russell to the ground was a red – not yellow – card offence.

Had Kay been booked for the Wagstaff incident, the second yellow would have seen him dismissed along with Russell. Whether being on a yellow would have made him more circumspect, only Kay knows. Here are Powell’s thoughts:

“It would have been but he (the referee) didn’t act in the first half so it wasn’t.

“I don’t won’t to be talking about getting players sent off but I would like fairness in the game.

“I’ve no problem if my players make a foul or if they behave wrongly and they get punished but it’s got to be right for everyone.

“I can’t see anyone justifying to me that the tackle on Scott Wagstaff leads to a restart with a drop ball, no one. I’m just perplexed.”

“It was a bad tackle on him ( Russell) but we all know the rules.

“You do have to keep your cool in these situations. It is very hard though and anyone who plays football will know if someone fouls you with a bad challenge, not just with a little trip, but a real strong tackle, then you’ve got to try and keep your cool. In some situations it’s very hard.

“You have to keep your composure. It’s not easy but that’s just how football is,” said the manager.

The closest Charlton came to scoring was from a looping header from Leon Cort near the end. Alex Smithies needed to turn the defender’s effort over the bar for a corner. Overall, Powell thought his team deserved a share of the spoils:

“He (Cort) was close, that’s the attitude of the boys, that they were still trying to get something from it even with 10 men.

“It’s not easy. Huddersfield are a decent team and have got some good players but my players really pushed themselves to try and get something from it.

“It was a heroic effort from my boys. We had a chance near the end and really, on reflection, it could have been a draw. “I’m thinking I should be walking away with a point but it’s about results and Huddersfield have got it from the penalty spot and we move on to the remaining seven games,” concluded Chris.

With Sheffield Wednesday getting three points at Orient, the Addicks will be keen to return to winning ways against the East Londoners at The Valley on Saturday.

Russell will be banned for four matches due to receiving a red card in January against Sheffield United. Lee Cook must have a serious chance of starting on the left in place of Dany N’Guessan, who is more suited to a striking role.