Rotherham United 1 Charlton 1: Millers’ Evans blasts referee over penalty

The Millers earned a point against unbeaten Charlton when Luciano Becchio headed in and could have taken all three points in front of 9,620 spectators.

The visitors had been on top in the first half and took the lead through Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

But Becchio headed in to ensure his side earned a point from a game which they deserved to win on second-half possession and chances.

Charlton could have snatched a win late on but Scott Loach stopped the ball crossing the line after he had failed to hold Frederic Bulot’s shot.

But Evans was unhappy that Deadman ignored appeals for handball against Johnnie Jackson and said: “It wasn’t just handball. He almost had hold of the ball, put it up his shirt and looked as fat as me.”

Evans said he did not want to question Deadman’s integrity but added: “If we are not going to get a penalty for that we might as well rewrite the rule book.”

After the visitors had dominated the game for large periods of the first half it was Evans’s side who came back into the match after the break.

“I was ecstatic with the second-half performance,” added the Rotherham manager.

Rotherham striker Becchio agreed with Evans. When asked if he thought it was a penalty he said: “I saw it on the video (after the game). It was 100 per cent a penalty.”

Charlton manager Bob Peeters said he would need to watch the match video but added: “I think it could have been (a penalty). I think the referee has done a good job.

“I told him at half-time not to get carried away because people were putting pressure on him.

“I need to see the game back to see if it was a penalty.”

Peeters said he did not shake hands with Evans straight after the final whistle as it was his normal practice to thank the referee and talk to his players first.

“Next time I will go give him a kiss.”

Rotherham United: Loach, Richardson, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz, Wordsworth, Smallwood (Frecklington 46), Green, Bowery, Taylor (Pringle 68), Revell (Becchio 39). Unused substitutes: Broadfoot, Collin, Derbyshire, Clarke-Harris.

Charlton Athletic: Henderson, Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins, Gudmundsson (Harriott 80), Buyens, Jackson, Cousins (Fox 90), Moussa (Bulot 60), Vetokele. Unused substitutes: Wilson, Morrison, Tucudean, Pope.

Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Man of the match: Lucianno Becchio.