Despite his first half penalty save, keeper Stephen Henderson couldn’t hide his disappointment as Charlton fell to a 2-1 Good Friday derby defeat at Millwall.

The Irish stopper repelled Lee Gregory’s spot-kick after Chris Solly was sent off for allegedly handling a goal-bound shot just before the half hour.

Charlton’s ten men then took a surprise lead in the second half when Alou Diarra flicked home a Morgan Fox cross.

But late goals from Magaye Gueye and Jos Hooiveld turned the game around for the relegation-threatened Lions, who in the end maintained their 19-year unbeaten run against their south-east London neighbours.

And Henderson admitted his memory of the penalty save counts for nothing now as the game was lost.

“It was a great moment but it is taken away by the result,” confessed the 26-year-old. 

“Now it doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m disappointed for the fans and that’s it really.”

Henderson also accepted ultimately the right team had collected all three points.

He said: “I don’t think we deserved to win the game if I’m being completely honest because they had a fair few opportunities. 

“I’m disappointed we didn’t hold on to something, but looking back if we had got the three points we’d have been kind of robbing it a bit. But that’s the way it goes. 

“That’s me being honest, I could have said we deserved something but they really came at us from the first minute.

“I’m devastated. I know I’ve only been here a few months but I feel the pain.

“I won’t go on about it too much because we have a game on Tuesday, but I’m hurting like hell.”

The former West Ham United man added his voice to manager Guy Luzon’s post-match assertion Solly was unfortunate to be shown a red card.

“Solly was unlucky to get sent off,” the keeper agreed.

“It’s not hit his hand, it has hit his face.

“He’s got a fat lip from it. I thought it was poor refereeing today, not taking any credit away from Millwall but that’s the way it goes.

“Solly is one of our best players - a leader - so it was very disappointing to lose him.

“As I said, it was never a sending off. 

“You’ll see it back on the highlights.”

Henderson also claimed the outcome might have been different had the Addicks kept XI men on the field. 

He said: “It’s disappointing to finish with ten men because I really think we could have had a go if we kept it to eleven. 

“He’s an honest lad, Solly, and he’s came out and said its hit him in the face, so I believe him. 

“Poor decisions - they’ve really annoyed me. Poor, poor refereeing today.” 

Millwall had placed their visitors under pressure from the first whistle in order to extend their long unbeaten derby record and boost their survival hopes.

Henderson admitted: “It just seemed one attack after another, we held out for so long. 

“It’s just disappointing to get so far.

“The two goals were very good goals, they probably deserved something out the game.”

He added: “I personally felt that myself and Roger (Johnson) were going to deal with any long balls into the box. 

“I know they bought that big Maierhofer on but it was not a problem because anytime they put it into the box, me and Roger were coming.

“The two goals turn out to be good finishes, the second goal especially.”

Friday was the Dubliner’s first experience of a south-east London derby and the keeper was impressed by the atmosphere created by both sets of supporters.

He said, “I’ve played in a Portsmouth v Southampton derby which was massive and this was on a par with it, when we were in the huddle especially. 

“Solly made a great tackle first half and the atmosphere just took off.

“Both sets of supporters were well behaved but I’ve heard our bus is getting a bit of trouble out there!”

Charlton face Fulham at The Valley this evening but Henderson admitted he would need a few days after the Millwall game to get his head in the right place.

“I’ll have to digest this loss first,” he said.

“It’s really hurt me because of the atmosphere from the start. It’s really hurt me personally and the lads in the dressing room. 

“I’ll have to get over this as quick as I can and look forward to Tuesday.”

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