Lee Bowyer has hit out at Shrewsbury’s “time-wasting” in Charlton’s 1-0 defeat in the play-off semi-final first leg.
The Shrews drew first blood thanks to Jon Nolan’s 80th-minute goal.
Paul Hurst’s men angered Addicks fans when goalkeeper Dean Henderson appeared to take his time with goal-kicks from start to finish.
“They’ve got a goal advantage because they were wasting time,” said Bowyer. “They were taking five minutes to take a goal kick from the beginning.
“The game has only started and you’re wasting time? It’s going to be difficult for sure because they are a good team - I just believe my team is better.
“I respect what the manager has done and what the team has done. They finished third, that’s not a fluke from 40-odd games.
“They’re a good team with a certain way of playing, I know it but you have to compete against them. It’s not like we didn't compete and fight, everyone gave me everything. It was a good strike but we’ve still got another 90 minutes and so much can happen.”
Carlton Morris was shown a yellow card for a very late challenge on Jason Pearce in the first-half.
Bowyer wanted to see the striker sent off after two dangerous high boots on Patrick Bauer and Ezri Konsa.
“I don’t believe in doing things like that [time-wasting],” he added. “If you’re 1-0 up with ten minutes to go, I understand that.
“But not from the beginning, you have 180 minutes to play but it is what it is - that was their game plan and they can go home happy.
“The referee could've done a hell of a lot more on a lot of occasions. How Morris didn't get sent off is beyond me.
“I’ve been in the game long enough now and I’ve received enough yellow cards to know when it’s a yellow card and when it’s not a yellow card.
“What’s the difference between Morris’ challenge on Patrick Bauer? He’s nearly taken his head off. He’s done the same to Ezri - and he doesn't get booked.
“Morris takes Pearce out and then he gets a yellow card. I don't want to see anyone sent off but if you're going to book him for one foul, you've got to book him for the other one.
“He [the referee] said it wasn't dangerous - they're both exactly the same. Someone did it to Harry Kane and they got sent off.
“I want it to be 11 v 11 - I want it to be fair - but it has to be consistent. That was the only disappointment - I thought the ref did well apart from that.
“The thing that bothers me is when there’s a blatant yellow card for one challenge and exactly the same challenge should be a yellow card but it’s not. It should be consistent.”
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