2 Points Dropped?

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - Charlton Athletic 1.


Before the game, I would have snatched a 1-1 draw from whoever was offering it.
(It's a  stupid concept really, though I'm sure FIFA are working on a way to organise games so their 'favourites' get results without playing).

After only a few minutes of play, everything looked rosy.

Racon had buried the ball into the Brighton net but the referee had spotted something in the build up and a penalty was given instead.

I'd like to be able to say more but unfortunately the £21 worth of 'view' made it impossible to tell what was going on.

The picture above was taken as Jackson was scoring the penalty at the other end.
Happy days soon turned to even happier days as Calderon was sent off for a strong tackle, though personally it didn't look anything more than a yellow card offence.

Anyinsah had gone off after being injured in the build up to Racon's 'goal' and Charlton sorely missed him.

We needed a forward to be strong up front and bully the Brighton defenders with his bulk and speed.
Unfortunately we got his replacement Lee Martin who was far too lightweight.

Soon the game turned into a farce for those of us watching from behind Rob Elliot's goal.

The fog was so deep, I lost sight of the ball many times.
Once that had happened, I then spent the next 20 seconds trying to find it again.
Often I had been searching in completely the wrong sector of the pitch!

I believe the referee thought he'd made an error with the sending off as he seemed very keen on 'evening up' throughout the rest of the first half.

The home crowd quickly realised there was an easy way to get a free kick.
Appeal loudly whenever a Charlton player won a tackle or header and you'd get rewarded.

I can't have been the only one who spotted this pattern.

One of the extremely 'dodgy' decisions lead directly to the Brighton equaliser.
A header was won, the crowd shouted, the free kick was given and soon the ball was looping over Rob Elliot and nestling in the back of the Charlton net.

For most of the second half, I only know what was happening in the Brighton penalty area.
The fog had returned with a vengeance.
I could just pick out Elliot's black shorts in the distance but the goal was missing.

Late on, Paul Benson had two chances to win it for Charlton.

A tap in at the far post squirmed over his foot and a header that beat the keeper was saved on the line.

It sounded like our old friend Kish had a chance for Brighton at the other end but again, I couldn't see it.

Two points dropped? Maybe.
Were we happy to get a point at the league leaders home?
You bet.

A Casual Rating
The view gets a minus score, if that is possible.
 Jackson wins the Lacoste polo shirt for being brave enough to whack in the penalty, despite missing his last effort at Brentford.
I don't feel qualified to offer the Primark novelty slogan tee shirt this time as I missed most of the action due to the fog.

Ref Watch.
Is it possible to win a penalty and have one of the opposition sent off and still believe the referee is a complete and utter homer?
In this case, I'm sorry to say it was.