Charlton Athletic 0-1 Reading: George Puscas goal increases pressure on Addicks
- Published
George Puscas' goal was his 15th of the season for Reading
Charlton failed to alleviate their Championship relegation worries as they suffered a frustrating home defeat by Reading.
The Royals made a dream start as George Puscas put them ahead from the penalty spot in the third minute after a foul by Deji Oshilaja.
Chuks Aneke had an equaliser ruled out for offside after half an hour, despite replays appearing to show it should have stood.
The Addicks created more chances than their opponents and had a late penalty appeal of their own turned down as they failed to truly test Rafael Cabral in the Reading goal.
Lee Bowyer's side remain one point and two places above the relegation zone with the sides directly below them still to play.
The win sees Reading consolidate 13th place and means they are almost mathematically safe from relegation, having been third-from-bottom when Mark Bowen took over as manager in mid-October.
Oshilaja error costs Addicks
Charlton could not find an equaliser despite the touchline exhortations of boss Lee Bowyer
Charlton boss Bowyer made five changes to the side that were beaten at promotion-chasing Brentford on Tuesday.
But it was Oshilaja - one of those brought in - that was at fault for what proved to be the winning goal as he bundled over Andy Rinomhota in the box and Reading's Romanian striker Puscas blasted the spot-kick into the middle of the net.
Yakou Meite had two good headed efforts for the Royals before Charlton felt they should have equalised when Aneke reacted quickest to finish well after Aidan McGeady's shot was saved, only for the officials - who did not have the help of VAR - to adjudge he was offside.
However, the near thing seemed to spur Charlton on as Macauley Bonne, Josh Cullen and Aneke all missed the target with efforts before the break.
Bonne had a header easily saved five minutes into the second half, while Darren Pratley just missed making contact with a diving header after good work from Alfie Doughty down the Charlton left as they pressed for an equaliser.
The home side felt they should have had a penalty with five minutes to go as Jake Forster-Caskey went down under a challenge from Jordan Obita, but the referee booked the Addicks substitute for a dive.
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer:
"The officials have cost us the game today, it's plain and simple. Chuks Aneke, his goal is a goal. And I said to the fourth official, 'the linesman can't just guess'.
"You have to be 100 per cent right on these decisions, these are big moments, there are careers on the line.
"If their penalty was a penalty then so was ours, because Jake got dragged to the floor, and it's a penalty.
"Something has to be done, because that wasn't up to scratch, all of them, the ref and the two linesmen."
Reading manager Mark Bowen:
"I felt a bit sorry for Lee Bowyer, it was one of those days when they were screaming for everything, and got nothing.
"There were decisions that I raised my eyebrows at too. Maybe on another day you get a few decisions that they didn't today.
"You hope that these things even out over the season, but obviously it's tough for teams down at the bottom of the table.
"These things have happened to us in the past, and we have to take what we can get."