Sky Bet Championship: Steve Evans unhappy with referee after Charlton draw

Rotherham manager Steve Evans was unhappy with referee Darren Deadman for not awarding a penalty as his side held high-flying Charlton to a 1-1 draw at the New York Stadium.

The Millers earned a point against unbeaten Charlton when Luciano Becchio headed in and could have taken all three points from this Sky Bet Championship encounter 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 when Scott Loach stopped the ball crossing the line after he had failed to hold a Frederic Bulot shot.

But Evans was unhappy that Deadman ignored appeals for handball against Johnnie Jackson.

Evans 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' side who came back into the match after the break and created enough chances to take all three points.

"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 before he could tell if Rotherham should have been awarded a penalty.

Asked if Rotherham should have got a spot kick Peeters said: "I think it could have been. 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.

Pressed about his post-match routine the Charlton boss said: "Next time I will go give him a kiss."

Peeters said he hoped to talk to Evans and explain he had not intended to snub him.

"I will go in his office now, hopefully he has a beer ready for me," he added.

Charlton had gone into the game unbeaten and retained that record in the Championship but only after soaking up a lot of pressure from the home side in the second half.

Gudmundsson opened the securing midway through the first half when his shot deflected off the foot of Paul Green before beating Loach.

Rotherham were on top after the break and were denied an equaliser when Jordan Bowery was flagged offside as he forced the ball home at the far post from Becchio's flick on.

The home side were not to be denied and Becchio scored when he punished Tal Ben Haim for a mistake and laid off to fellow substitute Ben Pringle before heading in his cross at the far post.

But much as the home side pressed they could not grab a winner and were nearly made to pay when Bulot saw his shot saved by Loach at the second attempt.