HUDDERSFIELD Town's Alan Lee believes Keith Southern’s red card at Charlton should be rescinded.
Town were forced to play for 55 minutes at a numerical disadvantage after Surrey referee Lee Collins harshly dismissed the former Blackpool midfielder following a challenge with Michael Morrison.
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It was only the third red card of Southern’s 394-game career and leaves him facing a three-match suspension, starting away to Middlesbrough tomorrow.
Lee, who made a big impact as a substitute in the 1-1 draw, said: "We definitely merited a point. We were the better side and the team playing football until the sending off, which changed the game.
"I think it’s quite an obvious one to be rescinded. We’ve looked at the videos and there is absolutely nothing in it – it’s not even a free-kick in my view.
"The tackle was side on. He got the ball. Let’s say for argument’s sake he didn’t get the ball. It still wasn’t a dangerous tackle – his studs weren’t showing, his feet weren’t off the ground. He slid in from the side. Goodness knows what the ref was thinking.
"I think even their players were puzzled by it.
"It should be overturned, but then again, I found myself in the same situation last year (Lee was sent off during the 2-1 home win over Notts County) and it wasn’t.
"You just never know who is looking at these things."
Lee continued: "Our lads dug in and battled. It was a monumental effort to come back from behind.
"It was all about team spirit and keeping going until the end."
Click below to see Huddersfield Town fans celebrating Adam Clayton's late penalty goal
Charlton manager Chris Powell, whose side led through Rob Hulse’s 60th-minute goal, said he had no complaints about the 88th-minute penalty which gave Town their route back into the game through Adam Clayton.
"I think it was a penalty, but perhaps the referee wouldn’t have given it if he hadn’t sent Keith Southern off," said Powell.
"After going in front, there was a pivotal moment when Ricardo Fuller could have made it 2-0, and from there we would definitely have gone on to win.
"Then, after they had equalised, we had an excellent chance when Danny Green put in a superb ball for Rob Hulse’s header, but Alex Smithies did his job."
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