Harford claims crucial penalty decision in Charlton defeat was 'a disgrace'

Mick Harford applauds the huge travelling support at Chartlon (Picture: Liam Smith)

Harry Cornick had put Town in front after 15 minutes but early in the second half the Addicks were awarded a spot-kick when Lyle Taylor went to ground without much contact from Sonny Bradley.

The striker converted the penalty and then scored the third, two minutes after Igor Vetokele had made it 2-1.

It was Town’s first defeat in exactly six months and Harford said of referee Gavin Ward’s decision for the equaliser: “The penalty is an absolute disgrace in terms of what has been given, in terms of the contact that was in the box. In my opinion it changed the face of the game.

“The penalty was never a penalty. It’s easy for me to sit here and say that bit it was a big mistake. The two other goals were just errors from us.”

Charlton thought they should have had a penalty moments earlier, when Jonny Williams was challenged by Jack Stacey and comparing the two, Harford said: “I don’t know whether he evened it up at all. I’ve got no idea how that referee works but I just thought, without a shred of a doubt, that he made a wrong decision. I’m allowed to say that, surely?”

Town were comfortably second best after half time and Harford, who was awarded the league one manager of the month award in the week, said: “It was chalk and cheese in the first half and second half.

"It was the best and worst I’ve seen of us this season. The second half was probably the worst performance in terms of in possession.”

It was also Harford’s first defeat in his second spell as Town manager, 10 years to the day that he was in charge when Luton were relegated out of the Football League.

This result won’t feel anywhere near as desperate as that day, as the Hatters are still top of league one and five points clear with four games to go off the back of a record-breaking 28-game unbeaten streak.

But the Hatters chief said: “Overall we’re very disappointed but the players have been on a magnificent run. I can’t sit here and berate them or criticise them because they’re a fantastic bunch and they’ll bounce back, 100 per cent.”