Curle unimpressed by Charlton's 'showmanship' in trying to get Racic sent off

Keith Curle insisted his side should have had a first-half spot-kick and he also accused Charlton Athletic of 'showmanship' in trying to get defender Luka Racic sent off during Saturday's defeat at the the PTS.

Racic was harshly booked for a clean tackle on Paul Smyth 15 minutes in and the Charlton man seemed determined to turn it into a red card after again going down theatrically later in the first-half.

Referee Sam Allison, in charge of his first ever League One fixture, was surrounded by Charlton players on more than one occasion and that did not impress Curle, who also felt his side should have had a penalty for a foul on Danny Rose.

"It should have been a penalty," said Curle. "I thought, as an experienced group as they are, they worked the referee very well. They bought some free-kicks with their showmanship and reactions to contact. Going down with a squeal attracts the attention of the referee and I think they earned a few free-kicks.

"The lad Smyth got Luka booked when Luka's won the ball and the kid is rolling around - he had nothing more than a twisted sock! Then, anytime Luka went anywhere near them, they're all screaming, they're all getting into the referee, 'he's been booked! He's been booked!' and that's not something I like, but I understand it.

"I'm still a little bit confused with Luka's booking because the fourth official said he went through the back of him. I'm there thinking, well, no, he hasn't gone through the back of him. He's gone in at the side and won the ball cleanly and I didn't think tackling from the side was an offence.

"Then, the second one, there was nothing in that challenge. Luka won the ball but, again, the reaction of their players was as if there was contact. I know he didn't make contact. I wouldn't say it's the horrible side of the game but it's part and parcel of the game in terms of trying to influence the referee that there may have been contact."