Neill Collins was frustrated with refereeing decisions and his side’s second half performance as Barnsley lost 2-1 at Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
The Reds thought they should have had penalties for fouls on Devante Cole and John McAtee while they believe Fabio Jalo’s late equaliser was wrongly ruled out for offside.
Head coach Collins said: “Fabio Jalo was a yard on side. The opposite wing-back is about a yard behind.
“It was a great finish. That’s why we brought him on. He will have goals chalked off in his career, it was just frustrating.
“If it got to 2-2 it would have been really interesting.
“We should have had a stonewall penalty. Devante Cole was through and about to shoot, he was bundled over. How we didn’t get it I am not quite sure.
“John McAtee is through, setting himself to shoot and fouled.”
Barnsley created several chances in the first half but tailed off after the break, having conceded two goals to division top-scorer Alfie May before half-time.
Collins said: “We’re very disappointed. It was there for us. We know Charlton were rejuvenated. But the first half performance was really good, we got punished ruthlessly and we didn’t do the same.
“At half-time we should have been in the lead but we missed opportunities.
“Alfie May showed why he is the top-scorer with two great finishes.
“In the second half, we were disjointed and didn’t manage moments as well as we could have.
“We stopped doing the things that have given us success and became anxious, we have done that a bit more recently.”
Midfielder Adam Phillips added: “The gameplan worked in the first half, we created a lot of chances. Their striker is a good player, who had two chances and put them in the top corner.
“The game got stretched in the second half but I think we were in it. We got stuck in their gameplan in the second half, the game was really open which doesn’t suit us.
“The frustration from the first half carried into the second. They changed tactics after we were quite dominant. It’s something to work on.
“We should have had another goal and there were a few controversial penalty decisions. But sometimes they go for you. Sometimes you need luck and today we didn’t have it.”
Liam Roberts conceded and saved a penalty in injury-time.
Collins said: “It’s a good save but he shouldn’t have been in that position, he got caught.”
Cole missed two big chances as his goalless run stretched to 12 games.
“Any striker, especially one who scored a lot of goals, will miss chances. He’s going through a period where he is not scoring after a period when everything he hit went in. It’s a matter of time until he puts the ball in the back of net. The biggest thing is he got chances. When he’s not getting them, it’s a bigger problem.”
Collins left midfielder Herbie Kane on the bench.
“Herbie has been outstanding for us. I don’t think I’ve ever left him out before but I thought Jon (Russell) has done really well and that was the best team to try to win the game.
“We will need Herbie Kane because he’s been so important.”
