West Ham United 3 v 1 Charlton Athletic

Barclays Premiership

IN THE grand scheme of things the sending off of newcomer Djimi Traore against West Ham proved the turning point as Charlton slipped to a 3-1 defeat on the opening day of the season, writes Gary Haines.

But head coach Ian Dowie insisted more than one red card should have been brandished by Howard Webb at Upton Park.

The head coach was flabbergasted no action was taken against Welsh defender Danny Gabbidon after he handled a cross from Bryan Hughes with Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink primed to score behind him.

Despite the visitors eventually winning a penalty, which Darren Bent converted to give the Addicks a 15th-minute lead, Dowie was mystified no action was taken against the defender shortly before seeing Traore sent packing by Webb for two bookings in rapid succession.

A second-half double from Bobby Zamora turned the match in West Ham's favour before substitute Carlton Cole added extra gloss at the end.

Dowie said: "I'd like someone to tell me what a goalscoring opportunity is. Was Jimmy about to head the ball into an empty net? Yes he was.

"It stunned me. I don't want to get into a habit of talking about referees but I'm just asking was it a goalscoring opportunity or not?"

Dowie also believed Traore was a little unlucky to pick up his first booking for a challenge on the impressive Lee Bowyer.

He said: "He was booked so it was a stupid challenge from Djimi but his first one wasn't a booking.

"Once you're booked you can't block a free kick.

"I'm not complaining about the sending off because when you are booked, you don't stick you foot out at a free kick.

"He's disappointed and it's given us a mountain to climb."

However, Dowie was happy with his players' performance in adversity and will take plenty of positives from the game.

He said: "We defended manfully for the rest of the game and made them play direct and on the positive side I thought we forced a number of issues.

"We didn't defend two crosses well before they scored their last goal in the last knockings.

"Are we disappointed with the result? Absolutely. Are we disappointed with the performance? No.

"Apart from first 15 minutes when we didn't get out of the traps I thought there were lots of positives. It was never a 3-1."

He added: "It's a good place to play here when they get a head of steam up but I can't be anything but proud of the effort my players gave me today."

MATCH FACTS: CHARLTON: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Traore, Ambrose (Sorondo, 29), Holland, Faye, Hughes (Reid, 71), Hasselbaink (M Bent, 65), D Bent.

SUBS NOT USED: Myhre, Rommedhal.

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