Keegan blasts ref as City denied at death

Manchester City 1 Charlton 1

Leading by Robbie Fowler's opener, referee Phil Walton in only his third Premiership game first awarded a debatable 84th-minute free-kick against Blues skipper Sylvain Distin for his challenge on Scott Parker. Then, when Radostin Kishishev curled over the set-piece, Walton ruled Joey Barton had handled inside the penalty area.

To make matters worse, David Seaman saved Paolo di Canio's spot-kick, only for the veteran Italian to tap the rebound into an empty net.

"The referee bought the free-kick," blasted the City boss. "That was unlucky and the penalty was very harsh.

"He gave it very quickly and in the end it's cost us two points and a victory."

Although Keegan was at pains to stress he didn't want to heap all the blame on Walton's shoulders, it was difficult not to feel some sympathy for the long-suffering City chief.

An excellent second half save by Seaman from Scott Parker's angled drive looked like securing the Blues' first three-point haul since November 1 until the game took its dramatic late twist.

Fowler had put City in front just before the interval when he took advantage of Nicolas Anelka's mazy dribble, lashing home the loose ball that had bobbled up off Chris Perry.

It was the former Liverpool striker's third goal in four matches and the way he despatched his left-footed volley was a reminder of his Anfield halcyon days.

Cruelly, it was not enough and City's slide down the table continued. They now lie 14th, just three points above the drop zone and take on third-bottom Portsmouth in a crucial encounter at Fratton Park on Saturday.

There is still the possibility that Eyal Berkovic could appear for the home side, although it is thought his impending transfer to Harry Redknapp's struggling side due to be completed in the next 48 hours may have a clause inserted preventing the Israeli from making his debut against his current club.

That is of minor concern to Keegan though, who must somehow find a way of lifting his team, who suffered a further blow when it was revealed Claudio Reyna will be out of action for a fortnight after pulling a calf muscle midway through the first-half.

"I am in danger of repeating myself now," said the former England chief.

"If something can go wrong for us at the moment, it is doing. Our overall performance tonight was good and but we need a win to get our confidence back. We just have to keep going."

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley diplomatically claimed he had not seen the penalty incident, although he did point to a plausible claim his side had in the first half when Jonatan Johansson appeared to be dragged back by Richard Dunne.

The result keeps his side in fourth spot, two points in front of Liverpool and Newcastle and Curbishley claimed the Addicks were well worth their point. "We deserved to get back into it because we had the best chances," he said.

"At the time we got the penalty I was just sitting there thinking Kevin Keegan was about to get the luck he has not had recently because we had tried just about everything.

"City have been playing well recently without getting a result but I did feel the game would turn for us if we didn't concede at the start of the second half."

MAN CITY: Seaman, Sommeil, Dunne, Distin, Sinclair, Reyna (Barton 20), Sibierski (Wright-Phillips 74), Bosvelt, Tarnat, Anelka, Fowler (Macken 71).

CHARLTON: Kiely, Kishishev, Fish, Perry, Hreidarsson, Holland, Euell (Stuart 81), Parker, Konchesky (Cole 61), Johansson (Jensen 74), Di Canio.

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).