Cummings strikes late from the spot to keep Peterborough top

Posted Wednesday, August 22, 2018 by PA

Peterborough continued their perfect start to the League One season with a 1-0 victory at Charlton secured by Jason Cummings’ controversial penalty.

The hosts had remained on course for a point until the 89th minute when referee James Linington penalised Lewis Page for his challenge on Ivan Toney. Charlton felt they should have been awarded a penalty for handball just before that.

Amid the Addicks’ fury, Cummings stepped up to score his fourth goal of the season beyond goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, securing Peterborough’s fourth win from four which keeps them top of the league at the end of an evening when they could even have lost.

Amid the hosts’ slow start, in the 20th minute Steve Evans’ team were unfortunate not to take the lead when Ryan Tafazolli’s close-range header beat Phillips, hit the crossbar and was then cleared off the line by Chris Solly.

Charlton then threatened when Albie Morgan, making his full league debut for the club, broke at speed and fed Lyle Taylor, who struck at goal but saw Aaron Chapman save via a deflection.

Their interim manager Lee Bowyer was booked for challenging Linington after the official had consistently been challenged by his opposite number Evans, but Evans was also given a yellow card at half-time for doing so again during the interval.

If Peterborough had deserved to take the lead early in the second half, Charlton also deserved a goal thereafter.

First Siriki Dembele burst clear to go one-on-one with Phillips, who produced a fine save when he shot on goal, and then Colin Daniel worked his way into a promising shooting position before sending his finish wide.

Taylor twice went close as the hosts became the likelier goalscorers, but after Toney avoided a potential penalty for a handball under pressure, he then had a significant hand at the opposite end in Cummings securing all three points.