FOOTBALLERS and their managers should, on occasions, be forgiven for losing their composure. Having Matt Messias officiate your match might be one of them.

The York schoolmaster upset Charlton manager Alan Curbishley by rejecting appeals for penalties when Martin Djetou clearly handled Luke Young’s cross and then Alain Goma wrestled Jason Euell to the ground inside the area.

Curbishley said: “After Laurent Robert’s dive for Newcastle against us recently, the Bolton manager Sam Allardyce rang and told me that I wasn’t making enough fuss.

“He said I was too nice about it and said that when referees get it wrong you’ve got to rip into them.

“So I’m going to say that the referee was poor and we’ve been hurt by him after he turned down two good penalty shouts.

“My players will be disappointed if I’m not publicly critical of the referee’s performance.

“People in the game say these things even themselves out during the season, but I’m not so sure because we’re always on the receiving end.”

He added: “Quite honestly, I can’t believe we’ve lost to a penalty and a wonder shot because the rest was all us. Now we’ve got to win our two remaining home games, starting with Leicester on Saturday, to give ourselves a chance of doing anything.”

Charlton had Fulham’s Edwin van der Sar producing a reflex save from Jason Euell in the first minute as the game began at a frantic pace.

In the third minute, Luis Boa Morte eluded Jonathan Fortune and was inches off target with a 25-yard drive. A minute later Fortune atoned with a precision tackle that stopped Collins John as he shaped to score.

Then Hermann Hreidarsson surged through to play a perfect pass to Euell, who should have done better.

Graham Stuart and Claus Jensen also went close before Fulham took an 18th-minute lead. Hreidarsson’s mistake let in Boa Morte who was sent tumbling by goalkeeper Dean Kiely. The excellent Steed Malbranque gave Kiely no chance from the spot.

Both teams continued to create, but Fulham always looked the likely winners. Kiely produced a magnificent save to stop Malbranque in the 33rd minute after the Frenchman evaded three challenges.

Midfielder Sean Davis, who had replaced Bobby Petta at half-time, sealed Fulham’s victory in the 64th minute with a searing drive from 30 yards that left Kiely clutching at air.

After that, the outcome was never in doubt. Charlton are now faced with the task of halting their traditional end of season slump.

As Curbishley remarked, not to finish in the top nine - which would be their best ever Premiership place - would be a crushing disappointment. He was putting it mildly.