Neither Karl Robinson nor Lee Bowyer think Chris Solly should have been sent off in Charlton’s defeat to Oxford United, in a game which saw both teams reduced to 10 men.

The defender, who was originally on the bench, was shown a straight red card by referee Darren Drysdale for his late challenge on Jamie Mackie.

However, both Charlton and Oxford bosses believe the 74th minute decision was the wrong one by the official the Addicks might appeal Solly’s impending suspension.

READ: Bowyer: Charlton's top two chances are over after Oxford defeat

“From what I see it didn't look like a red to me,” Robinson said. “I think the reaction of the players might have edged it more towards a red, rather than an orange.

“I didn't think it was a red card, but you'd like to think he'd [Bowyer] appeal those sort of situations and whether the disciplinary board would sanction that you don’t know.

“We know what that board's like.”

In the lead-up to his dismissal, Solly appeared to appeal for a handball on one of the Oxford players after his shot was charged down by three opposition players.

But it was when the effort was blocked inside the penalty area that he immediately ran towards the loose ball before lunging in to win it back, subsequently catching Mackie.

“I was appealing for a handball,” Bowyer said. “I don't know if it hit the lad's arm to be honest, it looked like it for me, but then I guess his [Solly's] natural reaction is trying to win the ball back.

“I don't think it was a red card, I think it was a yellow. I'm sure some of their tackles on our lads today were on par with the tackle that he made but it is what it is, that's what refs do.

“They try and even it up when they have sent someone off, but yeah. You can't change it now.”

READ: Player ratings from Charlton's defeat to Oxford United

Asked whether Charlton will appeal the decision, he added: “We'll have a look at it. I've not seen it [back on the replays], obviously only live, but we'll have a look at it.

“Very rarely do they go against what their first decision is so we'll have to see.”

Meanwhile, Robinson also defended Mr Drysdale after Addicks substitute George Lapslie nearly became the third player to be sent off in the game.

He brought down on-loan Watford striker Jerome Sinclair just outside Charlton’s box before goalkeeper Dillon Phillips thwarted a one-one-one with goalscorer Luke Garbutt.

READ: Report: Oxford 2 Charlton 1 - Addicks' 11-match unbeaten run ends in dramatic fashion

Asked whether Lapslie should have been sent off, Robinson said: “No. He got that bang-on, the referee.

“The ruling is he got the yellow card for the foul and the second yellow, theoretically, to make it a red - if you look at it that way.

“He's denied a goalscoring opportunity, which the advantage gave us the goalscoring opportunity, but actually they decided to give us the opportunity to score rather than using the red card to say he denied a goalscoring opportunity.”

Oxford went down to 10 men when goalkeeper Simon Eastwood was sent off for handling the ball outside his area.