MICHAEL Symes revealed some curious logic from referee Grant Hegley robbed Cherries of a penalty during their League One opener at Charlton on Saturday.

The striker, who was returning following a pre-season groin injury, had an eventful second half after coming on as a substitute for Harry Arter at the Valley.

Symes was in the thick of the action when Addicks midfielder Jose Semedo received a straight red card for a poor challenge on the Cherries debutant.

And he also took centre stage when Cherries were denied a spot kick after his goalbound strike appeared to have been handled by Charlton defender Gary Doherty.

Symes told the Daily Echo: “From my angle, it was going in and he just raised his hand and saved it. I thought it should have been a penalty.

“The ref said it was handball but, that if he was going to give a penalty there, he would have had to give one at the other end when the ball hit Bradders (Lee Bradbury) on the arm.”

While both penalty claims looked good, Cherries also had another spot-kick appeal turned down after Marc Pugh had gone to ground, the official deeming the foul had taken place outside the 18-yard box.

Symes also admitted he sympathised with Semedo and said he would have been disappointed to have seen red had the boot been on the other foot.

“To start with, it was a bad touch by me,” said the 26-year-old. “I was trying to retrieve the ball and he came in. I didn’t think it was that much of a bad tackle. We were both low and it wasn’t as if he went over the top or anything. He did catch me so, whatever the ref says, goes.”

Symes came on as a half-time replacement for Arter with boss Eddie Howe’s decision to switch formations resulting in a vastly-improved showing from Cherries.

However, despite enjoying the better of the second half, Cherries were left to rue a poor first-half display with Akpo Sodje grabbing the only goal of the game after 22 minutes.

Cherries will be hoping to take their second-half performance to St Mary’s tomorrow when they meet neighbours Southampton in the first round of the Carling Cup.

Boss Howe said: “As a professional footballer, if you have lost, you are going to be down. I want and expect that. But it’s important we bounce back in the right way.”