LUCK SMILES ON TINDALL!

Kelly let off-hook before late assist

- Jack Bristow

CHRIS Mepham rescued a point for Bournemouth in the fifth minute of injury time, but manager Jason Tindall admitted his side were lucky not to have played the majority of the match with 10 men.

Central defender Lloyd Kelly appeared to rake his studs down the leg of Ismaila Sarr in an ugly looking challenge after barely a minute, and was relieved when referee Tim Robinson showed him only a yellow card.

That decision proved crucial for Tindall’s side, who recovered from losing an 11th-minute goal to Stipe Perica to salvage a point in the 95th minute of an absorbing contest.

Mepham turned home Kelly’s shot as it was flying wide to maintain Bournemouth’s unbeaten start to the Championship season.

Tindall said: “I’ve only just seen the challenge and I saw it in slow motion. I’ve got to be honest and say that, on another day, it could have been a red card. Lloyd’s not that type of character or player where he will purposely go in with any malice or intent.