Starting the New Year at home to league leaders Coventry City was always going to be a tough challenge but Charlton Athletic picked up a deserved point in their Sky Bet Division Championship encounter.
Despite their last gasp defeat at Portsmouth on Boxing Day, Charlton manager Nathan Jones named an unchanged team including substitutes. However, Frank Lampard, manager of the visitors felt that he needed to rotate his squad in a busy period and made six adjustments to the Sky Blues team that were beaten last time out at home to Ipswich Town.
Only two minutes had passed when the visitors went ahead. Milan van Ewijk lost his man on the right wing and he crossed low for Ellis Simms who met it first time with a crisp strike sending it into the bottom corner.
There might have been a quick-fire equaliser when Luke Berry clipped it through cleverly to Miles Leaburn. Carl Rushworth read the danger and came out sharply but still needed to dive to beat out Leaburn’s shot which looked destined to go inside the far upright.
Tyreece Campbell then tried his luck with a lob from wide inside the penalty area, however, Rushworth was well placed and pushed it over. Haji Wright was then given space at the other end but his attempt to place it in the bottom corner went past the post.
Berry looked to be through for the Addicks just before half time, however, Joel Latibeaudiere timed his tackle from behind perfectly to nick it away and Rushworth tidied up.
Neither side made changes at the break and the visitors had a great chance to extend their lead when Wright got in behind the hosts’ back three, however, Thomas Kaminski made a great block. Jamie Allen was first to the rebound and the Charlton goalkeeper was up quickly to make an even better save. It again came out to Allen but with bodies in his way he could only fire into the side netting.
An acrobatic Berry effort flew wide then Joe Rankin-Costello went on a mazy run only to be denied when a Coventry defender’s outstretched leg diverted it wide of the near post.
Just over twenty minutes remained when Charlton scored a deserved equaliser. Charlie Kelman shrugged off an attempted tackle down the left and eased in on goal before attempting to place it in the bottom corner. Although Rushworth got down well, he pushed it out rather than away and Rankin-Costello was first to the rebound to fire home.
Looking to show why they’re clear at the top, Coventry upped the tempo. Kaminski saved from Wright before they almost got caught on the counter attack and Rushworth had to get down well to hold on to an effort from Charlton substitute Harvey Knibbs.
Jake Rudoni blasted well wide for the Sky Blues then Liam Kitching had a couple of chances, first firing over and then having a shot beaten out by Kaminski. The Charlton stopper was again called into action when claiming an Ellis header that was directed straight at him.
On the break, Leaburn shot wide of the far post before Wright rippled the side netting with a drive from the edge of the penalty area.
One more chance fell for the visitors in stoppage time but Bobby Thomas blasted his effort high and wide.
Despite Coventry’s late half chances, the Addicks were good value for their morale boosting point and more performances like that will move them quickly up the table.
Charlton Athletic: Kaminski; Burke, Jones, Bell; Coventry, Rankin-Costello (Carey 84); Bree, Berry (Knibbs 61), Kelman (Gillesphy 88), T. Campbell (Olaofe 88); Leaburn. Subs not used: Mannion, Docherty, Apter, Gough, Fullah.
Goalscorers: Rankin-Costello (69)
Yellow cards: Burke (27 foul), Knibbs (73 foul), Bree (90+5)
Coventry City: Rushworth; van Ewijk, Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching, Kesler-Hayden (Angel Brau 62); Grimes; Allen, Eccles (Rudoni 62), Wright (Mason-Clark 86); Simms. Subs not used: Wilson, Sakamoto, Bidwell, Woolfenden, Andrews.
Goalscorers: Simms (3)
Yellow cards: Kitching (15 foul), van Ewijk (43 delay of restart)
Referee: Josh Smith
Assistant Referees: Sam Lewis and Daniel Leach
Fourth Official: Charles Breakspear
Attendance: 20,789 including 3,016 away supporters.