Neil Harris and his grey track suited staff would have enjoyed the second-half at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing to first half goals from Conor Gallagher and Jonathan Leko, the Bluebirds fought back to take a point in a thrilling game that finished 2-2.
Personnel wise, Deji Oshilaja replaced the suspended Darren Pratley at the base of the diamond, and Erhun Oztumer got a rare start at the tip.
The Addicks went ahead after 13 minutes. Macauley Bonne – who had another fine game – made a good run down the right. His ball in was miscued by Leko, but Gallagher was on hand to sweep it home for the opener.
There were more injury woes for Lee Bowyer midway through the half, when Josh Cullen had to be stretchered off with an ankle ligament injury.
Three minutes before the interval, Leko doubled Charlton’s advantage. Another slick move down the right involving Adam Matthews and Bonne saw the ball switched to Oztumer.
The diminutive midfielder played in Leko who beat Neil Etheridge.
But it was a different story after the break. Cardiff had a glorious chance to halve the arrears just three minutes after the restart.
Ben Purrington was punished for grappling with Callum Paterson in the area, but Dillon Phillips dived to his right to save Junior Hoilett’s poorly struck penalty.
The respite was short lived however. Four minutes later, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing took advantage when the Addicks failed to clear their lines.
The visitors completed their comeback 17 minutes from time when substitute, Lee Tomlin, stroked home Mendez-Laing’s pull back.
So another frustrating afternoon for Bowyer. Another two points squandered, and another long term injury to deal with.
Charlton have now gone five games without a win, and have won just two of their last eleven encounters.
With the mounting injury crisis, these are worrying times for Bowyer. Here are his post match thoughts:
“It’s disappointing because you can’t be two goals up at home at half-time and come away with one point. For me, that’s not good enough.
“But, on the positive side, the players have given me everything and we haven’t been beaten against a good Cardiff side.
“Let’s not forget that they were in the Premier League last season. They’ve got some good players.
“I think we started a bit slowly, they were probably the better side until we scored, then we settled down, grew in confidence, started moving the ball better.
“We had to be patient because we’re a footballing side, we’re not someone that just goes from back to front, so yeah we had to be patient, but I thought we took control of the game.”They had to change to match us up at half-time and unfortunately, we just didn’t get that third goal.
“We created enough to score that time and time again, but it’s just that final pass and taking care of the ball in the final third. Just got a bit sloppy in the second half and that cost us.””
Charlton: Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce,Purrington, Oshilaja, Cullen (Morgan 55’), Gallagher, Otzumer; Leko (Doughty 79’), Bonne.
Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Solly, Sarr, Davison.
Goals: Gallagher 13, Leko 42.
Booked: Bonne 90 (foul).
Cardiff City: Etheridge,; Peltier, Nelson, Flint, Bennett; Bacuna, Pack, Mendez-Laing, Paterson (Vaulks 79), Hoilett (Tomlin 67); Madine (Bogle 67).
Subs not used: Smithies, Morrison, Vaulks, Murphy, Coxe.
Goals: Mendez-Laing 52, Tomlin 73.
Booked: Madine 58 (diving), Peltier 81(foul), Tomlin 85 (dissent).
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).
Attendance: 16,011 (1,673 Cardiff).