A first penalty for 18 months was enough to secure a point for the Addicks at Oxford on Saturday. There was a late disappointment for Russell Slade, when Harry Lennon was dismissed for receiving a second yellow card.
Slade made one change from the team that drew at Scunthorpe on Tuesday, Lennon coming in for his first game of the season for concussion vitim, Jason Pearce.
Fit again duo, Ricky Holmes and Lee Novak, were given places on the bench. Slade opted to retain rhe 4-5-1 shape he used at Scunthorpe.
The game started brightly, with Charlton on the front foot. Oxford quickly responded, and Declan Rudd pulled off a fantastic save from point blank range to deny Chey Dunkley after five minutes.
The Addicks went deperately close four minutes before the interval. Lennon sent Ademola Lookman scampering clear, but Simon Eastwood’s save foiled the youngster.
Charlton went ahead early in the scond half. A Lookman free-kick from the right was inexplicably handled in the box by Phil Edwards.
Johnnie Jackson stepped up to take the spot-kick. He sent Eastwood the wrong way before stroking the ball into the net.
Yoni Buyens, against Reading at The Valley in March of last year, was the last time the Addicks scored a goal from a penalty.
The game continued to swing one way, then the other, and Michael Appleton’s side drew level midway through the second period.
Oxford broke away and the ball was fed through to Chris Maguire in the box. The striker picked his spot and drilled the ball home.
The visitors should have been in front again three minutes later. Substitute, Ricky Holmes, chipped a sumptious ball up, Josh Magennis thundered a header goalwards, but was foiled by Eastwoods’ fingertips.
Lennon received a second yellow in stoppage time, and will be unavailable for Tuesday’s clash with Oldham at The Valley.
Rochdale will be the visitors to South London on Saturday. Charlton need six points from the two games if they are to make a significant move up the table.
Charlton: Rudd; Solly, Bauer, Lennon, Fox; Foley (Novak 71), Ulvestad, Crofts, Jackson (Botaka 81), Lookman (Holmes 63); Magennis.
Subs (not used): Phillips, Konsa, Chicksen, Ajose.
Booked: Lennon 51 (foul).
Sent off: Lennon 90 (foul, second bookable offence).
Goal: Jackson 54 (pen).
Oxford: Eastwood; Edwards, Raglan, Dunkley, Skarz (Ruffels 90); Taylor (Hemmings 60), E Rothwell (Macdonald 77), Lundstrom, Johnson; Sercombe, Maguire.
Subs (not used): Buchel, Long, Roberts, Ledson.
Goal: Maguire 67.
Booked: Edwards 53 (handball), Hemmings 90 (dissent).
Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).
Attn: 8,847 (1,476 Charlton).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic