An 80th-minute goal from Louis Appéré limited the Addicks to a point on the road, as they drew 1-1 at Northampton Town on Saturday afternoon.
Charlton came into the game with their confidence high on the back of four games unbeaten and their first win under Nathan Jones.
That confidence was apparent right from the off as the away side got off to the perfect start. In the 4th minute, Rarmani Edmonds-Green took the ball out of defence and played a ball in behind for Tennai Watson.
The wing-back’s cross was fielded by Jon Guthrie, but the captain’s clearance hit teammate Patrick Brough and fell to Daniel Kanu. The striker was not able to get a shot away but the ball fell back to Watson, who laid it back for Karoy Anderson, and the young midfielder took a touch before firing a left-foot shot at goal.
The effort may have been heading in anyway, but took a wicked deflection of Shaun McWilliams and found its way past Louie Moulden to give Anderson his second goal in as many games.
It was the perfect start for the Addicks, who kept their foot on the gas. In the 18th minute they went close again, Conor Coventry’s cross from the right whistling just over the heads of Kanu and Thierry Small inside the six-yard box.
Small would trouble the Cobblers’ defence again in the 35th minute when the ball came back to him from his own corner, and he struck a left-foot shot straight at Moulden from inside the box on the right.
Five minutes later, Moulden was called into action once more after the Addicks hit Northampton on the break. After a free-kick from Mitch Pinnock was cleared, Coventry fed Alfie May on the right. The striker shot towards the near post, but his effort was tipped wide by the Cobblers’ goalkeeper.
It was an impressive first half from Charlton, but they were slightly more subdued in the second period.
In a scrappy 45 minutes, Northampton had the better of the half-chances early on. In the 57th minute, a Marc Leonard cross from the right was headed well over by Kieron Bowie. Then, a minute later, Bowie’s ball down the line for Pinnock allowed the latter to shoot from a tight angle, but his effort hit the side netting.
It was a half with few chances, right up until the Addicks went within inches of doubling their lead with 20 minutes remaining when Coventry’s cross from deep found May eight yards out. The striker was unmarked and did not even had to jump, but was unfortunate to see his header cannon back off the post.
Suddenly the game exploded into life again, and the visitors went close again four minutes later. Another wonderful ball from Coventry found Watson in behind, but his pull-back was just in front of Freddie Ladapo and was put behind by Sam Sherring.
But there was an unexpected sting in the tail for the Addicks. Northampton had barely had an attack since the hour mark, but they were given a route back into the game when Harry Isted took a heavy touch inside his area.
Sam Hoskins went to close him down, and Isted managed to hook the ball away but only as far as Louis Appéré, and just as he did at the Valley in January, the Scot claimed a late goal, rolling the ball into the empty net.
It was a cruel blow for Charlton, and it might have got even worse when Jack Sowerby lined up a shot from distance, but his effort went just over.
The game finished 1-1 and after the Addicks’ dominance, the hosts were more than happy with the point. Next up for Nathan Jones’ side is a third consecutive away game against Cheltenham Town.
Charlton: Isted; Edmonds-Green, Thomas, Gillesphey; T.Watson (Hector 87), Dobson (c), Coventry, Anderson, Small; Kanu (Ladapo 68), May (Campbell 87)
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Edun, Bakinson, Asiimwe
Goal: Anderson 4
Assist: T.Watson 4
Booked: Coventry 71 (foul on Leonard), Edmonds-Green 90+2 (foul on Leonard)
Northampton Town: Moulden; Willis (Fox 46), Sherring, Guthrie (c), Brough; McWilliams (Sowerby 63), Hondermarck, Leonard (Monthé 90+6); Bowie (Appéré 59), Pinnock, Simpson (Hoskins 59)
Subs (not used): Moore, Dadge
Goals: Appéré 80
Booked: Simpson 33 (foul on Dobson), Brough 76 (foul on T.Watson)
Attendance: 7,710 (1,469 from Charlton)
Referee: Martin Woods
