Charlton secure excellent point at St Mary's

Southampton 1 Charlton 1

It was that man again, Sonny Carey, who scored another vital goal as the Addicks secured an excellent point at the St Mary’s Stadium against Southampton.

Ross Stewart gave Saints the lead at the start of the second half but Nathan Jones’ side dug in and got back in the game before withstanding some late pressure to secure a well-earned draw.

Jones handed a Charlton debut to Kenyan international Collins Sinchenje who joined the Addicks on the final day of the January transfer window. Tyreece Campbell also started as Charlton lined up in what looked more like a 3-2-box-1 formation rather than the regularly used 3-5-2.

The home side had plenty of possession in the first half and while they threatened, Charlton were able to keep them at bay. The dangerous Leo Scienza had a third-minute volley cleared off the line by Lloyd Jones and Ryan Manning’s shot from the edge of the area rattled the crossbar in the 27^th minute.

Saints’ best chance of the first half fell to James Bree, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Charlton, who headed over at the back post from close range.

For Charlton, Carey dragged a left-footed shot just wide of goal from 25 yards in the 36^th minute, while Campbell and Luke Chambers both had breaks down the left wing but were unable to find teammates in the penalty area. 

The home side took the lead three minutes into the second half, when Scienza chipped a cross into the box and Stewart found the net with a wonderful flicked header giving Thomas Kaminski no chance. 

The Addicks had a goal ruled out shortly afterwards. Jack Stephens wasn’t able to get a full head on the ball which then hit Lyndon Dykes, who was through on goal. The striker turned and shot past goalkeeper Daniel Peretz but referee John Busby blew his whistle and gave a free kick for what he viewed as a handball by the Charlton striker.

Nathan Jones' side had their equaliser in the 67^th minute, Amari’i Bell made good ground down the left wing and cut inside onto his right foot and fed Greg Docherty. The Charlton skipper took a touch to lure the Southampton defence in before passing sideways to Carey, on the edge of the area, who drove a low shot across goal and into the bottom corner of the net for his eighth of the season. 

The Addicks had half-chances to win it, with Connor Coady and Carey inches away from getting a toe on the end of a Lloyd Jones knock-down, with the goal in sight. Dykes then headed a Miles Leaburn cross just wide of goal. 

Nathan Jones’ side had to dig deep in 10 minutes of stoppage time but defended bravely, blocking well to take home an important point ahead of Tuesday's trip to the Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion. 

The Addicks are next in action at The Valley on Saturday, February 28th when they host Wrexham in the Sky Bet Championship. Click here to purchase your tickets.

Southampton: Peretz, Manning, Downes (Bragg 85), Stephens (c), Harwood-Bellis, Aza, Stewart (Larin 72), Scienza (Edozie 71), Bree, Fellows (Matsuki 71), Charles (Jander 64)

Subs (not used): Long, Wood, Archer, Jelert, Bragg

Goal: Stewart 48

Assist: Scienza 48

Booked: Harwood-Bellis 76 (foul on Leaburn), Downes 84 (arguement with Coady)

Charlton: Kaminski; Sichenje (Clarke 90), Jones, Bell; Ramsay, Coady (Coventry 84), Docherty (c), Carey, Chambers; Campbell (Leaburn 66), Dykes (Kelman 84)

Subs (not used): Mannion, Gillesphey, Rankin-Costello, Berry, Fevrier

Goal: Carey 67

Assist: Docherty 67

Booked: Coady 84 (arguement with Downes)

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 29,476