Watford 1 Charlton 1
Matty Godden scored just 66 seconds after coming onto the pitch as Charlton secured an important point at Vicarage Road against Watford.
While the Addicks created the better chances, it also took an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Will Mannion to ensure the game ended 1-1.
Both sides had opportunities in the opening few minutes. First, Tyreece Campbell got to the byline on the left and chipped a cross to the back post. Lloyd Jones, caught just underneath it, headed over from inside the six-yard box.
Then Mannion made a superb save high to his right to keep out a vicious left-footed strike from Nestory Irankunda on the edge of the box.
Campbell was causing the Watford defence problems and, after cutting in onto his right foot, smashed a shot across goal which was met by Sonny Carey, who couldn’t quite guide his effort under the crossbar.
Moments later, Campbell won the ball back high up the pitch and found Greg Docherty in the penalty area. The Charlton skipper was about to pull the trigger, but a Watford defender blocked. Docherty kept the ball alive and it eventually found its way to Luke Chambers, who curled over from 20 yards.
After a spell of Charlton pressure, Watford forced Mannion into action again on the counter-attack. Irankunda played a neat one-two to get in behind the Charlton defence, but Mannion narrowed the angle well and made another fine save, this time diving low to his right.
Imran Louza’s inswinging cross went much deeper than intended and bounced back off the upright, to the relief of the Charlton supporters behind the goal.
It was then the Addicks’ turn to hit the woodwork. A Charlton free-kick was played short to Chambers, whose cross pinballed around the penalty area before Docherty got his head to it, only to see the ball come back off the post.
The home side had a goal ruled out just before the break. Mamadou Doumbia finished well after a loose ball fell to him in the box, but a Watford player was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up.
Jones was next to go close, heading too close to Egil Selvik in the Watford goal after more excellent wing play from Campbell.
Watford had the first chance of the second half when Giorgi Chakvetadze broke forward and forced Mannion into a sharp save low to his left.
In a positive start to the half for the home side, Doumbia was next to test Mannion, with the Charlton goalkeeper diving to palm away a low effort to his left.
Godden, a 61st-minute substitute, made an immediate impact just a minute after coming on. A long throw from Harry Clarke was flicked on by Kayne Ramsay and fell to Godden, unmarked in the penalty area. The striker made no mistake, controlling well and finishing on the swivel to give Selvik no chance, for his first goal of the season.
The dangerous Irankunda then saw a rasping right-footed shot from 25 yards crash off the crossbar and away to safety.
Another substitute, Joe Rankin-Costello, then went through on goal but lost his footing as he went to shoot. Selvik still had to make a save, diving low to his right to keep out the Addicks midfielder.
After showing his threat, Irankunda eventually netted the equaliser, latching onto a lovely through ball from Louza and finishing smartly with his right foot from a tight angle.
Irankunda was then brilliantly denied by Mannion, who dived low to his right to palm a powerful shot around the post.
In stoppage time Rankin-Costello went through again but with options in the box saw his shot blocked behind for a corner.
The game finished much later than expected after Conor Coady, making his 500th club appearance, was stretchered off with a head injury after being struck by a Tom Ince shot. He was taken to hospital.
Results elsewhere mean the Addicks remain eight points clear of the drop zone with five games remaining ahead of the visit of Preston North End to The Valley on Saturday.
Watford: Selvik, Goglichidze, Keben, Pollock, Chakvetadze, Kjerrumgaard (Nabizada 63), Louza (c), Doumbia (Semedo 81), Mendy, Petris (Baah 71), Irankunda (Ince 81)
Subs (not used): Marriott, Bove, Ekwah, Mendy, Mullins
Goal: Irankunda 74
Assist: Louza 74
Booked: Mendy 34 (foul on Campbell), Selvik 90+15 (delaying restart)
Charlton: Mannion; Ramsay, Jones, Bell; Clarke, Coady (Gillesphey 90+9), Carey (Rankin-Costello 61), Docherty (c), Chambers (Godden 60); Dykes (Fevrier 80), Campbell
Subs (not used): Brooks, Coventry, Berry, Knibbs, Kelman
Goal: Godden 62
Assist: Ramsay 62
Booked: Docherty 34 (foul on Irankunda), Clarke 38 (foul on Louza)
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Attendance: 19,961
