Oxford United 1 Charlton 1
Charlie Kelman scored a stoppage-time penalty as the Addicks rounded off an excellent week with a point on the road at Oxford United.
Both sides netted penalties in a game of few chances as Nathan Jones’ side followed victories over Birmingham City and Middlesbrough with a 1-1 draw at the Kassam Stadium.
Jones reverted to the starting XI that beat Birmingham City at The Valley last weekend. However, there was late disruption as Lyndon Dykes was forced to drop out during the warm-up due to illness, with Miles Leaburn starting in his place.
It was a quiet first period with very few attempts on goal and while Charlton controlled much of the half, with 61% possession, the closest the Addicks got to goal was a driven Greg Docherty cross that was comfortably gathered by Oxford stopper Jamie Cumming.
At the other end Cameron Brannagan had Oxford’s only shot of the half, with a free-kick from 20 yards which just cleared the crossbar.
The game started to open up in the second half with U’s defender Michal Helik, in an offside position, looping a shot over the crossbar.
Conor Coventry then headed just wide from a long Harry Clarke throw.
The home side took the lead in controversial fashion in the 57th minute. A cross from the right was comfortably gathered by Will Mannion, but with Will Lankshear on the floor in the box, referee Matt Donohue pointed to the penalty spot, having adjudged that he’d been fouled by Kayne Ramsay. Captain Brannagan stepped up to take the spot kick and hit a low, powerful shot to Mannion’s right. The Charlton goalkeeper went the right way but couldn’t quite get a hand to the well-placed penalty.
Lloyd Jones denied Oxford a second four minutes later when the centre-half got back in time to clear off the line after Lankshear had dinked over Mannion.
The Addicks weren’t able to create much until stoppage time when the visitors’ equaliser came. Ibrahim Fullah’s long ball forward looked like it was going to be gathered by Jamie Cumming under the challenge of Lloyd Jones but Oxford defender Ciaran Brown yanked back the Charlton man giving Donohue no option but to give a second penalty of the game. With plenty of pressure, Kelman stepped up and hit a perfect penalty, right into the bottom corner of Cumming’s goal.
After a busy week, the Addicks now have a bit of a break before next Saturday’s game at The Valley against Norwich City (KO 3pm GMT).
Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Brown, Konak (McDonnell 65), Helik, Branagan (c), Emakhu (Placheta 65), Mills (Vaulks 84), Currie, Lankshear (Prelec 77), Donley (Spencer 77)
Subs (not used): Ingram, Harris, Jeon, Makosso
Goal: Brannagan 57 (pen)
Booked: Helik 38 (foul on Leaburn), Mills 77 (foul on Chambers)
Charlton: Mannion; Ramsay (Kelman 60), Jones, Bell; Clarke, Coventry (Fevrier 68), Carey, Docherty (c) (Rankin-Costello 82), Chambers (Fullah 82); Leaburn, Campbell
Subs (not used): Kaminski, Gillesphey, Coady, Gough, Mitchell
Goal: Kelman 90+3 (pen)
Booked: Chambers 28 (foul on Mills), Clarke 50 (foul on Currie), Bell 66 (foul on Lankshear), Rankin-Costello 90+5 (foul on Cumming)
Referee: Matt Donohue
Attendance: 11,325
The Addicks are back at The Valley on Saturday, March 21st for the visit of Norwich City. Don't miss out, click here to purchase your tickets now!
