REPORT | Charlton 2 Wigan Athletic 2

Charlton rescued a point in the third minute of stoppage time as Macauley Bonne scored the crucial equaliser to keep the Championship relegation battle in their own hands.

Lee Bowyer made three changes from the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City on Wednesday, bringing in 20-year-old Josh Davison for his first appearance since January.

Switching to a back three, Naby Sarr joined Jason Pearce and Tom Lockyer in the middle while Adam Matthews and Alfie Doughty flanked the centre-backs.

Jake Forster-Caskey came into the side for Jonny Williams, partnering Josh Cullen and Sam Field in midfield, while Macauley Bonne, scorer of Charlton’s goal at St. Andrew’s, joined Davison up front.

Despite a nervy start, Charlton had the first chance of the match in the fourth minute, but Davison couldn’t quite connect with Field’s chipped cross.

Wigan took the lead inside the opening ten minutes and the Addicks only had themselves to blame. Failure to clear the ball allowed Wigan to counter deep in Charlton territory, and when Dillon Phillips couldn’t quite keep out Kieffer Moore’s header, the onrushing Jamal Lowe was able to nod into an empty net.

Against Reading, one week ago, Charlton conceded early and never quite got back into the game. On Saturday, it took just two minutes for the Addicks to respond, Doughty brilliantly volleying past David Marshall from Matthews’ pinpoint cross.

Buoyed by the equaliser Charlton continued to push forward and so nearly took the lead in the 18th minute, but a deep corner just evaded Pearce at the front post before barely missing Sarr’s run at the back post.

Charlton should have taken the lead moments after the first drinks break when Bonne ran through on goal, but Marshall managed to save with his feet.

The Addicks continued to apply pressure and twice had good chances to score a second in the space of one first-half minute. First, referee Gavin Ward turned down a very strong penalty appeal before a low Cullen cross just rebounded wide off Antonee Robinson. 

Against the run of play, during Charlton’s best period of the half, Wigan regained the lead with six minutes to go in the opening period. The ball broke kindly for the visitors and Robinson found Kieran Dowell free at the back post to tap home.

Bowyer made two changes at the break, bringing on Jonny Williams and Albie Morgan for Field and Forster-Caskey.

Chuks Aneke replaced the impressive Josh Davison ten minutes after the restart and made an immediate impact driving past three Wigan defenders before the ball eventually broke for Cullen to miss-hit wide of the target. Sarr then drew a good save from Marshall with a low free-kick as the hosts poured forward searching for a second equaliser.

Wigan had a chance to kill the game off in the 64th minute, but Dillon Phillips managed to deny Morsy from just outside the box.

Last-ditch Wigan defending managed to keep the Addicks at bay as the match headed towards the second half drinks break with Marshall able to tip a Doughty cross behind before Pearce headed the ensuing corner over the bar.

Charlton finally snatched the equaliser they deserved in the third minute of stoppage, Bonne grabbing the crucial goal. Aneke, who had proven a handful for Wigan throughout the second period flicked the ball onto Bonne who made no mistake with a clinical side-footed finish.

The Addicks pushed for a winner, but in the end had to settle for a point thanks to Bonne’s late equaliser at The Valley.

Charlton: Phillips; Matthews, Sarr, Lockyer, Pearce (C) (McGeady 82), Doughty; Cullen, Field (Williams 46), Forster-Caskey (Morgan 46); Bonne, Davison (Aneke 55)

Subs (not used): Amos, Purrington, Oshilaja, McGeady, Green, Hemed

Goals: Doughty 11, Bonne 93

Booked: Morgan (95, foul on Robinson)

Wigan Athletic: Marshall, Robinson, Balogun, Kipre, Byrne, Williams, Morsy, Lowe (Roberts 86), Dowell (Evans 68), Naismith, Moore

Subs (not used): Jones, Massey, Pearce, Garner, Dobre, Mlakar, Gelhardt

Goals: Lowe 9, Dowell 39

Booked: Williams (42, foul on Cullen), Morsy (73, foul on Bonne)

Referee: Gavin Ward

Attendance: 0 (Behind Closed Doors)

Report by Benjy Nurick

Read Time: 4 mins