Charlton came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in a high intensity encounter against Rotherham United at The Valley on Tuesday night.
Having fallen behind to a controversial Mickel Miller strike in first-half stoppage time, Johnnie Jackson’s side rallied to level through Conor Washington seven minutes from time and secure a share of the spoils.
The Caretaker Manager made one enforced change from Saturday’s triumph over Doncaster Rovers, handing Diallang Jaiyesimi a start as Jonathan Leko missed out.
The visitors enjoyed the first sight of goal, Daniel Barlaser fizzing a low drive past Craig MacGillivray’s right upright from distance before Washington glanced Chris Gunter’s first-time cross narrowly wide.
Charlton continued to grow into the game thereafter, probing the Millers’ box while enjoying inroads down both flanks. Richard Wood could only nod Ben Purrington’s centre as far as the onrushing Jaiyesimi, though Josh Vickers was equal to the wideman’s left-footed volley.
Moments later, Ben Wiles recycled a Barlaser corner before seeing his cross take a wicked deflection off Akin Famewo to fall invitingly for Michael Ihiekwe, only for the defender to head wastefully wide from close range.
Charlton’s wing-backs were involved again on 43 minutes as Jaiyesimi’s delivery found Purrington at the far post. The latter nodded the ball back in for Jayden Stockley, who, in turn, found Washington, but the Northern Irishman could only head tamely at Vickers from five yards.
The Addicks soon found themselves extremely hard done by, however, as the visitors took a fortuitous lead deep into stoppage time.
Wes Harding’s deep centre was flicked back into the danger zone by Wood to find Miller, who lashed a left-footed volley into the roof of MacGillivray’s net, and, while Charlton remonstrated with referee Scott Oldham, the goal stood.
Jackson’s side started the second period sprightly, Alex Gilbey’s slide rule pass finding Washington racing in behind the Millers’ backline, though Vickers was off his line promptly to foil the forward as he looked to poke home, before Rarmani Edmonds-Green threw himself in front of Stockley’s strike to prevent the frontman profiting from the rebound.
The Millers soon found MacGillivray in inspired form as the Scotsman made two smart stops in as many minutes.
First, Charlton’s number one foiled Michael Smith’s angled drive after League One’s top scorer had latched onto Oliver Rathbone’s through ball, before displaying remarkable athleticism to somehow claw away Ladapo’s header from Barlaser’s cross.
Shane Ferguson was next to threaten as Purrington could only half-clear Chiedozie Ogbene’s glanced as far as the Millers substitute, who lashed over on the half volley.
A battling Charlton display went rewarded just five minutes later, though, Washington latching onto Elliot Lee’s hoisted ball forward before showcasing his strength to beat Edmonds-Green. Having driven towards the 18-yard box, the Northern Ireland international unleashed a driven effort, which flew past a helpless Vickers, aided by a deflection off Millers captain Wood.
Having restored parity, the Addicks continued to push for the all-important winner as the game grew old, though Vickers was equal to Lee’s sweetly struck free-kick as both sides were forced to settle with a share of the spoils.
Charlton: MacGillivray; Gunter, Pearce (c), Famewo; Jaiyesimi (Blackett-Taylor 80), Gilbey, Dobson, Lee, Purrington; Stockley, Washington
Subs (not used): Henderson, Elerewe, Watson, Clare, Kirk, Davison
Goal: Washington 83
Booked: Stockley 5 (foul on Barlaser), Famewo 40 (foul on Rathbone), Purrington 84 (foul on Ogbene)
Rotherham United: Vickers; Edmonds-Green, Wood (c), Ihiekwe (Ogbene 59); Harding, Rathbone, Wiles (Odoffin 82), Barlaser, Miller (Ferguson 68); Ladapo, Smith
Subs (not used): Johansson, Sadlier, Kayode, Grigg
Goal: Miller 45+2
Booked: Wiles 42 (foul on Stockley), Smith 44 (foul on Pearce), Ihiekwe 50 (foul on Gilbey), Barlaser 90 (foul on Lee)
Referee: Scott Oldham
Attendance: 12,592 (371 from Rotherham)