Charlton

1

Halford 30

West Brom

1

Phillips 42
(HT 1 - 1)
Kickoff: 16:45
Att: 23412
Super Kev keeps Baggies in the hunt
Kevin Phillips cancelled out Greg Halford's first for Charlton as promotion-chasing West Brom had to settle for a 1-1 draw at The Valley
 
Phillips: Celebrates equaliser
Phillips: Celebrates equaliser
 

Charlton

  1 Weaver
  6 McCarthy
yellow card 23 Semedo *
  2 Halford
  4 Sodje
  3 Thatcher
  14 Thomas
  8 Holland
  11 Ambrose ***
  27 Lita **
  10 Gray

On The Bench

  31 Elliot
  24 Fortune
  5 Zhi * (63)
  17 Cook *** (79)
  16 Iwelumo ** (71)

West Brom

  1 Kiely
  26 Pele
  14 Albrechtsen
  2 Hoefkens
  3 Robinson
  25 Cesar
yellow card 8 Greening
  7 Koren
  17 Miller *
yellow card 11 Gera
yellow card 21 Phillips

On The Bench

  25 Danek
  18 Martis
  12 Kim
  30 Slusarski
  9 Bednar * (76)

Halford, who arrived at the Valley on loan in January following unhappy spells at Reading and Sunderland, struck with a fine header on the half-hour.

But Phillips pounced 11 minutes later with a trademark finish to claim his 21st goal of the season and secure a valuable point for fourth-placed Albion.

Charlton were clinging on at times towards the end - Zoltan Gera hit the woodwork late on - but climbed back up to eighth, although with their play-off rivals all in action they may find themselves further off the pace.

However, in a division where the top six have regularly suffered bouts of vertigo, it could yet prove a point gained for Pardew's men.

The differing fortunes these sides have experienced this season is clearly illustrated in the goal tallies of their strikers; Phillips and Ishmael Miller now have 36, Andy Gray and Leroy Lita precisely none since they arrived in south-east London.

Lita, starting his fourth game since his loan switch from Reading, was almost gifted an opportunity to break his duck in the opening moments when Martin Albrechtsen slipped as he chased a Nicky Weaver clearance, but he could not take advantage.

Halford came close to opening his account in the 11th minute, the right-back curling a 20-yard free-kick inches wide after Albrechtsen had fouled Lita.

Phillips' first sight of goal arrived in the 17th minute, the former England striker collecting Miller's pass and cutting inside, only to see his shot bravely blocked by Sam Sodje.

Gray flicked a near-post centre from Ben Thatcher wide before the lively Jerome Thomas crossed towards Darren Ambrose, who could only divert his header harmlessly over the crossbar.

But Charlton broke the deadlock when Ambrose floated in a free-kick and Halford rose highest to guide his header back across the despairing dive of ex-Addicks keeper Dean Kiely and into the bottom corner.

Phillips planted a header wide from Paul Robinson's cross as the Baggies attempted to hit straight back.

And in the 41st minute they were level when Gera nodded Jonathan Greening's free-kick into the path of Phillips, who controlled the ball in an instant and smashed it past Weaver and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Charlton defender Sodje fluffed a gilt-edged chance to fire his side ahead again when he skewed an angled shot horribly wide.

In a tetchy second half, both sides passed up chances to win the game, although the flow of the match was spoiled by a series of niggly fouls.

Lita should have done better shortly after the break when he could only cushion Thomas' cross into the arms of Kiely, before Thomas himself sent a curler inches wide.

At the other end, Gera fired narrowly past Weaver's post and Miller had the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside flag.

Phillips fired over and Paddy McCarthy came up with vital interceptions to deny the veteran striker and Robert Koren.

And with two minutes remaining Gera struck a superb volley from the edge of the area which cannoned back off Weaver's crossbar.




Team News:

shortpasslongballheaditin (Charlton Athletic) : "...Injuries is not a fair excuse. We had a massive squad to allow for injuries. Pards did not get any fluid movement going on the practise ground and so had nothing to take into matches. Curbs players knew their role moving forward and defensively, you ..."   view full comment

   

Paper Talk: Reds snub Gerrard offer

Liverpool have turned down a £25million offer from Serie A heavyweights Inter Milan for England midfielder Steven Gerrard.

More from today's press

Potters have Prem survival chance

Stoke clinched promotion from the Championship on Sunday and TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes is already contemplating life in the Premier League.

Read today's Column

smudger8 (Liverpool) : "...Kenwyne Jones just seen at Anfield! - not sure how he'll fit in myself! Crouch defo on his way to Portsmouth - All the best and Talks of Michael Johnson from Man City to join Liverpool!..."   view full rumour

   

Don't miss these

LATEST PHOTOS FOOTY QUIZ WALLPAPERS
Cristiano Ronaldo strikes early for Man Utd...
Image Image
Go to the Gallery Can you answer
all 10?
Download Wallpaper

Top Searches