Charlton recorded their first chance after just two minutes, Nicky Weaver taking advantage of Martin Albrechtsen as he lost his footing to find on loan striker Leroy Lita.  He looked in a great position to open the scoring from just inside the area, but muscle and power from Hoefkens forced him into a weak shot that fell nicely for Dean Kiely.

In the 13^th minute Kiely had to be on guard to when Halford curled in a delicious free kick which was just wide of the target.  Minutes later Ishmael Miller found Kevin Phillips in space on the edge of the area, but his shot was blocked by Sam Sodje, the defender who spent much of last season on loan with West Brom, also featuring in the play off final at Wembley.  Koren was in a god position to follow up, but he found his path blocked by Ben Thatcher, who recovered well to stop Greening’s 20 yard effort just moments later.

In the 22^nd minute Ben Thatcher turned provider, as his searching cross found Andy Gray, the January signing from Burnley at the near post.  But Gray was wide of the target with his effort.  In the 28^th minute Jerome Thomas dragged in a left wing cross which the waiting Darren Ambrose could only head over the bar.

In the 30^th minute Charlton Athletic finally forced their way through the Albion defence, a free kick conceded by Pele for a foul on Thomas outside the area was swung into the box by Darren Ambrose, where a waiting Halford rose above the Baggies defence to head home with a reasonably weak effort which glanced past Kiely’s outstretched glove and into the bottom left corner.

The Addicks could have doubled their lead just two minutes later.  A Baggies side clearly rocked by the opening goal was caught at sixes and sevens as a long throw in from Halford was flicked onto Jerome Thomas.  Luckily for Albion his shot was miscued and went well wide of the target.

As half time approached the Baggies began searching for the equaliser, a Greening free kick was played in to Phillips by Robinson, but his header was wide from 12 yards.  Finally in the 42^nd minute the equaliser came, Gera did well to beat Thatcher in the air to flick on Greening’s free kick for a waiting Kevin Phillips, who this time made no mistake from 12 yards to fire home the equaliser from the underside of the cross bar.

Just before the break Albion fans held their breathe as Pele flicked on a Thomas cross into the path of Sodje, who cleared the Albion defence with his first touch, but sent the ball way into the stand with his second.  In the third minute of first half stoppage time Phillips tried his luck with a 30 yard free kick, which was wide, but not by far of the left hand up right.

Half Time: Charlton Athletic 1-1 West Bromwich Albion 1

In the 49^th minute Lita volleyed the ball at the target from a Thomas cross, but he was well wide.  Still uneasy defensively Albion allowed Matt Holland a shot from just outside of the box which was deflected out for a corner.  The resulting corner brought with it its own danger, with Paul Robinson bravely blocking an over head kick from Leroy Lita.

By the 52^nd minute Albion had finally found their swing, and started pressing Charlton.  Phillips crossed for Miller, and with Weaver the Addicks keeper well off his line Miller looked a cert to score, but he headed inches wide of the empty net.  In the 58^th minute Zoltan Gera broke free of his marker at the near post to head Greening’s corner just wide.

The Baggies were now all over Charlton, and on the hour mark Gera turned Thatcher on the edge of the area and struck a hard low left footed shot which had Weaver worried.  Minutes later Albion thought they had snatched the lead as Miller connected with a through ball from Phillips and raced into the area to slot home, only to be adjudged offside.

In the 66^th minute sloppy play from Gera allowed Thomas to pounce on the ball and find Lita, a last ditch challenge from Robinson stopping him from making a simple tap in.  In the 79^th minute Phillips pounced on a loose ball and tried his luck from 15 yards, only to see his effort fly just over the bar.

Moments later a Koren cross was blocked by McCarthy, who knew that Phillips was waiting to strike should he miss.  Gera then played Koren through on goal, but McCarthy was on hand again to prevent the Baggies from getting the goal they needed to take home all three points.

Albion were really applying the pressure to get the winner, and in the final minute of play Gera let rip a stunning 20 yard volley which had Waever defeated, but not the cross bar.  In the 4 minutes injury time Albion continued to search for the winning goal, but time ran out and it never came.

Full Time: Charlton Athletic 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

Phillips (42)

Halford (30)

Attendance: 23,412

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS