LOCK OF THE DRAW Bilic tells Brom: Don’t panic!
WEST BROM 2
SLAVEN BILIC has ordered his edgy West Brom players not to panic as their winless streak rolled on.
The stuttering Baggies remain the Championship leaders, but they have now gone five league matches without a victory.
Bilic’s promotion-chasers twice threw away the lead here, earned by goals from Kenneth Zohore and Hal Robson-Kanu against a fired-up Charlton celebrating their new ownership.
Josh Davison, 20, scored a first professional goal for the injury-hit Addicks.
And Tom Lockyer, who enjoyed a battle royal with Robson-Kanu, headed the second equaliser – put down as an own-goal to Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone.
Bilic (below) said: “We were twice in a position to go and kill the game off – and you can’t concede two goals like that from set plays.
“For their second it was a very ordinary ball into our box, nothing special - we must do better than that.
“It might be five games without a win in the league, but there is no need to panic, the same as there was nothing to celebrate earlier in the season.
“Some people then seemed to think it was over and ‘job done’. But that was never the case.
“Basically, it starts now. Everything that happened before doesn’t matter.”
Charlton boss Lee
Bowyer will examine the detail of a five-year contract offer from the new owners today.
Bowyer said: “There were a lot of positives, and two negatives – the goals. But to come from behind twice showed terrific character against a great West Brom side.
“Josh wasn’t even supposed to be in that position for his goal, but fair play to him. He took it well, pure reaction. Let’s not forget he was playing for Enfield and Barking last season.”
There were nine changes from last week’s FA Cup win here for the Baggies, but Zohore kept his place.
He robbed Lockyer on 18 minutes and though Deji Oshilaja blocked his first effort Zohore smashed in the rebound at the near post.
Charlton were level six minutes later. A Conor Gallagher corner from the left was headed back into the sixyard box by Naby Sarr, and Davison diverted the ball home.
Referee Jarred Gillett caused a stir by allowing West Brom to break as Robson-Kanu and Lockyer grappled.
But Wales international RobsonKanu, one of six West Brom players booked, left a better mark within 30 seconds of the restart.
Matt Phillips put in the cross and the striker flicked the ball home.
Lockyer had the final say, getting on the end of Alfie Doughty’s cross only for luckless Johnstone to be credited.
CHARLTON WEST BROM 2 ........ Shots on Target ......... 5 4 ........ Shots off Target ......... 8 5 ................ Corners ................. 5 10 ................. Fouls .................. 14 2 ............... Offsides ................ 0 61.8 ..Passing Success % .... 81.9 283 ....... Total Passes ........ 452 39.2 ..... Possession % ..... 60.8 52 ..... Territorial Adv % ..... 48