ADDICKS TURN GAME AROUND TO EARN DRAW
Black Cats boss Ross pleased with point
ASPIRITED second half comeback earned Charlton a draw against Sunderland in a match Addicks boss Lee Bowyer said was a great advert for the division.
The visitors dominated the first half, but were pegged back in a game which both sides could have won.
The point keeps the Wearsiders in third place in League One, and just a point off Luton Town in second with a game in hand.
Sunderland had to withstand major pressure from their fellow high-flyers in the second half, and manager Jack Ross insisted it was as much a point gained.
He said “The perception of us in this league and sometimes the expectation on us means that there’s disappointment when we don’t win a game.
“The reality is that it’s a tough league with some good teams in it. There’s some tough venues and this was one of them.
“Once we dust ourselves down we’ll start to look upon it as a good point.”
Bowyer felt his side just about edged the contest. He said: “The first half they were the better side, but in the second half we were outstanding, we dominated it and on chances we’ve probably just edged it.
“It was a great advert for League One – two teams pushing each other and who want automatic promotion.”
Despite continued contract issues with Sunderland, Josh Maja kept his place, while Dylan McGeouch stood in for the suspended Lee Cattermole.
The hosts made two changes from their win over Walsall, with Chris Solly returning from suspension to replace Toby Stevenson, and Darren Pratley replacing the injured Ben Reeves.
There was also a place on the Charlton bench for former Sunderland man Jonny Williams, who joined on a six-month contract from Crystal Palace.
Sunderland got to work early, and breached the Charlton defence after just under two minutes. Some good interplay between Reece James and Lynden Gooch allowed the former to cross from the byline to find Luke O’Nien, who connected first time from a tight angle past keeper Dillon Thomas.
There was another opportunity after 34 minutes for the visitors, when Charlie Wyke picked up an excellent back-flick from Gooch, but he caught the ball wrongly and put it wide. Three minutes later, a shot by Gooch hit the post and fell into the path of Wyke, but the ball fell too quick for him to put the rebound on target.
Charlton started to pick up the pace, and a run by Albie Morgan forced a first save from keeper Jon McLaughlin.
The hosts picked up the second half where they left off at the end of the first, on the front foot and the pressure paid off when a cross by Lyle Taylor was cleared by an unfortunate Reece James into his own net.
After withstanding the pressure, Sunderland were able to re-
gain a foothold in the game again. However, they made a change on 67 minutes when Gooch was replaced by Duncan Watmore.
Charlton made a change too, when Williams made his first start in a Charlton shirt, replacing Albie Morgan.
Taylor found space in the middle on 70 minutes but found his low shot blocked by the leg of McLaughlin.
Sunderland made a second change after 84 minutes, when Chris Maguire replaced Maja,
Sunderland looked to have settled for a point, but substitute Watmore was causing the Charlton backline issues with his pace.
He had an excellent chance deep into injury time, but blasted his effort high over the bar.