A late Nicky Bailey goal secured Charlton a 1-1 draw at Portman Road in a game the Blues should have won comfortably. Owen Garvan put Town in front in the first half, but after the break the Blues missed a succession of chances with Pablo Couñago failing to convert a penalty.

As expected, Town made just the one change with Jon Stead replacing the suspended David Norris. The former Sheffield United man joined Kevin Lisbie up front with Jon Walters moving into his midfield role.

The first penalty area action came in the sixth minute, Stead appealing for a spotkick after falling in the area after his initial strike had been blocked.

Veliche Shumulikoski played in Kevin Lisbie four minutes later, the former Charlton man scraping his shot wide, although the player himself was convinced it had taken a deflection.

Town came closer in 16 when Stead turned and shot from the edge of the area, the ball brushing the roof of the net.

The Blues were completely dominating against a Charlton side content to sit back in numbers and which rarely made any impact in Town's penalty area. Jim Magilton's side were passing the ball as well as at any stage this season and in the 24th minute Jon Walters shot wide from the edge of the box.

Town finally got their goal with nine minutes of the opening period remaining, but somewhat fortuitously. Owen Garvan lifted in a freekick from the right, just inside the Charlton half, the ball drifting through a crowd of players and nestling in the right corner of Nicky Weaver's goal.

Garvan, currently in the best goalscoring form of his career, went looking for another one on 43, but shot over. In injury time, Jon Stead picked up the game's first yellow card for a foul on Nicky Bailey.

Town were well on top throughout the first half, taking the game to the visitors, who seemed loath to do anything other than sit back and defend. The goal was well deserved on the balance of play, despite the Blues not creating too many clear-cut chances.

After the break that would change, and almost immediately Garvan hit a low 20-yard effort straight at Weaver, then Quinn teed up Shumulikoski and the Macedonian struck a 30-yarder, which the Addicks' keeper did well to push around the post for a corner.

On 53 a Garvan header on halfway sent Lisbie away on goal, the striker taking the ball to the edge of the area and curling a shot wide.

Kelly Youga was yellow-carded for a foul on Walters in the 53rd minute, prior to the Town man hitting a 25-yard shot which deflected wide. From the corner, Gareth McAuley headed straight at Weaver.

Pablo Couñago replaced Jon Stead in the 62nd minute and six minutes later was handed the perfect opportunity to seal the win for the Blues. A ball from the left reached Youga and Walters on the right of the area. Walters blocked the Charlton defender's clearance, the ball bouncing up on to his hand with referee Kevin Wright pointing straight to the spot.

With no Tommy Miller on the field, Jon Walters handed the ball to Couñago, but the Spaniard hit a weak effort to Weaver's left, the keeper saving relatively easily. From the resultant corner, Bailey headed McAuley's attempt on goal from under the bar and clashed heads with Walters in doing so, both players requiring treatment.

On 71 Quinn found Couñago in the area, the Spaniard twisting and turning but then shooting wide. Two minutes later good work from Couñago and Walters created an opening for Lisbie, who shot across the face of goal.

The chances were continuing to come thick and fast and in the 74th minute the again excellent Shumulikoski played in Couñago but the Spanish striker fluffed a chip over Weaver when one-on-one with the former Manchester City keeper.

McAuley had another goalbound header cleared from under the bar in the 76th minute, former Blue Matt Holland the man in the way on this occasion.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes the Blues seemed to lose a bit of their impetus and on 81 the Addicks hit back with what was their first shot of the game. Hameur Bouazza crossed from the right, Nicky Bailey, who scored in the fixture at the Valley earlier in the month, controlled the ball then hit a shot on the turn which gave Richard Wright no chance.

The goal was a bitter blow for a Blues side which had completely dominated and looked to be getting back to last season's confident home form. Danny Haynes replaced Alan Quinn for the final three minutes plus an extra five for stoppages, but the winner wouldn't come.

Charlton looked more interested in making a game of it in the closing stages with Richard Naylor sliding in to make a fine tackle on Darren Ambrose as the former Blue went looking for what would have been an unlikely winner.

Martin Cranie was booked in the closing stages for a foul on Haynes, who moments later lashed the game's last opportunity well over from 25 yards.

Town were made to rue missing enough chances to win two or three games during the second half. Couñago might have had a hat-trick and Lisbie missed two or three, while Walters, Shumulikoski and Garvan either forced saves from Weaver or went narrowly wide. Charlton scored with their only serious shot of the game.

The scoreline aside, it was a much better home display from the Blues who have grown in confidence in the last two games. The central midfield duo of Veliche Shumulikoski and Owen Garvan ran the match, ably assisted by the tireless Jon Walters and Alan Quinn.

Town have showed signs of definite movement in the right direction at Plymouth on Saturday and against the Addicks and but for some poor finishing would have won two games on the trot for the first time this season. Now a win against QPR is required to keep things moving in the right direction.

Town: R Wright, Volz, D Wright, McAuley, Naylor, Shumulikoski, Garvan, Quinn (Haynes 87), Walters, Stead (Couñago 62), Lisbie. Unused: Supple, Bruce, Miller. Att: 20,352.

Photo: Action Images

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