Tuesday, 30 September 2025

Jones: 'a point on the road in the Championship is a good point'

James Bree's sublime first-half strike gave Charlton the lead on 37 minutes at the end of a flowing move by the Addicks.

The Rams had appeals for a penalty waved away inside the opening minute but Thomas Kaminski in the Charlton goal was largely untested until late in the game.  The Addicks keeper pulled off a strong save to deny Bobby Clark before defender Clarke rose highest to head in moments later following the corner.

Greg Docherty and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen had late chances as both sides pushed for the winner but the game ended with the points shared.

The result leaves Charlton eighth in the table, with Derby a point clear of the relegation zone in 20th.

Macaulay Gillesphey will perhaps count himself lucky not to have given away a spot kick in the opening minute of the match as he had a handful of Carlton Morris' shirt when the Rams striker tumbled in the box.

An uneventful first half sprung into life late on with a moment of quality from the Addicks attackers, all started by a long ball forward from goalkeeper Kaminski.

Charlie Kelman found space from Dion Sanderson and took the ball down with a deft touch, before playing in Tyreece Campbell.   The Jamaica international pulled it back for Sonny Carey and from there it was one-touch football, as he laid it off to Docherty, who passed out to Bree in space on the right and he smashed the ball first-time beyond Jacob Widell Zetterstrom into the top-left corner.

The hosts were much improved after the break but didn't test Kaminski until the 77th minute of the game when Clark opted to shoot with passing options either side and the Charlton goalkeeper pulled off a fine save.

Charlton cleared away the corner but Lewis Travis recycled the ball back in and Clarke beat everyone to head into the bottom corner with 11 minutes remaining for an equaliser.

Both sides pushed for a winner in a frantic end to the match, with Harvey Knibbs slicing wide before Docherty's added-time effort deflected just wide for the visitors.   Salvesen forced a big save from Kaminski right at the end but John Eustace's side couldn't find the second goal that would have given them a first home win in the league since April.

Charlton Athletic supremo Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London:

"Relatively pleased. Any point on the road in the Championship is a good point.  Once we've taken the lead we would have liked to have gone on and probably had a bit more control of the game but full credit to Derby, Derby gave it everything.  They were playing with a front four, [they] left four up at times and had runners.

Both sides had chances. They had a chance before they scored and then we had three late on that maybe could have nicked it.  So there's mixed emotions but I'm happy that we haven't got beaten and it's another point on the board."

 

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