Charlton recover from early blow

Charlton went behind early doors against league leaders Coventry at The Valley this afternoon, but Rankin-Costello equalised in the second half, scoring his first goal for the club.  Kaminski made some good saves to keep the Addicks in the game.  However, Charlton could have done better at their many corners.  

After the Sky Blues were allowed to score too easily within three minutes, the visitors had keeper Rushworth to thank for making a good save to deny Miles Leaburn pulling level five minutes later as he advanced on goal.

Charlton had a big shout for a penalty turned down when Joel Latibeaudiere blocked a goalbound shot from Charlie Kelman after the half-hour mark.

The same defender also did less controversial work to deny Luke Berry, recovering to poke the ball back to his keeper when the Charlton man was about to shoot just before half-time.

Wright was denied by Kaminski early in the second half, but Coventry were forced to defend in numbers as Charlton mounted a fight back with some sustained pressure.

Charlton were the better side in the second half but they needed goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski to pull off a double save from Haji Wright and Jamie Allen three minutes after the restart.  On 69 minutes they pulled themselves level.

Strong work from Kelman saw the left-sided forward latch on to a through pass from inside his own half and out muscle Miguel Angel Brau. His shot across goal was parried by Carl Rushworth into the path of Rankin-Costello, who finished high into the net from eight yards.

Coventry nearly snatched the lead back three minutes later, Liam Kitching spinning and poking a shot goalwards as Charlton struggled to clear but Kaminski once again pulled off an excellent save low to his left to turn it around the post.

The five minutes added on were nerve wracking as usual, but the Addicks managed to remain in control.

Charlton are now 19th.  Portsmouth lost 5-0 to Bristol City and Blackburn lost at home to Wrexham.

Attendance was 20,789.

On transfers, Nathan Jones told Richard Cawley that the club knew exactly who they wanted.   He was working 15 hours and sleeping at the training ground, but it all depended on other clubs.