Late goal denies Addicks three points

We would have taken a draw before the game, but the 2-2 draw between Brighton and Hove Albion and Charlton today feels a bit like a defeat after the Seagulls scored an injury time equaliser. The Addicks are now 6th in the table.

Igor Vitokele opened the scoring for Charlton in the fourth minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Charlton hit the hosts with a fast break and Yoni Buyens played in Vetokele, who beat goalkeeper David Stockdale with a well-placed low shot for his fourth goal of the season.

Brighton came close to wiping the deficit out less than a minute later when Portuguese midfielder Joao Teixeira, on a season-long loan from Liverpool, forced keeper Stephen Henderson to make a brilliant one-handed save.

Albion striker Craig Mackail-Smith failed to control an inviting pass into the box from Joe Bennett before Jake Forster-Caskey had a low goal-bound shot blocked for the Seagulls. Buyens was forced to put the ball behind for a corner from a cross by Andrew Crofts after Bruno Saltor had turned provider. Brighton threatened when a corner from Danny Holla was headed down by Dunk and Spanish striker Adrian Colunga was unable to direct his shot on target at the far post.

Charlton, who were frustrating Brighton with a well-organised defence, pushed forward before the interval and Johann Berg Gudmundsson saw a deflected shot fly wide before George Tucudean was off target with an angle drive from outside the area.

The Seagulls looked lively after the break. Dunk scored for Brighton on 67 minutes from a corner, but Vitokele scored a second.

The Angolan international latched on to a Simon Church cross, weaved his way past the Seagulls defence and struck a powerful shot to put the Addicks back in the lead. Charlton almost scored a third towards the end of the match, but Andre Bikey's header flew wide.

It was a miss the Addicks would come to rue, because in the 93rd minute, Kazenga LuaLua's ambitious cross fell to Dunk, who headed the ball into the net.

Player ratings

Provided by an Addick in attendance visiting from overseas:

Henderson One superb stop when their player was allowed through. Otherwise not much to do. I would like to see the goals in TV tonight to see whether he could have done better. Solly Good tackling skills, reasonable distribution, but I felt he gave far too much room to a very good winger. The first goal seemed to go over his head. Wiggins Disappointing to me. Capable in winning the ball but too predictable in turning inside and passing back. Bikey Danny Shittu lookalike, athletic and hard to muscle off the ball. A few lapses of concentration that could have been punished, especially the overhead kick. Haim Experienced and capable. Could have the same effect on our defenders as Costa had in his day at the higher level.

Gudmundsson Started brightly but faded. Should become a decent player. Jackson Skilled and intelligent but too slow and overall does not contribute as much as the team needs Buyens The player we have needed for a long time. Good timing at interceptions, quick to move the ball forward, athletic and strong. Cousins My first view of him and I was disappointed. He looked too slight and also looked uncomfortable in front of Wiggins. Possibly the lack of options given by Cousins was the reason for Wiggins passing back so often. With Buyens in control in the centre he may do well alongside or on the right but I think he looked out of place today.

George Did not contribute a great deal and no surprise he made way at half time. Igor Saving the best until last. The most exciting player I have seen in a Charlton shirt for some time.

Subs: Church Did what he was supposed to do, linking up and putting the defence under pressure, but does not seem a goal threat. Wilson Caused a midfield re-shuffle when he came on. Worked well with Solly but does not create openings going forward. Fox looks composed enough and places himself intelligently but the game rather passed him by apart from one nice idea that unfortunately was read by the defence.

I think we really need a strong central midfielder beside Buyens who can power through to support attacks and shoot without fear. Too many attacks petered out through lack of midfield support and the ball ended up going backwards from promising positions.

Glass Half Empty

Derek from Dymchurch writes: That Belgian geezer has some questions to answer. We should have won at Brighton and Brentford. We are already slipping down the table. We may be scoring goals, but we are also shipping them. We are playing too much football. It's all very well having possession, not that we had much anyway yesterday, we need to get the ball forward rather than passing back to another Charlton player.