Brentford 1 v Charlton Athletic 1

A third successive draw has opened the door for Norwich and Colchester to finally climb level with us on points should they win their respective games in hand (Norwich's match at Walsall was a late casualty to a frozen pitch). In doing so, we would probably slip to 3rd or 4th on goal difference. The bookmakers now have Norwich odds-on for automatic promotion whilst we have moved to odds-against.

However, I believe there is plenty of room for optimism for Charlton fans; we are unbeaten in eight and have a run of very winnable matches approaching which includes six home games against lower-half of the table opposition, three of whom are in the relegation places and who we have already beaten away (Orient, Tranmere and Brighton). More importantly, our squad has belief and they are displaying a never-say-die attitude that could yet make our season. We just need a bit of good fortune on Saturday at Walsall and then we have the prospect of a number of our first choice players returning from injury to strengthen the side and our attacking options.

It was largely a second string that took the field at Griffin Park yesterday. The make-shift back four had most Addicks fans worried beforehand but they coped admirably. I was pleased to see Phil Parkinson start Chris Dickson in a two-man attack with Akpo and it nearly paid off during the first half where we took the match to Brentford and were perhaps unfortunate not to go in at half-time with a lead. We played some good stuff through midfield and Lloyd Sam was busy down the wing. Brentford held firm and only had two Chris Dickson efforts to really worry about.

Nicky Bailey again played the captain's role alongside a disappointing Matt Spring. Matt's a grafter and has plenty of experience, so he rarely lets the side down but he doesn't have the legs for ninety minutes and rarely creates anything. I believe we have better starting options, one of whom, Racon was on the bench.

I felt confident we would score first after the break attacking the goal with 1800 Charlton fans behind it but we fell behind within minutes of the restart to what was the Bees first dangerous attack of the match. The useful Marcus Bean managed to get through our defence and pull a cross back to half-time sub Carl Cort who beat Elliot with a quickly-taken, crisp, low finish from close in.

Brentford tried to up the ante after taking the lead but we stuck at it and continued to break quickly when we could which forced them onto the back-foot. Within ten minutes Shelvey was on for Wagstaff and we had levelled.Nicky Bailey hit a superb pass down the middle which beat the Brentford defence and Chris Dickson managed to stay onside to catch the pass as he hurtled into the box. Lewis Price was already rushing out to try to avert the danger and the inevitable clash sent Dickson sprawling for as clear a penalty as you are likely to see. Dicko's first touch had turned him away from goal because if he had taken it inwards then Price would surely have been dismissed. As it was D'Urso got it right in only showing a yellow but Nicky Bailey stepped up to plant the ball firmly in the back of the net to even things up.

Brentford came back at us after this and had their best spell of the match and nearly restored their lead when Sam Saunders, a second-half sub, curled a beauty of a free-kick over the red wall only to see his shot come down off the bar and be driven clear. McKenzie came on for Dickson with ten to go as Parky rolled the last dice. McKenzie did manage one effort after wriggling free in the box but his shot was deflected wide. Nicky Bailey also put a late free-kick over the bar. At the other end we stopped a couple of late Brentford efforts as well to ensure the game finished a deserved 1-1 draw.

Brentford's stadium is not unlike a visit to the Valley 25 years ago. It sits packed tightly into the neighbouring streets of small terraced houses and there are still plenty of local pubs plying their trade. Most seemed full with Charlton fans beforehand and it added to a rowdy atmosphere in the first -half although it quietened down predictably during the second period. A number of Charlton fans were evicted predictably enough from the home areas closest to the away end after making their presence known and we enjoyed the spectacle of a rotund aggro-Grandad gesturing throughout the match when he wasn't tending to a number of children two rows in front of him. He earned an excellent chant of "saying goodbye to your kids" but from the puzzled look on his face it was lost on him.

Elsewhere, Leeds managed another late win at Stockport who had, admirably taken the lead twice and Colchester saw off Southampton to keep alive their own chances of automatic promotion. Steve Morison scored again as Millwall moved up to seventh and Brighton hit five at Wycombe Wanderers to haul themselves out of the bottom four.

So, one more big effort at Walsall on Saturday and we can look forward to some easier looking fixtures and what should be a side returning to full strength for the run-in. With only three League One fixtures taking place on Saturday due to the F A Cup - someone remind me why we aren't in it - the focus will definitely be on us and Norwich as they go to Wycombe Wanderers who were softened -up yesterday. Maybe there will be a response at Adams Park? We will need more of the same at the Bescot and our fans could play their part too.