Charlton Athletic 2 v Derby County 2

It's hard to know what to say after watching that. Phil Parkinson has now overseen two points from a possible fifteen and they have come at home against lowly Southampton and Derby, both of whom we should simply have beaten. We all know that nothing goes for you when you're struggling but you have to take control in situations like these and we have failed again. I think this was Parky's best chance of seeing a win during his tenure (until New Year).

Seeming to have heeded the recent fan criticism of playing too many loan players without any longer term commitment to the club, Parkinson started with only two this evening- Cranie and Waghorn. The big surprise was that Rob Elliot started in goal with Weaver relegated to the bench. Fortune and Hudson were paired in the middle again and Grant Basey came in at left-back. Central midfield is again becoming an urgent problem for us and Bailey started with Semedo today. Lloyd Sam got the left right berth and Hameur Bouazza the right with Gray and Waghorn up front.

Both sides started brightly and you couldn't help thinking that the overall quality of play might have looked better on Sky than the TV audience were expecting. Derby didn't look like a side in turmoil or who might lose their manager at 90 minutes notice. They played with confidence in midfield and upfront without creating too much but their defence did look a bit hesitant on occasions when put under pressure. 

Lloyd Sam should have opened the scoring when he seized on a moment of hesitancy in the Derby box and created the opening but his shot smacked off Bywater's left-hand post with the goal at his mercy. Andy Gray atoned for that miss minutes later when he finished a good move after taking a Semedo cross down and beating Darren Powell to slide his shot past the on-rushing Bywater. Charlton went in 1-0 up at half-time with only a skewed header from Zadkovich to come anywhere close for County. I expected a second Charlton goal after the break, kicking towards the Covered End, which would have finished Derby off. 

Powell was lucky to survive a last-man foul on Bouazza after 56 minutes and Bouazza drilled the resultant free-kick over the bar. As anticipated, we got the big chance to make it two when Martin Waghorn flicked the ball over the out-coming Derby defence and for once the linesman kept his flag down as Bouazza scampered in one-on-one with Bywater from a central position. The Valley held it's collective breath but Bouazza blasted over the bar. Minutes later, Derby finally opened the Charlton defence and Teale beat Elliot from close range but the goal was ruled out for another offside. The warning was there and Derby duly equalised from a penalty after Semedo inexplicably handled in the box under no pressure and right in front of Andy D'Urso - I seem to remember him doing this once before....

It took the Addicks just two minutes to restore their lead, Lloyd Sam did brilliantly down the left and beat his man to cut in and square the ball for the eager Waghorn whose shot was deflected but had enough to beat Bywater. The relief in the stadium was evident and it really did look like we were set to win. Both sides began to introduce substitutes and Charlton were content to play the ball around in the Derby half to waste time. Gillespie had come on for Sam and Burton for Waghorn as we won a succession of throw-ins but you sensed we should have been going for the jugular. In the third minute of added time, Derby launched a throw into the box which Basey could only head on and there was Ellington to slam home for an undeserved equaliser. The players were left in a slumped mess on the pitch at the whistle and it will take some motivation to avoid defeat at Carrow Road.

The defence played very well today and didn't deserve to concede two goals. Fortune was outstanding in the first half as was Cranie in the second as he dominated his contest with Luke Varney (who offered very little threat). Hudson was strong and Basey had a solid game up until he presented Ellington with his second equaliser. Our problem was in central midfield where Semedo didn't do nearly enough with Bailey to offer sufficient protection to the back four. Lloyd Sam had the beating of the Derby defence on his side but he should have scored and made more of a couple of other runs. Bouazza was also well involved but wasted the opportunity to win the game. Gray struggled upfront despite his goal and Waghorn tried hard and was ultimately rewarded with his goal. I suspect we've seen the last of him and it's a real shame we won't remember his goal as winner. 

The crowd were the best they have been all season in terms of vocal support and there were evidently more in attendeance than the Coventry game even if the actual numbers present fell a good bit short of the paying attendance of 20,989. I am going to Norwich on Saturday but I will travel more in feint hope than any expectation.