Capital gain is so deserved

Photo: Max Flego

HEAD TURNER . . . inspirational skipper Peter Clarke nets Athletic's equaliser in the Sky Bet League One clash against Charlton last night

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ON the night Sam Allardyce left the England job with his head uncharacteristically bowed, Athletic left the capital with theirs collectively raised after securing a point that was the very least they deserved on the balance of play.

The Valley had never been a happy hunting ground - Athletic had never won here in 24 previous attempts dating back to 1929 - but just as it looked as if another hard-luck story was brewing, up stepped skipper Peter Clarke.

The veteran defender may or may not take his wine by the pint glass, as 'Big Sam' appeared to be doing in the sting that cost him his job, but what is certain is that he knows exactly what is expected of him in his role.

Clarke's 83rd-minute header from a Paul Green free-kick was a 45th career goal and earned his men a draw that significantly boosted spirits following the Swindon no-show.

It could and should have been better. Charlton, like Athletic without a win since August 20, took the lead midway through the first half thanks to a powerful shot from Josh Magennis, a former target of Athletic boss Stephen Robinson's.

But that was firmly against the run of play. Soon after, Freddie Ladapo should have buried an equaliser and the striker also miscued a chance in a second half in which the traffic was one-way in Athletic's favour.

Ademola Lookman hit the angle of post and crossbar late on for the Addicks as both sides sought a winner, but a defeat would have been the roughest of justice on a much-changed Athletic outfit who now must back up this effort on home soil against MK Dons on Saturday.

Robinson made six alterations to the side that was beaten 2-0 at home by Swindon.

Out went the ill Lee Croft, along with Josh Law, Charles Dunne, Marc Klok, Ollie Banks and Lee Erwin; in at The Valley from the off were Cameron Dummigan, Jamie Reckord, Ryan McLaughlin, Ousmane Fane, Ryan Flynn and Billy Mckay.

BRIGHT START

In a 4-4-2 shape with McLaughlin on the left and Flynn on the right, Athletic made a bright start. Pressing and passing and looking a slick, confident outfit everywhere except inside the opposition box, one Green burst 18 minutes in resulted in a Reckord cross that fell to a grounded Mckay, whose left-foot shot forced Declan Rudd into a sharp low stop.

Charlton's fans - who had not seen their side win in the side's five previous outings ­- started to express their displeasure at the direction of play.

The jeers turned to cheers, though, thanks to a goal from out of the blue.

There appeared to be little danger as Ricky Holmes advanced on the break down the middle, even after Clarke had gone to ground prematurely.

And even when Magennis had control on the right side of the area, with two defenders blocking his path to goal Athletic should have been comfortable. Cameron Burgess also dived into a block of a shot that never arrived, though, and the Northern Ireland international hammered a low angled drive underneath Connor Ripley.

Nine minutes later came the moment that Ladapo - a bright, physical presence up top - would have to explain to his manager.

The build-up play was superb. Flynn's clever movement bought him a yard in midfield and Dummigan fed Green's second-man run down the right channel. His cross was a beauty and Ladapo - searching for his first Athletic goal in the city of his birth - controlled and seemed certain to hammer in from inside the six-yard box. Somehow, a defender affected a block and the ball trickled into the arms of a grateful Rudd.

Magennis had a half-chance in the opening seconds of the second half, but was forced wide. Athletic were soon back on the front foot though.

Dummigan advanced down the right in the 48th minute in another lovely passing move, feeding Ladapo who returned the favour before getting another return pass which opened up a shooting chance. Inside the area though, Ladapo snatched at the shot which bobbled so wide that Mckay, arriving on the left, almost had chance to turn it in himself.

It seemed to sum up Athletic's fortunes on the hour when, in another neat passage of play, Reckord slipped when overlapping on the left and was unable to produce a cross.

PROMISE

Moments later, Mckay prevaricated in a good position, was crowded out and saw a half-chance disappear from Flynn's cross.

Erwin was brought on for Ladapo in an attempt to freshen up the forward line after 64 minutes and just failed to connect properly with a header from a Green corner.

At the other end, Holmes skewed a volley wide from a Lookman corner before Green's neat one-two saw him spear a low centre which flashed right across the six-yard area without a touch.

Darius Osei was introduced for the impressive but possibly tiring McLaughlin as Athletic carried on pushing.

Erwin shot from distance, too close to Rudd, but just as it appeared the night was to be another hard-luck story Clarke netted the leveller in the 83rd minute

Green's cross from a midfield free-kick was an inviting beauty and the skipper was in the right place at the right time to stoop and direct a neat header beyond Rudd.

Nerves hung by a thread two minutes later when lively substitute Lookman hammered a 25-yard shot against an upright with Ripley helpless and rooted to the spot, before Erwin flashed wide a header from a corner.

IN A NUTSHELL: Athletic gained one point, but it might have been more.