Addicks hold Albion to a draw
by Chris Stanton, 21 March 2008
Charlton and West Bromwich Albion drew 1-1 after a typically predatory strike by Kevin Phillips cancelled out an opener from Greg Halford to ensure a result that furthers neither side's promotion hopes.
Albion started and ended the game the better team but found themselves trailing in the 30th minute to Halford's first goal for The Addicks when the defender's header sneaked in at the far post following Darren Ambrose's set piece.
The Addicks sought to double their lead, usually through the promptings of Jerome Thomas, but Albion's threat remained and three minutes before half time, Phillips picked his spot from 10 yards with remarkable ease, dispatching a shot in off the crossbar from Zoltan Gera's knockdown.
Thomas carried the home side's more cultured threat in the second half, while the more direct approach of Addicks defender Sam Sodje continued to cause his former club difficulty in defending set pieces.
Albion pressed more convincingly for the winner they needed to keep pace with the promotion pace-setters, but when the lively Gera struck the crossbar with a wonderful volleyed attempt from outside the area, Tony Mowbray probably knew his side would remain fourth and four points behind Bristol City.
Alan Pardew's side were booed off the pitch at the final whistle and, although The Addicks have moved up to eighth place, they have now played more games than their rivals for a play-off place.