CHARLTON surrendered a two-goal lead at home for the second time in three days when Cardiff fought back to earn a point this evening.

The Addicks appeared to be home and dry when Nicky Bailey added to Jonjo Shelvey’s first half opener with 10 minutes to play.

However, substitute Chris Burke quickly halved the deficit and a last minute equaliser from Gabor Gyepes ensured it was another night of heartbreak for the long-suffering home fans.

Mark Kennedy’s low pass into the box on eight minutes went beyond three Charlton defenders before finding Michael Chopra unmarked but his shot went wide.

Bailey’s cross on quarter of an hour tried to pick out Deon Burton and Shelvey both went in but Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton gathered.

Bailey’s free-kick on 21 minutes just went over the bar from 25-yards, although it was always sailing over.

Therry Racon’s 25th minute cross almost picked out Burton, who looked ideally placed to score six-yards out but the opportunity was denied when a Cardiff defender got a crucial touch to put it behind for a corner.

Bailey went down under a challenge from Kennedy in the area one minute later and was furious when the referee ignored his claim for a penalty.

Racon gave the ball away needlessly on the half hour with a wayward pass which Kelly Youga failed to intercept.

Chopra was ready to pounce and went on a run from the halfway line before unleashing a goal-bound shot which Rob Elliot did well to push over in what was probably the best move of the game so far.

The Addicks went in front on 35 minutes when Lloyd Sam picked up possession, got past two markers and curled in a cross to the far post where Shelvey arrived to volley past Heaton.

Joe Ledley almost equalised immediately and only the quick thinking of Elliot, who pushed his long range shot onto the bar, kept the Bluebirds midfielder out.

Charlton should have doubled their advantage seven minutes into the second half when an inch-perfect pass picked out Zheng Zhi just inside the area.

The Chinese midfielder looked up and turned before firing in a shot which beat Haeton before hitting the post.

In fact, the move was almost identical to the one which produced Charlton’s second goal against Blackpool on Saturday, except this time it was Shelvey who turned provider and Zhi who had the final shot.

Gyepes came within inches of drawing the visitors level in the 66th minute when he headed over from six yards after connecting with Ross McCormack’s free-kick.

Former Addick Jay Bothroyd did have the ball in the net five minute later, although his decision to foul Mark Hudson made his premature celebrations in front of the Cardiff fans behind the goal look slightly foolish.

McCormack was left to kick the air in sheer frustration after his free-kick from a dangerous position 20 yards out sailed high and over the bar.

Bothroyd tried his luck with another free-kick moments later, but his effort took a deflection off the Charlton wall and fell to Chris Burke on the left of the area, although his shot was pushed away by Elliot.

Cardiff were in complete control at this stage, but it was Charlton who scored the game’s second goal on 80 minutes.

Kandol and Ward both got slight touches from Shelvey’s corner before the ball fell to Bailey and he drilled home with a powerful low shot beyond Heaton.

Cardiff were right back in it two minutes later when Burke smashed home a shot from 20 yards to set up a tense finale.

A clumsy challenge by Bailey on Roger Johnson just outside of the area handed the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous position, although the ball was eventually cleared.

However, there was to be no escape when another needless tackle by Bailey on McCormack resulted in Cardiff’s equaliser.

McCormack’s delivery into the danger zone was initially cleared by Hudson before Kelly Youga put it behind for a corner.

Burke’s corner found Gyepes and he blasted his shot past Elliot to rescue a crucial point for the Welsh outfit in their bid to reach the play-offs.

Unsurprisingly, Charlton fans went ballistic at the latest capitulation and large sections of the crowd turned on Phil Parkinson, calling for his immediate dismissal.

Charlton: Elliot, Butterfield, Ward, Hudson, Youga, Sam (Spring 69), Racon, Zhi, Bailey, Shelvey (Holland 83), Burton (Kandol 60). Subs not used: Randolph, Tuna. Att: 19,390.