YANN Kermorgant scored his first Charlton goal to keep their unbeaten league record alive with a 1-1 draw at Milton Keynes Dons.

Signed a few weeks ago, the striker headed home Danny Green’s cross with fifteen minutes to spare after Shaun Williams had put the Dons ahead from the spot in the first half.

And while the draw scuppered the Reds’ opportunity to go six points clear at the top of League One, over the course of 90 minutes it was a good result amidst the rare sight of the Addicks being outplayed for large patches.

The early stages of the contest at the very least proved neither side was afraid to go for goal – Angelo Balanta, Dale Stephens, Clinton Morrison and Danny Hollands all had efforts inside the first five minutes.

Of the four, only Morrison was able to force a save, a good catch from Ben Hamer, while Hollands’ header from a deep free-kick was offside anyway.

As the game progressed, it was the hosts who had the majority of the play, impressing with a similar brand of football to that which had put Charlton clear at the top of League One prior to kick-off.

And they took the lead in the 21st minute when one of many fine flowing moves culminated in Solly bringing down the skipper leading to official Roger East pointing to the spot.

Williams made no mistake from twelve yards, and while Hamer guessed the right way, he went too low for the Irish midfielder, who sent the opener into the top corner.

The Addicks continued to cut a frustrated figure and it could easily have been 2-0 when Luke Chadwick teed up Darren Potter for a low drive which Hamer had to push away from the far post.

The overall game of the visitors picked up a little from there, but the major chances remained with Karl Robinson’s side.

A superb early delivery from Tom Flanagan picked out Williams in the box in the dying embers of the first half, and only another choice stop from Hamer denied both player and club a double going into the interval.

The Reds gradually grew into the second period and finally began to show some life, with Paul Hayes and Bradley Wright-Phillips both coming close.

Williams again came close to a second when his fierce effort flew inches to the wrong side of the far angle, while Morrison really should have done better with a close range header.

Breaking his usual penchant for leaving substitutes until the very end , Chris Powell brought on Danny Green and Kermorgant for Wagstaff and Hayes respectively halfway through the half.

It was understandable in the circumstances, and it also drew the visitors level as Green’s early ball was put away by the diving header of the Frenchman for his first Charlton goal.

The goal only increased the tempo of the game, and Johnnie Jackson should have scored from a free header at the far post moments before Williams had yet another golden opportunity to regain the lead from close range.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Wagstaff (Green 67), Hollands, Stephens, Jackson, Hayes (Kermorgant 72), Wright-Phillips (Hughes 88). Subs not used: Sullivan, Cort. Att: 8,114.