Charlton 1-1 Tranmere

The out-of-sorts Addicks suffered a frightful first half, and went behind just before the half hour mark after a Simon Francis error allowed Enoch Showumni to go clear and slot home.

But Chris Powell’s men regained their confidence after the break and drew level from a free-kick taken by the returning Miguel Llera.

They created plenty of chances to turn the game on its head, including a couple more for Llera and two for his defensive partner Christian Dailly.

Sub Nathan Eccleston almost won it at the death from close range, but although the Reds were unable to collect all three points, they will be buoyed by their recovery to end their losing ways.

While the Addicks looked useful going forward a few times in the opening minutes, they were far from calm and collected at the back and a stray pass from Jose Semedo straight to Showunmi almost led to trouble.

Moments later, Showumni went down clutching his face after being muscled away from preventing a goal kick by Miguel Llera.

But despite the Spaniard’s arm going up somewhat, there appeared to be little to Enoch’s claims and referee David Coote told the striker to get up.

On 18 minutes Therry Racon, cast out onto the left flank with Alan McCormack in the middle with Semedo, used great skill to find space and surge forward, but was unable to make the final pass to Paul Benson.

The ball soon returned to Racon with space for a stab at goal, but the Guadeloupe international blazed over the bar.

But with confidence looking lost on the red shirts and passes going awry on many an occasion, it wasn’t that much of a surprise when the visitors took the lead on 26 minutes.

Simon Francis gave the ball away cheaply to Zoumana Bakayogo, who was able to play Showumni clean through and onside to slot past Elliot one-on-one.

The hosts attempted to restore some confidence with a couple of lengthy periods of possession, which didn’t go down too well with the home fans whenever the ball was played backwards, but resulted in a shot on target for Paul Benson.

But it was almost 2-0 with 5 minutes of the half to go after Elliot had to tip John Welsh’s shot around the post, then dropped his catch of the resulting corner before eventually recovering the ball.

Charlton ended the half slightly more positively than they’d played most of it – Francis looked to make amends for his costly error with a good, deep cross which Benson rose to head inches over.

While it appeared it’d take changes to the side at the interval to change their fortunes, the only one made was enforced, with Elliot unable to continue and Ross Worner coming on in his place.

However, it was indeed all change when the whistle went for the second period, as the hosts finally showed some confidence and determination to match their potential.

It paid off less than ten minutes into the half when diamond in the rough Racon won a free-kick on the end of another fine piece of skill, and Llera stepped up to curl the free-kick into the far bottom corner for 1-1.

Llera could have doubled his tally amidst an improving Addicks performance, almost beating goalkeeper Tony Warner to a corner kick delivery before firing another free-kick effort over the bar.

Dailly almost made it a double dose of defensive goals when he headed wide from a set piece, but the visitors also had their chances to regain the lead, including a free-kick from Cresswell which went over.

The home side piled on the pressure late on, especially after bringing Kyel Reid and Eccleston on for the final few minutes, and Eccleston almost nabbed a dramatic winner from Francis’ cross only to guide it the wrong side of the far post.

Charlton: Elliot (Worner 46), Francis, Llera, Dailly, Jenkinson, Wagstaff, Semedo, McCormack (Reid 83), Racon, Wright-Phillips (Eccleston 83), Benson. Subs not used: Solly, Fortune, Stavrinou, Harriott. Att: 14,015