A Matt Clarke header denied Charlton Athletic a famous win away to Derby County as the Addicks were made to settle for a 1-1 draw.
The last time Charlton won back-to-back league games away to the Rams, most of those in attendance at Pride Park on Tuesday had not been born, with the feat last happening in 1962.
For a long period in the game, it looked like Nathan Jones’ side were going to rewrite their own history in the Midlands thanks to James Bree’s 37th-minute opener, only for a set piece to unravel the Addicks late on.
After a sloppy start, the Addicks recovered well and enjoyed a spell of dominance in the opening quarter of an hour.
During this period, Derby shot-stopper Jacob Zetterström endured several, mostly self-inflicted, nervy moments, none more worrisome than when his heavy touch from a back pass presented a golden opportunity to the Addicks.
But the Swede recovered quickly, albeit frantically, to deny Nathan Jones’ side of an early opener.
The game settled and assumed a flow more consistent with a basketball match, though the end-to-end football was resulting in very few chances of note.
When Max Johnston dispatched a powerful cross towards the back post, it looked set up perfectly for Patrick Agyemang to net his first Derby goal, but his miscue offered a reprieve to the Addicks.
That reprieve proved crucial as improved performance, coupled with an increasingly hostile crowd, owing to perceived poor decisions, swung the game in the Addicks’ favour.
Tyreece Campbell came close for the Addicks in the 34th minute, firing narrowly wide from a cross-goal effort after cutting in from the edge of the box.
The Addicks’ breakthrough came in the 37th minute, when Bree rocketed an effort into the top left-hand corner to open the scoring.
A clever flick across the box by captain Greg Docherty unleashed Bree, and the 27-year-old made no mistake with his thunderous strike, which gave Charlton a merited lead.
Trailing at the break, Derby had something of a mountain to overturn in the second half, and they came racing out of the blocks with a point to prove.
Conor Coventry’s free kick in the 66th minute was countered on quickly by the hosts, as Agyeman was unleashed on the break.
The United States international showed great strength to reach the box with relative ease, but an exquisite sliding challenge from Kayne Ramsay ended the immediate threat, sending the ball behind for a corner.
With Charlton chasing a third consecutive clean sheet, it was clear that the tide was beginning to turn in the contest and, when the hosts were awarded a corner in the 78th minute, the atmosphere was balanced on a knife-edge.
The delivery cleared the box and fell to Lewis Travis, before the Derby captain dispatched a cross towards the six-yard box, which was met by a leaping Matt Clarke.
With the beating of the Addicks’ defence, Clarke headed past Kaminski to fire the hosts level with a little over ten minutes to play.
The travelling Addicks felt each and every minute pass, the tension rising as the final whistle neared.
Derby searched tirelessly for a late winner, but Jones’ side were able to hold on to earn a point, little consolation for the win they will have felt they came so close to earning.
Up next for Charlton is a long trip to Preston on Saturday, where they will look to extend their unbeaten run to five games.
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