Charlton took a point home from South Yorkshire on Saturday after fighting out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Doncaster.
Lee Bowyer’s side dominated much of the proceedings, but had to withstand a late onslaught from their hosts.
Team wise, Krystian Bielik and Igor Vetokele came in for Mark Marshall and George Lapslie, in the only changes from the team that won at Wimbledon last week.
The first half was largely one way traffic, with the Addicks playing some neat, quick football. Former Millwall striker, John Marquis, did get the ball in the net though, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
After the break, a goal seemed to be getting ever closer, with Lyle Taylor coming nearest when he hit the post after 70 minutes.
The breakthrough finally came two minutes later. A corner on the left was played short to Josh Cullen, who drove a dangerous ball hard and low into the area.
Marquis, trying to clear the danger, could only divert the ball into his own net.
Alas, the lead did not last long. Five minutes later,Mallik Wilks beat Dillon Phillips with a shot from the edge of the area.
The game became an end-to-end affair as both sides went in search of the winner.
Phillips had to pull off two terrific late saves, and then an incredible one deep into stoppage time.
That last save seemed to have been in vain, as the ball was quickly recycled to Marquis who smashed it home.
Delirium followed in the home areas, and Donny’s coaching staff spilled onto the pitch.
But referee, Ben Toner, went over to his assistant who had his flag raised. The goal was disallowed for offside.
A Rovers player, standing in an offside position, had got the faintest of touches on the ball as it flew into the net.
The final whistle was blown seconds later. Doncaster’s players were understandably disappointed and frustrated, and two of them were booked for protesting too vehemently.
But to come away empty handed would have been rough justice on the visitors.
Lee Bowyer had this to say after the game:
“That (a point) was the least we deserved for today. In the first 10 minutes we should have been three up.
“In the second half we hit the post. We had chance after chance. They’ve made good blocks, the keeper has made good saves.
“I just said to them ‘Don’t be disappointed, you got a point, another game unbeaten’. They deserved at least that.
“They were excellent from start to finish Taking their goal away, I thought we dominated large parts of that game.
“Our passing, our movement was very good. Our work rate was very good. Unfortunately we didn’t put the game to bed. I thought they worked very hard today.”
Bowyer also thought the referee was correct in disallowing Doncaster’s late goal:
“It looks like one of their fellas, who is in and around the six-yard box, he gambles on the actual shot and it looks like he gets a little flick on it because he runs away celebrating and he’s in an offside position.
“That’s what it looks like from the tele. I thought the ref was very good today. He was a good one, I thought he did well.”
Charlton: Phillips; Solly , Bauer, Sarr, Purrington; Bielik (Dijksteel 90), Cullen, Aribo, Williams (Fosu, 62); Taylor, Vetokele (Marshall, 76).
Subs (not used): Maxwell, Lapslie, Reeves, Pratley.
Goal: Marquis 72 (own goal).
Doncaster: Marosi; Lewis, Downing, Butler, Andrew; Wilks, Whiteman, Kane (Rowe 78), Crawford (Blair 59), Coppinger (May 78); Marquis.
Subs (not used): Jones, Smith, Sadlier, Blaney
Goal: Wilks (77)
Booked: May 90 (dissent), Wilks 90 (dissent).
Referee: Ben Toner (Lancashire).
Attn: 8,385 (1,101 Charlton).
