The opening game of  2014  was played in difficult conditions, driving rain and swirling winds were far from ideal for controlled football, and both the players and the officials struggled to keep their footing on the saturated surface.

Chris Powell again rang the changes with his team selection. Full-backs, Chris Solly and Rhoys Wiggins returned, with Lawrie Wilson pushing forward into midfield. Johnnie Jackson dropped to the bench.

There was a rare start for Marvin Sordell alongside Yann Kermorgant, with Simon Church on the bench. Ben Hamer, recovered from ligament damage, replaced Nick Pope on the bench as cover for Ben Alnwick.

Both sides  started brightly and Ipswich thought they should have had a penalty after just two minutes, when Daryl Murphy went down under pressure from Richard Wood, but Stuart Attwell waved their claims aside.

At the other end, Dean Gerken was at full stretch to tip Yann Kermorgant’s deflected effort round the post but it was the host’s who went ahead after 24 minutes.

Daryl Murphy fired a low hard cross in from the left which Richard Wood turned past Ben Alnwick.

The Addicks also had claims for a penalty six minutes before the interval. Stewart went down after latching on to a superb reverse ball from Dale Stephens. Attwell booked Stewart for diving.

Attwell may have got both claims wrong, both Murphy and Stewart had a clear sight of goal and could have got their shots away.

Right at the end of the half, Marvin Sordell pulled up with what looked to be a serious hamstring injury. After limping off, Sordell was replaced by Jordan Cook.

There was still time for Stephens to curl a free-kick narrowly wide of Gerken’s right-hand post.

The second half saw Charlton camped in the Tractor Boys’ half, without really testing the keeper.

As so often happens when one side is dominant, their opponents are dangerous on the break. After 79 minutes, Ipswich were awarded a penalty when Jordan Cousins was adjudged to have pushed Paul Anderson.

Alnwick saved superbly, diving to his right, to push David McGoldrick’s well hit spot-kick round the post.

If McGoldrick did not prove to be a super sub, Johnnie Jackson certainly did. Rhoys Wiggins forced a save from Gerken a minute from time but the Addicks kept pushing forward.

They had been a threat down the left all afternoon and it was this route that gave Jackson the opportunity to hit a right-footed shot from just inside the box in the last minute. The ball took a deflection on the way through, to wrong foot Gerken and nestle in the back of the net.

Charlton continued to press during stoppage time but had to settle for a hard fought but richly deserved point. Powell will be pleased to have achieved his goal of taking something from all the festive fixtures.

Charlton: Alnwick, Solly,  Morrison, Wood, Wiggins; Wilson (Church 70), Cousins, Stephens, Stewart (Jackson 79); Kermorgant, Sordell (Cook 45).

Subs not used: Hamer, Evina, Dervite, Pritchard.

Goal: Jackson 90.

Booked: Stewart 39 (diving),  Cook 69 (foul), Kermorgant. 79 (dissent).

Ipswich: Gerken, Smith, Chambers, Berra,  Cresswell,;Anderson, Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Tabb (Hyam 67); Murphy (Nouble 82), Taylor (McGoldrick 67).

Subs not used: Loach, Mings, Edwards, Wordsworth.

Goal: Wood 24 (own goal).

Booked: Berra (foul), Smith 90 (kicking ball at opponent),  Nouble 90 (dissent).

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Attn: 18,731 (780 Charlton).