It’s uncanny how often winning the prestigious monthly managerial award heralds a downturn in results for the manager concerned.

It was a draw, not a defeat, that Charlton took from Walsall but given the current form of the two sides – eight consecutive wins in all competitions for the Addicks, just one win in the last fifteen league games for the Saddlers – Chris Powell would have anticipated a win.

Both sides had their chances to snatch all three points and Powell was disappointed not to get a penalty in added on time when Richard Taundry appeared to handle in the box:

“I suppose it was a fair point, it was a tricky game for us in tricky conditions and the pitch was not conducive to total football as such.

“Walsall started off brightly and had a good chance, and then we grew into it and had one or two opportunities.

“They belied their league position and obviously upped their game for the league leaders coming in.

“They were fortunate with the goal after a double deflection, then it was an uphill battle for us, but it was a good response.

“It was a fantastic goal with Yann and Hogan combining and I was pleased we got back into it at half-time.

“We upped the tempo in the second period, but then we cleared one off the line while they blocked one or two opportunities.

“It’s one more point that we had this morning. I’m trying to take the positives. We are on 47 points from 20 games, and we move on,” said Powell before giving his views on the penalty incident, “Unless you are going to pay my fine, and I’m not being disrespectful, I’m going to keep my mouth shut.

“It was a handball but it wasn’t given and then we’ve hit the post from the resulting corner as well. That’s how the day went.

“It was a tough game for both sides, a hard game for the referee and assistant referees to manage but we came out with a point, so did Walsall and we move on.”

Clearly, there was no doubt in Powell’s mind that referee, David Webb, should have pointed to the spot. He was reasonably happy to add another point to the tally but will be looking to get back to winning ways against Oldham at The Valley on Saturday. Chris realises there are no easy games and paid tribute to the other teams in the league:

“Wherever you go in League One, regardless of the position of the opposition, they are going to make it tough for you if you are in the upper reaches like we are.

“They give that extra five or 10 per cent. I want us to win three points all the time but I think when you look at it overall and you come in and see one or two other results, you have got to reflect on it as one more point for us.

“I suppose the mindset we have had of late is we’ve won our last eight games previous to this. Some people feel disappointed, but I don’t because we haven’t lost.

“That’s the most important thing, that we haven’t lost this game. We could have got three points, we could have got a handball right at the very end but we take that point and move to 47 and move on to Oldham next week,” added Chris.

New loan signing from Preston, Darel Russell, had a fine game, epitomised by a tremendous piece of defending when he headed off the line:

“He’s an experienced player who knows how to play the conditions. You have to be good with your decision-making in games like this, because on other pitches you may take another touch because the pitch is good. On here, we had to make quick decisions.

“In midfield, I thought he (Russell) and Danny Hollands did well. It was a good battle against their two, Taundry and Chambers.

“All over the pitch, in difficult circumstances, I felt the players did OK,” concluded Powell.

Not the result many expected but the team showed their character by coming from behind and really upped the tempo after the break. The pitch certainly did not favour Charlton’s passing game but as Powell observed, they still added another point to their tally.