Saturday was the fifth successive 1-1 draw between Charlton and Tranmere, so in some ways it was hardly a surprise.

However, given the hosts recent form, Chris Powell would probably have expected more from the game. The windy conditions did not help but the Addicks have been getting results without being at their sparkling best for some while now. Here are the manager’s thoughts:

“It was a hard fought contest and after going 1-0 down, going in at half time I felt the boys needed to just up their levels somewhat and I’m very pleased that they did.

“They deserved the equaliser and their keeper made a very good save from Danny Hollands and we had one or two more chances, but it wasn’t to be, but we haven’t lost, and we haven’t lost in the league since 2011 against Orient. So I’m very happy that we have got this momentum now, and we pick up a point after the three points in midweek, and that keeps us on target.

“I suppose at the start we look at Tranmere and they look at us but I thought we started off OK, but we are disappointed in the goal.

“There were one or two situations where we felt we could have tested their keeper a bit more.

“At half-time we sorted one or two things out and I felt the boys came out with more purpose and we were on the front foot and deserved the goal and possibly could have got a winner.

“We always strive to get three points, and after they scored my players were in the ascendancy and striving to move forward.

“We had some good passages of play but we just couldn’t get the finishing touches in the end.

“Tranmere is a tough place to come, though, and I felt we handled the conditions well.

“Like I say, we are disappointed with the goal but to come back in a real tough arena, against a team that makes you work hard for everything, I’ve got to be happy and I’m happy that our away form has been very good this season so it’s another point to the tally and we move on,” said Chris.

Bradley Wright-Phillips’ continuing goal drought is now a real concern for Powell. He dropped his leading scorer on Saturday and replaced him with Danny Haynes, only to see the front man hobble off after an hour with a hamstring problem.

Haynes’ pace worried the ageing Tranmere back line and Powell felt he could have earnt his side a penalty:

“It was a smart turn on the edge of the box and got him away from Ian Goodison. There was a linking of arms as such and then he managed to take it past the keeper and went down.

“The referee only got one look at it and he felt it wasn’t a penalty so we have the benefit of hindsight looking at it after the game to say it was. On another day it may be given but today it wasn’t.

“Danny felt his hamstring slightly and we’ve got good players champing to be involved, so as a precaution we took him off,” continued Chris.

A penalty would have been harsh but as Powell said, on another day it could have been given. Equally, some referees would have given a free-kick to the defending team.

Hopefully, Powell’s assessment of Haynes’ injury is correct but the player pulled up quickly and it did look quite serious. The manager opted to switch Danny Green to the left and bring Bradley Pritchard in on the right to cover the absence of skipper Johnnie Jackson. This was his reasoning:

“Danny Green is a talented player who puts good crosses in and I looked at Tranmere and felt Bradley Pritchard playing slightly narrower would help us and it did.

“I thought he played very well and played the role well. Greeny was involved in a lot of our good play and also that allowed Rhoys Wiggins to bomb on.

“They were strong alongside Dale Stephens and Danny Hollands and they created a lot today.

“Danny Hollands pushed on more and had a good chance which brought a good save from Fon Williams.

“The system worked well for us. I feel we handled the whole 90 minutes well, particularly the second half.”

Not sure I entirely agree. Green, rather than Pritchard, was the player who drifted in to more central areas. Stephens was the holding player in midfield and though Hollands did draw a good save from Fon Williams, he arguably should have made more of the opportunity.

Dale Stephens has a better eye for goal than Hollands and is the more naturally attack minded of the duo.

Wright-Phillips came on for the last half hour after Haynes’ premature departure and this is how Powell saw his contribution:

“He had one or two situations and linked up quite well.

“He put in a couple of good balls as well as being on the end of one or two crosses.That’s why he is there and he is a quality player. I decided to start with Danny Haynes today but Bradley is a good goalscorer at this level and he will be champing at the bit now to be involved in the next game,” concluded Powell.

Wright-Phillips will certainly get his chance against Rochdale and the manager will be hoping that his talismatic skipper is fit to return as well. The game should be an opportunity for the Addicks to turn on the style before the bigger challenge of Stevenage on Saturday.