Fans were treated to a six goal thriller at Rochdale on Saturday.
Ed Wood accompanied the teams onto the pitch. Wood regained his World record for visiting all 93 English league grounds – the 92 Premier League and EFL stadia, plus English based Scottish League side, Berwick Rangers – in the fastest time.
Karl Robinson gave starts to Lewis Page, Ricky Holmes and Tony Watt, in place of Adam Chicksen, Stephy Mavididi and Joe Aribo. Watt played slightly behind Josh Magennis.
The match was played at breakneck speed from the word go. The encounter always looked to have goals in it, and that is the way it panned out.
Dale took an early lead, Charlton eqalised then took the lead, before Dale followed suit, and finally the Addicks levelled again to make the final score 3-3.
As well as the goals, the bar and post were hit, shots were kicked off the line, there was an incredible save by Declan Rudd, and there was nearly a bizarre own goal too.
It took Rochdale just four minutes to take the lead. When Rudd failed to hold a free-kick from the left, Niall Canavan was on hand to prod the ball over the line.
Jordan Botaka’s first goal for the club levelled things up four minutes before the interval. The Congolese international was sent clear with only Ben Wilson to beat.
Botaka’s effort hit the post, but he was the quickest to react and tucked away the rebound.
Robinson’s side took the lead midway through the second period. A left-wing corner was headed back across goal by Patrick Bauer, and Jorge Teixeira – an early substitute for the injured Ezri Konsa – was on hand to scramble the ball home.
The lead only lasted three minutes. A left-wing cross was headed home at the far post by Calvin Andrew to level things up for Dale.
The hosts looked to have snatched all three points six minutes from time. When a Charlton attack broke down, Dale countered swiftly, and substitute, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, thundered a shot in from the edge of the box.
But the Addicks still had something up their sleeves. A corner was met by Bauer, and Teixeira was again on hand to bundle the ball home.
A thoroughly enjoyable, pulsating game. A draw was absolutely the right result, but Robinson’s team need to start winning games if they are to achieve his play-off ambitions.
Charlton: Rudd; Solly, Bauer, Konsa (Teixeira 28), Page; Botaka (Novak 78),Crofts, Forster-Caskey, Holmes; Watt (Mavididi 64), Magennis.
Subs (not used): Phillips, Jackson, Dasilva, Aribo.
Goals: Botaka 41, Teixeira 67, 89
Booked: Magennis 79 (foul), Holmes 90 (foul).
Rochdale: Wilson, Rafferty, Canavan, Andrew, Camps, McDermott (Rathbone 64), Thompson (Mendez-Laing 76), Keane, Allen, Kitching Noble-Lazarus 58), Henderson.
Subs (not used): Logan, McNulty, McGahey, Cannon.
Goals: Canavan 4, Andrew 70, Mendez-Laing 84
Booked: Keane 34 (foul), Rathbone 90 (foul), Rafferty 90 (foul).
Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic