Oxford United 1-1 Charlton Athletic: Matt Bloomfield’s misery over points dropped

By Kieron Small

OXFORD UNITED 1

Brannagan 57 (pen)

CHARLTON ATH 1

Kelman 90+3 (pen)

MR COOL: Charlton Athletic’s Charlie Kelman scores their late leveller from the spot

PICTURES: Alamy

Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield believes the draw felt more like two points dropped than one point gained because of the lateness of Charlton’s stop-page time penalty leveller.

Sub Charlie Kelman tucked away the 93rd-minute spot-kick after Ciaron Brown fouled Lloyd Jones as they went to meet a free-kick.

Cameron Brannagan had given Oxford the lead in the 57th minute, also from the spot-the first penalty Oxford United have been awarded in nearly two years – after Kayne Ramsay brought down Will Lankshear Bloomfield said: “It feels like two points dropped because of the timing of the goal, of course it does.

“But we all have to re-member we’ve put a point on our total which is a positive against an extremely tough opposition.

Match action

There was one enforced change for Oxford with Myles Part-Harris missing out after taking a knock in the mid-week win over Blackburn.

In contrast, Charlton boss Nathan Jones continued with his squad rotation, making five changes to the side which had triumphed at second-placed Mid-dlesbrough, resting matchwinner Conor Coady and Kelman among others from the starting line-up. Both teams were in form and full of confidence.

Charlton made the brightest start, Greg Do-cherty firing in a low angled shot that Jamie Cumming saved with ease.

The Addicks had a lot of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, skilful play by Yunus Konak helped create an opportunity for the U’s, Lankshear turning the ball on to Aidomo Emakhu only for Lloyd Jones to intercept smartly.

The surprise win at Middlesbrough had taken Charlton to 48 points and virtual safety and there was freedom in the way they played in the first half.

However, Stan Mills began to have an influence on the match for the U’s. When he was brought down just outside the box, which earned Luke Chambers a booking, Jamie Donley curled the free-kick over the bar.

And from Mills’s dangerous right-wing cross moments later, Amari’l Bell sliced a clearance just past the angle of his own post and bar.

YES!- Cameron Brannagan celebrates his penalty for the U’s

Second half

Early in the second half Michel Helik flicked the ball over the bar after Lankshear nodded on Brannagan’s long diagonal cross.

From a long throw by Charlton, Conor Coventry headed wide, but the home side then began to attack with increasing frequency, and when Lankshear drew the foul from Ramsay in the box, a huge cheer erupted in the stadium.

Lankshear almost added a second goal four minutes later when he chipped the ball over keeper Mannion only to see Jones get back to clear off the line.

Bloomfield’s men looked to be heading to another vital three points, but the Addicks had other ideas  and made Cumming pay for his late error.