Ishmael Miller cancelled out Zheng Zhi's early goal as Coca-Cola
Championship rivals Charlton and West Brom fought out an FA Cup
third-round draw which neither wanted.
China international Zheng found the net in only the second
minute with his seventh goal of the season but Manchester City
loanee Miller was on hand to tuck away an equaliser with his side's
only decent chance of the first half.
The Addicks, who have won only twice at home in their last 10
matches, pushed hard after the break but could not find a way
through and the promotion rivals now face a cup replay to add to
their already punishing league schedules.
There was little evidence of the magic of the competition as two
teams who have rarely troubled the latter stages in recent memory -
and who have bigger fish to fry in the shape of a return to the
Premier League - ran out in front of a disappointing crowd.
The fact that both managers left out their top scorers, Chris
Iwelumo and Kevin Phillips, suggested neither would shed too many
tears if they were not in the hat for the fourth round.
But Alan Pardew's side stunned the visitors with less than 90
seconds on the clock as Lloyd Sam crossed to the far post.
Darren Ambrose headed the ball back across goal to the feet of
Zheng, who swivelled on the edge of the six-yard box and fired past
Baggies goalkeeper Dean Kiely.
Former Charlton stalwart Kiely denied the hosts a second in the
ninth minute with a fine save to keep out Izale McLeod, before
Zheng's acrobatic effort went straight to the veteran keeper.
But West Brom scored with their first meaningful attack in the
34th minute as Chris Brunt meandered down the left and sent in a
low cross which Miller tucked past Nicky Weaver.
McLeod felt he should have had a penalty when he was blocked in
the Baggies area by Martin Albrechtsen, but referee Keith Woolmer
was not impressed, and Kiely held Ambrose's low shot as the first
half drew to a close.
After the break Charlton striker Luke Varney should have done
better with a cut-back from Yassin Moutaouakil but the ball was
played in just behind the striker and his shot looped up for Kiely
to palm clear.
At the other end, Miller held off Moutaouakil before firing
across the face of goal.
McLeod then squandered an excellent chance when he opted to
shoot with the unmarked Varney screaming for the square ball and
Kiely made a comfortable save.
Kiely was the busier of the two goalkeepers and was forced into
further saves from Varney and McLeod, although Weaver did well to
keep out a fierce drive from substitute Sherjill MacDonald.
Pardew made a triple substitution in the 77th minute, throwing
on Iwelumo, Grant Basey and young striker Chris Dickson.
Dickson, just back from a goal-laden spell with Gillingham,
should have bundled home a winner six minutes from time but Kiely
dived at his feet to grab the ball.
And in stoppage time Madjid Bougherra headed straight at Kiely
from a corner as the Baggies held out.
(sportinglife.com January 6, 2008)
