Charlton 1-1 Burnley

A LATE second half header from Svetoslav Todorov earned Charlton a well-deserved share of the spoils against Burnley at The Valley.

However, it could have been a case of all three points for Alan Pardew's struggling side had Luke Varney not squandered a glorious chance to seal it two minutes from the final whistle.

Martin Paterson broke clear on the left in the eighth minute, got beyond Linvoy Primus, ran into area and eased past Mark Hudson before placing his shot beyond Nicky Weaver.

However, the goal was ruled out for offside after the referee consulted with the linesman.

But the visitors only had to wait five minutes to get their noses in front when the Addicks defence, clearly lacking in confidence, failed to clear a corner and Joey Gudjonsson drove home through a crowded area and Steven Thompson got a crucial final touch.

Chris McCann saw his shot from an ideal position inside the box take a deflection for a corner after half an hour moments after Yassin Moutaouakil had cleared from a dangerous cross from the right as the Clarets went in search of a second.

And in another break two minutes later after Charlton gifted possession to the visitors, Wade Elliott put in a low delivery across the face of goal which nobody could get on the end of.

Darren Ambrose's quickly-taken free-kick on 35 minutes landed at the feet of debutant Josh Wright, but his effort from outside the box sailed high over the bar.

Elliott's 40 minute shot from another break took another fortunate deflection, but this time off his colleague Martin Paterson.

Charlton's best move of the game so far came five minutes into the second half.

A delightful volley forward from Wright set Moutaouakil clear on the right and he in turn found Ambrose on the other side of goal.

He put in an inviting cross which found the head of Varney, but his effort from close range went straight into the hands of Burnley keeper Brian Jensen.

Ambrose looked certain to get on the end of Sam's cross moments later but a crucial late touch from a visiting defender took it behind for a corner instead.

And Ambrose squandered a chance on 57 minutes when he dispossessed Moutaouakil and took an ambitious shot which failed to trouble Jensen.

Substitute Todorov's 61st minute header went straight at Jensen as Charlton began to lay siege to Burnley's goal in search of an equaliser.

Gudjunsson was upended by Bailey at the other end midway through the second half, but the Icelandic midfielder blasted the set piece over the bar, while McCann fired wide moments later as Burnley finally awoke from their half-time slumber.

But it was Charlton who finally deservedly drew level with 14 minutes remaining.

Basey's free-kick into the danger zone connected with the head of Todorov and the Bulgarian striker scored his first goal since returning from the injury nightmare which wreaked havoc with his debut season in SE7.

However, Burnley should have been back in front minutes later when Gudjonsson's shot from 20 yards beat Weaver and cannoned back off the bar before a relieved Hudson put it behind for a corner.

There was a dramatic twist two minutes from time when Varney missed an absolute sitter.

The striker was put clean through, rounded Jensen and shot at an empty goal, but Michael Duff rushed back to get in a match-saving block.

It was a howler by anyone's standards and with it went Charlton's hopes of claiming a much-needed victory.

Charlton: Weaver, Moutaouakil, Hudson, Cranie, Primus (Sam 46), Ambrose, Wright (Holland 80), Bailey, Basey, McLeod (Todorov 46), Varney. Subs not used: Elliot, Bouazza. Att: 21,884.