CHARLTON’S hopes of winning an automatic promotion spot were dealt a major blow when they were held at home by struggling Tranmere Rovers this afternoon.

Nicky Bailey’s 57th minute equaliser cancelled out Sam Sodje’s 50th minute own goal, but this will come as scant consolation after Leeds and Norwich both won to pull further clear at the top of the table.

Recent signing Kyel Reid, signed on loan yesterday from Sheffield United, came straight into the starting XI at the expense of Jonjo Shelvey, who didn’t even make the bench.

Sodje was available again after serving a four-match suspension and got the nod ahead of Miguel Llera.

Grant Basey’s fourth minute volley landed in the Tranmere fans gathered behind the goal as opposed to hitting the back of the net.

Chris Shuker was unfortunate his touch let him down when he was found by Ian Thomas-Moore six yards out in the ninth minute and the shot went wide.

Burton’s flick on put Dave Mooney through on goal and the striker dragged the ball over Ian Goodison before firing straight at Luke Daniels in the 12th minute.

Charlton had a decent and sustained spell of pressure on the Tranmere goal which finally ended with Lloyd Sam blazing over from 20 yards three minutes later.

Bailey came close with an effort from just outside the area midway through the first half which wasn’t far from finding the target after the Addicks skipper had been picked out by Burton.

Only a fantastic save from Daniels kept out Burton’s goalbound effort after he got on the end of Reid’s 29th minute cross.

Jose Semedo’s 35th minute volley landed straight at the keeper seconds after a perfectly-timed tackle inside the area by Zoumana Bakayogo on Frazer Richardson.

However, Charlton were dealt a blow shortly afterwards when keeper Rob Elliot was forced to make way for Daren Randolph after failing to shake off an injury picked up earlier on in the game.

Reid saw a stoppage time volley from 20 yards go well wide and then Mooney’s header from Reid’s cross also drifted off target as the first half finished scoreless.

Tranmere grabbed a shock lead within five minutes of the restart when Paul McLaren played a short corner and his delivery back into the danger zone was fired past Randolph by Sodje for a bizarre own goal.

Randolph needlessly punched away Welsh’s volley back into the path of McLaren and his cross into the danger zone was forced behind for a corner as a shell-shocked Charlton side began to look increasingly edgy.

Sam’s 56th minute header from Basey’s decent delivery went straight into the hands of Daniels as the hosts finally responded to the setback.

Reid had a penalty claim ignored a minute later after going down inside the box under a challenge, a decision which instead resulted in a corner.

Basey’s corner was flicked on by Burton and Bailey applied the final touch Burton headed onwards and Bailey got the final touch to make it all square.

Tranmere almost restored their lead on the hour when Thomas-Moore shook the attentions of Richardson to pick out Terry Gornell, but his shot went straight at Randolph.

Thomas- Moore scuffed his shot three minutes later from just inside the area, while Burton’s first time shot from Sam’s through ball at the other end went behind for a corner.

Parkinson’s decision to replace with debutant Reid with Leon McKenzie provoked plenty of boos from the home fans, while Sam also made way for Scott Wagstaff at the same time.

Bailey’s free-kick almost was headed over by Sodje and Thomas-Moore fired tamelt at Randolph as both sides went in search of a winner.

Craig Curran came within inches of grabbing it in the 76th minute with a low shot which went inches wide of the post.

Basey’s low ball through to McKenzie one minute later forced Daniels to make a save at his near post and concede a corner, from which McKenzie headed wide.

Ash Taylor blazed a shot over the bar as Charlton continued to give away possession tamely and invite pressure from the visitors.

Wagstaff’s delivered a great 83rd minute cross into the danger zone but neither McKenzie or Burton could apply a decisive touch, which surely would have resulted in a goal had they done so.

Curran missed a sitter for Tranmere when he lined up a shot from from 15-yards which he somehow contrived to fire off target after doing all the hard work.

Burton’s flicke on was headed straight at Daniels by Sodje, while Randolph had to be alert to deny both Alan Mahon and Gornell with two saves in a matter of minutes.

Goodison hit the bar in the 90th minute and then Charlton went up the other end when Wagastaff’s cross found Burton, whose header went straight at the keeper.

Wagstaff was also denied and finally Bailey’s effort hit the post in a dramatic finale.

There was also time for Bagayogo to pick up his second yellow card and see red for a clumsy challenge on Wagstaff and Richardson to fizz a shot over before the final whistle blew on a frustrating performance for the Addicks.

Charlton: Elliot (Randolph 35), Richardson, Sodje, Dailly, Basey, Sam (Wagstaff 71), Bailey, Semedo, Reid (McKenzie 71), Burton, Mooney. Subs not used: Llera, Racon, Dickson, Omozusi. Att: 16,168.