CHARLTON were held to a Valley draw by struggling Gillingham this afternoon.

Phil Parkinson promised on Thursday there would be changes from last week’s derby defeat at Millwall and Chris Solly, Miguel Llera, Kyel Reid and Akpo Sodje were the quartet to miss out, although all were named on the bench.

Loan signing Gary Borrowdale made his debut at left-back and there were recalls for Deon Burton, Sam Sodje and Lloyd Sam.

Sam’s fifth minute cross picked out Bailey, whose header was deflected behind for a corner, from which Charlton fans were left appealing in vain for a penalty after claiming Stuart Lewis had handled.

Therry Racon fired over from 30 yards after the danger had only been half clear, while Sam wasn’t too far away one minute later with a curling shot from the edge of the area which just went wide.

Dennis Oli went clear on goal after flicking a header over Sam Sodje and only a fantastic tackle by Christian Dailly to concede a corner denied the Gills striker a shot on target.

Adam Miller’s corner was just headed wide by Rene Howe as Charlton survived the scare, while Frazer Richardson blasted over three minutes later at the other end after Sam had cleverly picked him out.

Sam Sodje put in a well-timed 20th minute challenge as Oli was again thwarted from pulling the trigger.

Borrowdale’s second corner in quick succession midway through the first half was initially scrambled away, although Bailey got in the way of the clearance and the ball landed kindly at the feet of Burton at the far post, but he blazed over.

Mooney’s ambitious 26th minute volley was way off target, while Oli picked up a yellow at the other end for deliberate handball after getting on the end of Miller’s pass.

Gills keeper Alan Julian made a crucial stop to keep out Sam’s close range shot and from the corner, Sam Sodje hit the bar and Bailey headed inches over from the rebound.

Charlton were knocking on the door and got their noses in front shortly afterwards when the ball fell to Richardson some 30 yards out and he teed it up before drilling a low shot beyond the rach of Julian.

However, the advantage was to prove very short lived as the Gills were back on terms within two minute thanks to a stunning Andy Barcham volley from 25 yards, which simply flew past Rob Elliot before landing in the back of the net.

Gillingham had Julian to thank on 39 minutes when he finger tipped Bailey’s header onto the bar.

Charlton were dealt a blow when Burton went to ground holding his knee when attempting to win a header and although the striker attempted to run it off, he was replaced within minutes by Akpo Sodje.

But it was Gillingham who went in at the break in front when they were gifted the lead in stoppage time.

Keeper Elliot could only push out Howe’s shot and the rebound was taped into the net by Oli to ensure Parkinson’s side left the field to a crescendo of boos.

The boss made a surprise substitution by replacing Elliot with Darren Randolph at the start of the second half.

Whether the regular keeper had paid the price for the second goal or not remained to be seen but there were no obvious signs he had been carrying an injury.

Gills keeper Julian pulled off a fine save to deny Mooney after the Irishman had been put through by Sam’s pass.

A Gillingham player accidently clashed with the referee moments later and Semedo capitalised by continuing his run before scuffing a shot wide of the target.

Julian had to push over Bailey’s 55th minute as the Addicks continued to pile on the pressure.

It paid off on the hour when Richardson’s throw in found Racon, whose pass picked out Mooney and the striker took one touch before firing past Julian.

Sam went on a delightful run three minutes later and left the Gills defence for dead before unleashing a shot inside the area which was blocked before the danger was cleared.

Mooney teed up Akpo Sodje for a 68th minute shot which was drilled straight at Julian from 10 yards before the two locked horns again moments later when Sodje’s header was pushed behind by the Gills keeper for a corner.

Simeon Jackson entered the fray in place of Curtis Weston with 17 minutes to play, a sign perhaps Gillingham felt this game was still winnable.

Borrowdale went on a long run which took him to the edge of the area, although his eventual shot lacked power and he may have been better advised to try and pick out Akpo Sodje with a pass.

Randolph made a point blank save to keep out Oli’s close range effort after the striker applied a touch to Barcham’s header into the six yard box.

Reid came on for Racon with 11 minutes remaining as Bailey moved back into the centre of midfield.

The Addicks were awarded a free-kick just outside of the area three minutes later for handball but Reid fired over the bar from a dangerous position.

But worryingly Charlton failed to really threaten the Gills for the remainder of the game and were forced to settle for a home point against a side who have yet to record an away victory this season.

Still, at least this was an improved display from last week’s Millwall fiasco if nothing else, although it is safe to assume Huddersfield away next week will be a much sterner test.

Charlton: Elliot (Randolph 46), Richardson, S Sodje, Dailly, Borrowdale, Sam, Racon (Reid 79), Semedo, Bailey, Burton (A Sodje 43), Mooney. Subs not used: Llera, Shelvey, Wagstaff, Solly. Att: 20,024.