WEST Bromwich Albion escaped with an FA Cup draw at The Valley in a result that neither boss Tony Mowbray nor his Charlton Athletic counterpart Alan Pardew wanted.
The two teams will meet again in a replay at The Hawthorns on January 15 to try to resolve the third-round tie, adding to an already congested fixture list.
It was a below-par performance by the Baggies on Saturday but Mowbray revealed afterwards that he had several players suffering from niggling fitness problems.
Roman Bednar didn`t travel to London because of a calf strain, while Paul Robinson is undergoing a scan on a troublesome rib injury.
Mowbray also revealed that several other players, including Carl Hoefkens, Jonathan Greening and Robert Koren, were all carrying knocks and sprains during Saturday`s game.
The Albion manger told the club`s official website: ‘It was an under-par performance, like in our last game at Ipswich.
‘The sharpness isn`t there at the moment – and I can understand why.
‘But I`m sure with a week of rest, recovery and recuperation we`ll be much better for the next round of fixtures coming up.`
Kevin Phillips was rested after featuring in five games in 17 days since his return from a six-weeks absence with a knee injury, but Mowbray is confident that all three will be fit to return for the televised Championship clash at Hull City on Saturday.
Albion were indebted for a second chance to progress to the fourth round to a string of fine saves from keeper Dean Kiely, back on his old stomping ground at Charlton.
The Addicks caught their visitors cold with a second-minute strike from Zheng Zhi before Ishmael Miller headed home a Chris Brunt cross to resore parity with his tenth goal of the season.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Weaver; Moutaouakil, Bougherra, McCarthy, Youga; Sam, Holland, Zhi, Ambrose (Basey 77); Varney (Dickson 77), McLeod (Iwelumo 77). Subs not used: Randolph, Semedo.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-1-1): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Cesar (Pele 46), Albrechtsen; Gera (MacDonald 46), Koren (Morrison 67), Greening, Brunt; Teixeira; Miller. Subs not used: Steele, Beattie.
GOALS – Charlton: Zhi 2; Albion: Miller 34.
BOOKINGS – Charlton: Holland 37; Albion: Gera 19.
REFEREE: Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire).
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