Cardiff City manager Neil Harris: I’ll view it as a point gained – not two dropped – at Charlton Athletic

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Neil Harris was left happy with a point in his first match as Cardiff City manager – as they fought back to earn a 2-2 draw at Charlton.

The Addicks had a comfortable cushion by the break after goals from Conor Gallagher and Jonathan Leko.

But Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Lee Tomlin scored after the restart with Junior Hoilett also seeing a poor penalty saved by Dillon Phillips.

It was an eventful match in which there were 38 shots – 15 of those for the Addicks.

Harris said: “Coming from behind, it’s a point gained – definitely.

“Missing a penalty and getting into so many good areas, it was a bit like a basketball match in the second half which isn’t really how I want to coach and manage.

“But to be 2-0 down at half-time was a kick in the proverbials. The group were a little deflated and felt a bit sorry for ourselves – because we certainly didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down, some of our passages of play were very good.

“We got done twice on the counter attack.

“To come from 2-0 down – and the change of shape I asked them to change to at half time – I’m really pleased with the boys.

“You hope for a reaction and I got it.

“The shape change enabled us to get higher up the pitch and put Charlton under more pressure.

“Charlton had a lot of the football in the first half but going around backwards and sideways. The only time they got near our goal was the counter attack – and that was from us giving the ball away cheaply.

“I thought the change of shape might leave us a little more open defending in open play but give us more support on the counter attack and ultimately give us more chance to press higher up the pitch.

“It proved to be the correct decision.”

PHOTO BY PAUL EDWARDS