Charlton Athletic boss Jones ends eight-year habit of not watching penalties as Godden spot on against Wrexham

Matty Godden’s 97th-minute penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw for Charlton Athletic at The Valley today as they twice came from behind against Wrexham.

The Addicks striker made it five goals this season since his summer move from Coventry City.

Godden confidently dispatched his spot-kick after Miles Leaburn’s header struck the arm of Max Cleworth.

Goalkeeping coach Stephen Henderson did not watch the frontman strike his late equaliser.

“It’s the first time I’ve watched a penalty for about eight years,” Addicks boss Nathan  Jones. “We have had two penalties here and we’ve missed them both, so I thought it ain’t doing me any good. TC and Chuks both missed penalties here, so I thought I might as well watch it.

“My only thing was I thought they were going to give it to Danny Hylton and that he would try the Panenka – which he normally does – so I was literally having kittens. But when he had the ball we were sensible – there was a lot of bravado going on. Josh Edwards grabbed the ball and Matty did it – he took all doubt out of it by doing that.”

Wrexham took the lead in the 16th minute when Tom O’Connor’s whipped free-kick looked to have deflected off Conor Coventry with Will Mannion then palming the ball over his own goal-line.

But Charlton quickly made it 1-1 with Macaulay Gillesphey heading home his first goal for the club.

Wrexham substitute Andy Cannon was quickest to react after an attack – which had former Addicks captain George Dobson involved – fell to him inside the area in the 71st minute.

But Godden ensured that Charlton are now unbeaten in four matches with three successive draws.

“It was a fair result,” said Jones. “Statistically we have been better and we should be, because we’re the home side. But I don’t think either deserved to win it, just for us it feels like a point gained and two points dropped for them. We were in exactly the same boat on Tuesday night (drawing 2-2 at Barnsley).

“It’s difficult, I’m probably going to have to watch it back to give you a real proper assessment because a lot of people said we were probably better than we thought we were. I didn’t think we did the basics well enough – we let Ollie Palmer, in particular, dictate to us and get them up the pitch. We had more possession and more shots on target and scored two goals at home, so we must’ve done something right.

“I never felt we were ever in total control of the game or front-footed enough. In spells we were excellent, when we moved the ball and created stuff. To have 18 shots and eight or nine on target, we must’ve done something right. It felt like we weren’t a team that were relentless and constant – really went after the game.”

PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS