Charlton Athletic 2-2 Fulham
Kit Symons has called for Fulham to be more astute after they threw away a two-goal lead late on against Charlton at The Valley.
Ryan Tunnicliffe gave the Cottagers the lead in the first half before Ross McCormack’s 100th Championship goal doubled their advantage after 59 minutes.
But substitute Johnnie Jackson headed the hosts back in it seconds after coming on before Jordan Cousins equalised in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
“It’s incredibly disappointing to be 2-0 up in the game, totally dominant and cruising, and then to throw it away is inexplicable really,” Fulham manager Symons said.
“We were so on top but you’ve got to make that count, and we didn’t.
“We had some lapses offensively and defensively at the end, and caused ourselves our own problems.
“If we see the game out that would’ve been four wins in six which is good form.
“I think we’ve been playing alright, it’s just getting that little bit streetwise, seeing games out and getting what we deserve out of games.”
Despite Fulham kicking off, it should have been Charlton who took the lead, when Conor McAleny shot wide with just 30 seconds gone when one-on-one with Andy Lonergan.
But the visitors went ahead in the 32nd minute when Nick Pope poorly parried McCormack´s free-kick, allowing Tunnicliffe to tap in his first Fulham goal.
The midfielder was also involved in the Whites’ second, releasing McCormack who lashed it into the corner on his weaker left foot.
But the game changed with a Charlton substitution, when captain Jackson replaced El-Hadji Ba.
Jackson found the back of the net with his first touch, getting on the end of Johann Gudmundsson’s cross with just under ten minutes left on the clock.
The home side then had the momentum and after an Ashley Richards injury in added time, Jordan Cousins’ 96th minute header earned them a point.
It could have been three for Charlton had Richard Stearman not produced a fantastic block to deny Tony Watt with the last chance of the game.
Next up for Fulham is an away trip to second-placed Middlesbrough after the international break, on October 17.
Feature image courtesy of Fulham FC, via Youtube, with thanks
