English FA Premiership/Charlton - 2 Fulham - 2:A dream start for Alan Pardew was ruined in the third minute of stoppage-time last night when a soft-looking free-kick award led to the former Middlesbrough full-back Franck Queudrue equalising for Fulham. The visitors had pressed for most of the second half but rarely looked like scoring until the defender pounced.
The draw leaves Charlton seven points adrift of safety with an inferior goal difference. There were boos at the end for the referee, Graham Poll, although it was one of his assistants who seemed to have incorrectly adjudged Djimi Traore to have handled the ball to provide the decisive free-kick.
Charlton had been high on effort but low on quality, particularly in the second half when nerves set in and their passing and delivery were particularly poor, with Dennis Rommedahl wasting promising counter-attacks.
Charlton fans hoping to read Pardew's thoughts had the bizarre experience of being greeted by programme notes from Les Reed, the publication having gone to press before Sunday's changeover.
It left the unfortunate scenario of Reed writing about how he was "looking forward to a prosperous new year" and "hoping to introduce a number of new faces in January".
Pardew, though, must have been quietly hopeful of a positive start last night against a Fulham side boasting only one away win this season.
Pardew had made three changes, bringing in Darren Ambrose and Jerome Thomas for the width he prefers and including Marcus Bent up front alongside Darren Bent, who was named captain.
But falling behind in the 13th minute was hardly the start Pardew wanted. Charlton had been full of energy and enthusiasm - as epitomised by Matt Holland - but Fulham scored with their first meaningful effort on goal.
A free-kick proved Charlton's undoing, with Queudrue's delivery from the left finding Carlos Bocanegra. The defender's header was pushed on to the bar by Scott Carson, but the rebound fell perfectly for Brian McBride to plant the ball into an empty net from seven yards.
Charlton quickly responded with an equaliser and it was no surprise that a set-piece led to the goal. Fulham only cleared to the edge of the box, Jerome Thomas skewed a shot high into the sky and a poor punch by Antti Niemi allowed Darren Ambrose to fire home.
Pardew then saw his team go in front just before half-time after calamitous Fulham defending. Charlton had regularly looked to play directly to try to capitalise on the strength of the Bents and a Carson goal kick helped them take the lead.
Philippe Christanval missed his header before Bocanegra and Liam Rosenior left the ball to each other, allowing Darren Bent to nip in and end a personal eight-game drought.
Fulham's threat had come mainly on the break via Wayne Routledge or Tomasz Radzinski. But they began to control possession in the second half without looking as if they were going to score.
Guardian Service
CHARLTON ATHLETIC: Carson, Sankofa, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Traore, Ambrose (Hughes 74), Kishishev, Holland, Thomas (Rommedahl 45), Marcus Bent (Hasselbaink 82), Darren Bent. Subs Not Used: Myhre, Fortune.
FULHAM: Niemi, Rosenior, Christanval, Bocanegra, Queudrue, Routledge, Volz (Claus Jensen 74), Brown, Radzinski, Helguson (John 65), McBride. Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Runstrom, Zakuani.
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
