Harris happy as bluebirds rescue point

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 2

CARDIFF CITY 2

Neil Harris saluted his new Cardiff City charges after they fougth back from 2-0 down to rescue a point at Chrarlton.

Former Milwall boss Harris made a quick return to southeast London after replacing Neil Warnock during the international break and might well have been questioning his choice as first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Jonathan Leko left the Bluebirds in trouble at the break. His mood was hardly improved by Junior Hoilett`s poor early second-half penalty miss. But Nathaniel Mendez-Laing reduced the deficit before sub Lee Tomlin grabbed a 73rd minute equaliser.

Harris said: "Coming from behind it was a point gained definitely.

"Missing a penalty, getting into so many good areas I think it became a bit like a basketball match in the second half.

"To be 2-0 down is a bit of a kick in the proverbials to be fair and you hope for a reaction at half-time.

"I asked for a reaction, i got it and i`ve seen the group want to be successful, they want to learn."

Cardiff should have gone ahead in the 11th minute when Mendez-Laing beat two defenderes before pulling back to Callum Paterson, who hit the side-netting from eight yards.

They were made to rue that miss two minutes later as the Addicks went in front in their first attack.

Macauley Bonne did well to break into the box and find Leko, who made a very poor connection with a miskick.

Fortunately for him Gallagher was perfectly placed to take full advantage of the loose ball, chesting it down before slotting home past Neil Etheridge.

Gary Madine produced two headers and then a shot which ended with Erhun Oztumer feding Leko and his low shot went in via a slight deflection.

Cardiff were presented with the perfect chance to get back in the contest three minutes into second half when Ben Purrington was adjudged to have hauled back Peterson in the area.

Bond had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, although Hoilett`s poorly struck penalty was easily saved by Phillips.

However, in the 52nd minute the hosts failed to clear their lines from a corner and Mendez-Laing took advantage to score.

Cardiff`s second-half pressure was finally rewarded with a 73rd minute equaliser.

Joe Bennett pulled a pass back to unmarked substitute Tomlin, who drilled a low shot into the net. Addicks manager Lee Bowyer, who was without the services of 10 senior players, said: "To be two up at half-time and end up coming away with a point is disappointing.

"But on the positive side we`ve played against Cardiff, a team who were in the Premier League this time last year, and i felt we were better than them for large parts of the game.

"I thought the penalty was soft because the two players were pulling each other. Thank-fully Dillon saved it, but the least we deseved today was te point."

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