Charlton 0 – 0 Portsmouth

Charlton maintained their unbeaten home record this season with a 0-0 draw against Portsmouth.

The Championship encounter may have lacked goals, but it was not devoid of entertainment, particularly in an open second half.

The hosts were the better side in the opening 45 minutes and had the big chances to break the deadlock.

Millenic Alli, who spent the second half of last season on loan with the visitors, volleyed over from close range from a perfect left-wing cross by Tyreece Campbell in the 32nd minute.

That came soon after Portsmouth goalkeeper Daniel Bielica used his legs to repel a fierce strike from Karlan Grant at his near post.

Portsmouth captain Marlon Pack needed to make a crucial header out for a corner from an early Campbell cross.

The visitors, who came into the contest having scored in their last 11 away league matches, did not have a shot on target before the interval.

Charlton keeper Arthur Okonkwo needed to be alert in the 15th minute, sticking out a leg to cut out Terry Devlin’s low cutback after slick approach play.

Conor Shaughnessy came to the away team’s rescue when he hooked the ball away from his own goal-line after Addicks loanee Tyler Bindon had nodded a deep cross back into a dangerous area.

Alli, booed by the travelling support every time he got on the ball, had the last chance of the half but hit a 20-yard effort straight at Bielica.

Okonkwo needed all of his long frame to dive low to his left and get a hand to Abu Kamara’s shot just 20 seconds into the second period.

Portsmouth had a full week to prepare for the match and they looked fresher and stronger as Charlton, who drew 0-0 with QPR on Wednesday night, began to show signs of fatigue.

Referee Andrew Kitchen was unimpressed by Jayden Meghoma’s penalty claims, the left-back appealing for a pull on the arm by Alli.

Oliver Skipp produced a fine recovery tackle to slide in and dispossess Adrian Segecic on the edge of the area after Bindon had turned over possession.

Adrian Segecic wastefully shot tamely at Okonkwo from inside the area before Colby Bishop failed to apply a sliding close-range finish to Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s inviting cross in the 81st minute.

Charlton dug deep into their reserves as time ticked down.

Conor Coventry curled over from a Charlton corner that was played short and worked across the edge of the area.

Shaughnessy produced a crucial defensive block from a shot by Grant and there were big appeals from the home support for a penalty when Miles Leaburn went down after a coming together with Benjamin Arthur.

The managers

Charlton’s Nathan Jones:

To follow…

Portsmouth’s John Mousinho:

To follow…

What the result means and next fixtures…