Curbishley rues lack of poise as strikers misfire

Charlton Athletic 1 Bolton Wanderers 1

Regrets – Alan Curbishley had a few. And not too few to mention. The fact that his men failed to take their chances and allowed Bolton to claim a point with a goal five minutes from time was the main reason for the Charlton manager not to be cheerful on Saturday evening. "It was two points dropped,'' he said. "Two big points for us to lose. Very disappointing.''

What also emerged as Curbishley expanded on the story which had made the mid-week headlines – the club are seeking to have their 4-1 defeat on Chelsea's sandpit replayed – was a further cause of dissatisfaction, although this one was with himself. The Charlton manager said that he wished he had concentrated less on "being courteous'' after the defeat at Chelsea and been more direct in registering his dissatisfaction over learning just 90 minutes before the match began that the surface contained not a blade of grass.

Someone wondered what Sir Alex Ferguson might have made of the situation. "I think he might have complained more on the day,'' Curbishley said. "It rankled with me over the weekend. If we'd had 24 hours notice, we would have changed a lot of things. And surprisingly enough Chelsea have a live game with Sky TV next Wednesday. Perhaps that was a reason.''

The Football Association has still to discuss Charlton's claim, and Curbishley has no prediction about the result: "We'll have to wait and see.'' But he was clear where the main responsibility lay for his side's failure to claim three points against a Bolton side that – save for Youri Djorkaeff's spectacular equaliser – were abjectly unambitious.

"The players up front let us down today,'' Curbishley said. We had great opportunities to finish them off. But we didn't do it and we paid the price.'' After a nondescript first half, the match appeared to have been tilted Charlton's way by a suitably nondescript goal a minute after the break.

It came through the former Bolton defender Mark Fish, who was in the right place at the right time to profit from a mêlée which followed a free kick taken by Claus Jensen, prodding his first goal for Charlton in off a post. The free-kick itself was a cause of regret to Bolton, coming after their goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had rashly slid out of the area while gathering a loose ball.

Little of any coherence occurred after this breakthrough until late in the half, when Charlton should have doubled their lead. After being released down the left by Scott Parker's prompt pass, Shaun Bartlett only needed to draw the last defender, Mike Whitlow, and slip the ball to the unmarked figure of Jason Euell. He did not manage it, underhitting the ball to Whitlow, who in turn did not manage to stay on his feet. Which left Euell with the chance to score. Which he did not manage.

Such misses often encourage opponents. So it proved once again as the visitors drew level through a moment of enterprise from their 34-year-old French veteran of the 1998 World Cup campaign. Per Frandsen's ball into the box was allowed to hang around and Djorkaeff reacted best, chesting it down before inverting himself to send an overhead shot flying high past Dean Kiely's left hand. "It was a fantastic goal'', Curbishley said. "But I couldn't see it coming.''

It might turn out to be even better than fantastic for Bolton. It could be crucial as they seek to retain their Premiership status.

Goals: Fish (47) 1-0; Djorkaeff (85) 1-1.

Charlton Athletic (3-5-2): Kiely 7; Young 7 (Konchesky 7, 57), Rufus 8, Fish 7; Kishishev 7, Euell 7, Parker 7, Jensen 6 (Johansson, 88), Powell 5; Bartlett 5 (Svensson, 88), Lisbie 6. Substitutes not used: Rachubka (gk), Fortune.

Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen 7; Barness 5 (Facey 6, 77), Bergsson 5, Whitlow 6, Charlton 6; Djorkaeff 7, Frandsen 6, Nolan 5, Gardner 6; Ricketts 4, Pedersen 4 (Mendy 7, 68). Substitutes not used: Poole (gk), N'Gotty, Campo.

Referee: D Elleray (Middlesex) 8.

Man of the match: Rufus.

Attendance: 26,057.