by Ashley James

Snapshot: Cardiff mounted a brave late fight-back from two goals down at The Valley. The result left them with touching distance of a play-off spot with two matches left to play yet conversely all but ended any wild aspirations of still snatching the last automatic spot away from Birmingham and Sheffield United.

It seemed unthinkable before kick-off that the travelling Cardiff fans would be celebrating a score-draw against already relegated Charlton yet, that's exactly what occurred as the homes side clearly relishing the opportunity to play, and play well without the constant lingering pressure of relegation. Jonjo Shelvey was a constant hindrance as he terrorised the Cardiff defence before outlining his immense potential with the opener on thirty-five minutes.

Charlton looked anything like a team that had been cut adrift at the bottom of the division and looked far more like the side that had staged some kind of late season revival having entered the game unbeaten infive and with three clean sheets in that time. In fact just minutes into the second half they should have been two-up and out of sight when Zheng Zhi did well for the Addicks after another electric Shelvey run, yet he should have done evenbetter than striking the post.

Cardiff were once again well below par and fell two behind in the seventy-ninth minute before plotting their late, great escape. First the direct and eager looking Burke gave Cardiff life while cementing his claim for a starting spot for Saturday's Ninian swan-song with a fine run and finish. Despite Charlton's renaissance this was still a team that threw away a two-goal second-half lead against Blackpool on Saturday and the fragility that has seen them relegated was exposed two minutes from time as Cardiff completed their unlikely comeback. Gyepes turned magnificently inside the box and steered the ball home at the near post, it was a classy striker's finish from a wholehearted defender that may very well have incalculable consequences come May.

Team News: Dave Jones enforced three changes from Saturday's heavy defeat away at Preston as Tom Heaton returned between the sticks in the place of Stuart Taylor. Kevin McNaughton's injury meant Miguel Comminges started at right-back in his place while Stephen McPhail dropped out of the squad with Joe Ledley moving back into the centre of midfield as Paul Parry returned to the left hand side. Young full-back Adam Matthews made his first match-day squad as a substitute alongside Eddie Johnson, Darren Purse, Riccy Scimeca and Chris Burke who were all poised to spring into action if needed.

Chronological Report: It went without saying that after Saturday's atrocity Cardiff desperately needed a good start and while they didn't exactly achieve that the first chance of a timid affair did fall to Cardiff and onto the head of Roger Johnson but his close range effort was easily saved by Robert Elliot in the Charlton goal.

The match continued at snails-pace and a slow one at that only for Johnson to nearly spring Charlton's recent stringent defence. He hit a cross-field pass towards Jay Bothroyd who had peeled away from his marker inside the area; the defender mistimed his header which in turn caused Jay to clean miss with his swinging boot behind.

Charlton were playing with a lot of pace and confidence considering or perhaps because of their current predicament and Kelley Youga in particular was getting forward well down the left-hand side. On sixteen minutes he did just that and produced a wicked cross into the six-yard box that forced Tom Heaton into a great, brave low save at the near post with both Deon Burton and Jonjo Shelvey lurking with intent. Cardiff and Paul Parry responded with kind as the retired Welsh International got forward brilliantly down the left and sent over a great cross at head height that frustratingly no-one in a Cardiff jersey attacked.

Not that he was alone in this regard but Thierry Racon was looking lively in possession and was having some success running at the attack minded Miguel Comminges down the Charlton left.

The home side were getting on top now and could well have been ahead as Nicky Bailey went over the trailing leg of Gabor Gyepes inside the penalty area when the Addicks midfielder had got his toe in first to knock the ball away from City's Hungarian defender. The referee waved away the home protests but Gabor looked understandably relieved, a point drilled home by defensive partner Roger Johnson who immediately enters into a heated debate over the matter.

Michael Chopra had been increasingly quiet up top for Cardiff but very nearly opened the scoring with a fantastic effort on the half hour mark which was more than matched by Elliot. Chops robbed Youga of possession near the half way line and ran at the Charlton defence before unleashing a great shot that the 'keeper somehow tips over the bar. A minute later Parry was denied by a last ditch block as he drills an on target effort flush into the face of home captain Mark Hudson who hits the deck like a sack of spuds.

Charlton had been threatening for some time, particularly through the pace of Youga on the overlap yet the opener arrived through the pace of Lloyd Sam. He got forward well down the right and sent a cross into the box, Johnson missed with his header and with Comminges on his heels on the back post Shelvey was allowed to arrive and finish.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1 - 0 Cardiff City (Jonjo Shelvey 35mins)

Rather than being downhearted after conceding a seventh goal in a little over two hours Cardiff poured forward in search of an immediate response only to be incredibly denied. The rebound from a Ross McCormack shot was not cleared and Joe Ledley drilled a controlled volley from thirty-five yards that Elliot again somehow reached with his fingertips to plant onto the bar.

Half Time: Charlton Athletic 1 - 0 Cardiff City

The second half began with far more pace and vigour and saw Cardiff with a great counter-attacking chance inside the opening minutes. Heaton was the catalyst springing City into life with a quick lengthy throw after collecting a Charlton corner that ended with Chopra horribly screwing a shot wide and out for a throw-in.

Just five minutes in Charlton missed a great chance to double their advantage and drive another painful nail into Cardiff automatic promotion coffin. Again it was Jonjo Shelvey as the spearhead running at the Cardiff back four before finding Zheng Zhi with a delightful ball that saw the Chinese International bring the ball down and hit a firm shot that bounced back off the foot of the post.

Cardiff City Substitution: Chris Burke for Michael Chopra (57mins)

Charlton Athletic Substitution: Tresor Kandol for Deon Burton (60mins)

Cardiff were slowly getting back into the match as they slowly got a footing in the midfield area and working the ball far better into wide areas through the natural wing play of Chris Burke. A minute later Cardiff were oh so close to being level as McCormack swung over a free-kick from the right that Gyepes met with a thundering header which also clears the bar.

Charlton Athletic Substitution: Matt Spring for Lloyd Sam (69mins)

In the seventieth minute The Bluebirds were level for a split second before referee Ian Williamson ended the celebrations with a shrill blast of whistle, and an incorrect one at that. Jay raced through onto a ball that was also lined up by Elliot charging out of his goal, the Charlton 'keeper collided with his captain Hudson which allowed Jay to steal away the ball and calmly finish only to be denied for an apparent push that was seemingly harsh even from the distance of my vantage point.

Burke was looking far more dangerous in flight than any other Cardiff player had all night and provided a great chance to level things up after seventy-eight minutes. He got forward down the right and drilled a shot across goal that was only parried by Elliot by no Cardiff forward reacted with enough haste and Charlton came away with the ball. The rampaging Shelvey brought the ball down field and won a corner when In all honesty he could have done better with Kandol up in support. The corner was poorly dealt with by Cardiff who again were static to the secondary ball which was won by Nicky bailey and smashed home from ten yards.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 2 - 0 Cardiff City (Nicky Bailey 79mins)

Burke, who was by far Cardiff's brightest hope clearly hadn't received the memo about feeling sorry for yourself after conceding disappointing goals and pulled one back within two minutes. He stormed forward down the middle of the park and simply kept going untouched until he finished coolly past Elliot.

Charlton Athletic 2 - 1 CARDIFF CITY (Chris Burke 82mins)

Charlton Athletic Substitution: Matt Holland for Jonjo Shelvey (83mins)

Cardiff City Substitution: Eddie Johnson for Paul Parry (83mins)

The goal had given City an unfathomable injection of self-belief and thankfully the made the most of this to level things up in the eighty-ninth minute. Roger Johnson nodded a corner directly up in the air and when the rebound fell to Gabor Gyepes he controlled delightfully at the near post, turned gracefully and finished low into the corner with the poise of a cultured striker. It was a massive goal in the context of Cardiff's season.

Charlton Athletic 2 - 2 CARDIFF CITY (Gabor Gyepes 89mins)

Cardiff had now adopted a siege mentality and unthinkably looked like snatching a winner at the death. Cardiff won themselves a corner deep into injury time only for Charlton to scramble clear after a series of last ditch blocked shots and cut-backs.

Cardiff City Substitution: Darren Purse for Roger Johnson (90+1mins)

In fact after all that had occurred over the last ten minutes the final word nearly belonged to the home side when Tresor Kandol drove a shot across goal leaving Darren Purse to make an important challenge to deflect the ball out for a corner which The Bluebirds nervously saw out to earn themselves an extremely hard-fought point.

Full Time: Charlton Athletic 2 - 2 CARDIFF CITY

Charlton: Elliot, Butterfield, Hudson, Ward, Youga, Sam (Spring 69), Zhi, Racon, Bailey, Shelvey (Holland 82), Burton (Kandol 60). Subs Not Used: Randolph, Tuna.

Booked: Butterfield, Zhi, Bailey.

Goals: Shelvey 35, Bailey 80.

Cardiff: Heaton, Comminges, Gyepes, Roger Johnson (Purse 90), Kennedy, McCormack, Ledley, Rae, Parry (Eddie Johnson 83), Chopra (Burke 57), Bothroyd. Subs Not Used: Scimeca, Matthews.

Booked: Bothroyd, Ledley.

Goals: Burke 82, Gyepes 89.

Att: 19,390

Ref: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).