Jon Whitney hails Walsall character after late Banks's drama

On a night of late drama at the Banks’s Stadium, Ricky Holmes netted in the 88th minute to put the Addicks 2-1 up.

But Agyei hit back just 60 seconds later with a 25-yard screamer that sailed perfectly into the top corner.

And Whitney was full of praise for his players who had earlier pulled level through Tyler Roberts after Tariqe Fosu had opened the scoring.

“I think for the neutral supporter you couldn’t have watched a better game,” the boss said.

“I think it’s a credit to both teams because we both tried to play.

“There was great energy, I’d give them the first 20 minutes but then we got to grips with it and second-half especially, I thought we started well from the off and dominated.

“It would have been a little bit unfair if we had ended up losing that game. Holmes can do that. But our reaction afterwards, straight after that goal – you’ve got to give huge credit to the lads.

“Dan is capable of that. I’ve seen him bend some in in training with his left foot.

“I’d give that goal a 10 out 10 and there’s a nine. Ours was a little bit better – we should shade it on points.

“But overall we were a little bit disappointed. I thought we dominated that much in the second half that we could have gone and won it.”

As soon as Holmes scored, Whitney could be seen on touchline telling his players to keep their heads and believe they could get back into it.

“I was telling them you only need one chance,” the boss added.

“We don’t know when we are beaten and it’s a nice trait to have.

“Charlton have got that little bit of class with Holmes. He can do that week in, week out. But we responded well like we always do.

“Charlton are a good team. They play with a real tempo. They play a similar system to Oxford but move the ball a lot quicker. But we got to grips with it and after that we were the better team.

“It would have been a smash a grab if they had won it.”