Kiely keeps Albion in Cup

WEST Bromwich Albion escaped with an FA Cup draw at The Valley in a result that neither boss Tony Mowbray nor his Charlton Athletic counterpart Alan Pardew wanted.

The two teams will meet again in a replay at The Hawthorns on January 15 to try to resolve the third-round tie, adding to an already congested fixture list.

It was a below-par performance by the Baggies on Saturday but Mowbray revealed afterwards that he had several players suffering from niggling fitness problems.

Roman Bednar didn`t travel to London because of a calf strain, while Paul Robinson is undergoing a scan on a troublesome rib injury.

Mowbray also revealed that several other players, including Carl Hoefkens, Jonathan Greening and Robert Koren, were all carrying knocks and sprains during Saturday`s game.

The Albion manger told the club`s official website: 'It was an under-par performance, like in our last game at Ipswich.

'The sharpness isn`t there at the moment - and I can understand why.

'But I`m sure with a week of rest, recovery and recuperation we`ll be much better for the next round of fixtures coming up.`

Kevin Phillips was rested after featuring in five games in 17 days since his return from a six-weeks absence with a knee injury, but Mowbray is confident that all three will be fit to return for the televised Championship clash at Hull City on Saturday.

Albion were indebted for a second chance to progress to the fourth round to a string of fine saves from keeper Dean Kiely, back on his old stomping ground at Charlton.

The Addicks caught their visitors cold with a second-minute strike from Zheng Zhi before Ishmael Miller headed home a Chris Brunt cross to resore parity with his tenth goal of the season.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Weaver; Moutaouakil, Bougherra, McCarthy, Youga; Sam, Holland, Zhi, Ambrose (Basey 77); Varney (Dickson 77), McLeod (Iwelumo 77). Subs not used: Randolph, Semedo.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-1-1): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Cesar (Pele 46), Albrechtsen; Gera (MacDonald 46), Koren (Morrison 67), Greening, Brunt; Teixeira; Miller. Subs not used: Steele, Beattie.

GOALS - Charlton: Zhi 2; Albion: Miller 34.

BOOKINGS - Charlton: Holland 37; Albion: Gera 19.

REFEREE: Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Dean Kiely

Former Irish international keeper Dean played nearly 250 games for Charlton Athletic between 1999 and 2006 and the Addicks fans must have wished he was still with them as he produced a number of excellent saves to keep Albion in the competition.

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