Charlton Athletic 1-1 Coventry City: Championship leaders draw at The Valley

Simms’ third-minute goal, his ninth of the campaign, was a settler for the visitors after just two wins in six in December, the forward turning in a cross from the right flank from Milan van Ewijk from around 14 yards out.

But Charlton had their chances as well and had a big shout for a penalty turned down when Joel Latibeaudiere blocked a goalbound shot from Charlie Kelman after the half-hour mark.

The same defender also did less controversial work to deny Luke Berry, recovering to poke the ball back to his keeper when the Charlton man was about to shoot just before half-time.

Charlton came out the better side in the second half as well and for all that they needed goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski to pull off a double save from Haji Wright and Jamie Allen three minutes after the restart, on 69 minutes they pulled themselves level.

Strong work from Kelman saw the left-sided forward latch on to a through pass from inside his own half and outmuscle Miguel Angel Brau. His shot across goal was parried by Carl Rushworth into the path of Rankin-Costello, who finished high into the net from eight yards.

Coventry nearly snatched the lead back three minutes later, Liam Kitching spinning and poking a shot goalwards as Charlton struggled to clear but Kaminski once again pulled off an excellent save low to his left to turn it around the post.

For Charlton, a point was satisfying and a step in the right direction against a side who most will believe still look bound for the top tier.

But it remains just one win and only five points from their past 10 matches for Nathan Jones’s side, form which will not banish thoughts that the Addicks could be travelling in the opposite direction in May.