A point from the Valley was just what Latics deserved after a magnificent game provided a first class example of how entertaining League One football can be, without a single goal being scored.

Latics hopes of an upset were dealt a blow before kickoff when both Chris Taylor and Alan Sheehan failed fitness tests. Taylor had been suffering with illness in the build up to the game, whilst Sheehan failed to recover from the knock he picked up against Yeovil last weekend.

Latics looked the most threatening side in the opening stages; a flowing counter attack from Whitaker finding Pawel Abbott on the edge of the Charlton area, but his intricate flick, back towards Whitaker, was intercepted by Dailly and cleared.

Charlton began to show the dominance expected from a team at home, second in the league, and with a reported £7 million budget, but Athletic's dogged determination to track runs and shut down angles prevented the home side from generating any significant chances.

Meanwhile the holdup play of Abbott, coupled with the Dean Furman's confidence on the ball, continued to provide Latics with an effective and threatening counter attacking option.

Therry Racon, who Furman had chased constantly for the first 20 minutes, proved just how effective he could be, when he beat 4 Latics men on his way to the by-line, before chipping a ball into the Latics box, Dean Brill able to clear with help from Hazell.

Latics had a penalty claim turned down on the half hour, after Marrow stepped inside the right-back and appeared to have been brought down by Dailly, however Referee Horwood waived away the vociferous Latics appeals.

Athletic were again on the attack 5 minutes later, a corner from the right led to a brief scramble, from which Hazell was able to lay to ball off to Dean Furman. From the edge of the box he arched a drive inches wide of Elliot's post.

Abbott released Whitaker in the middle, he played in Parker on the right and his excellent switch-ball to the back post found Colbeck unmarked, the Latics winger only able to slice his volley way over the home goal.

Latics had the ball in the net on 52 minutes, when a Whitaker free kick to the back post was met by Hazell, coming in behind Gregan, and deflected in off Abbott as Elliott parried the shot - however the Latics Captain was harshly penalised for a hold on Richardson.

The game continued to ebb and flow, as it had throughout the first half, before Charlton replaced Shelvey moments later, with Izale McLeod, the substitute wasting a chance just a minute after coming on.

Good work on the Charlton left by Racon saw him cut inside Marrow and place the ball into McLeod's feet, the striker launching a massive air shot and the ball rolling clear.

Worthington saved Athletic on 67 minutes when he tracked back to lash the ball off Racon's toe, after the games most influential player had beaten Hazell, Gregan and Marrow in one move, thanks to a fortuitous deflection off Marrow's shoulder.

Charlton continued to make their home advantage count, the referee making some dubious home-favoured decisions - and Llera should have produced the game's first goal on 70 minutes.

A free kick from the Addicks' right hand side found him completely unmarked ten yards from goal, his header going over the Latics bar with the goal at his mercy.

McLeod wasted his second chance of the game on 78 minutes, when a slip from Hazell allowed McKenzie to feed the ball into his path, Lomax doing magnificently to put McLeod off as he attempted to shoot.

It was a brave decision from Lomax, who had been booked moments earlier, for time wasting, and almost certainly prevented the hosts from taking the lead.

Kieran Lee replaced Keigan Parker on 80 minutes, as Athletic looked to shut up shop, before a Baily corner was smashed off the Latics bar, after a spectacular over head kick from Racon.

An astonishing 5 minutes of time added on was announced by the fourth official, in a game which had not seen a physio enter the field of play once throughout the ninety minutes.

Latics 5th game unbeaten, and fourth clean sheet, against a well funded Charlton side, was a delight to the travelling fans and players alike, in front of .