Mowbray delighted with character

Albion manager Tony Mowbray paid tribute to his side’s strength. The momentum was with the Addicks when they scored their second goal early in stoppage time to force extra-time.

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West Brom 2-2 Charlton (aet)

Having led 2-0 at one stage, Mowbray’s men found themselves on the back foot with the Addicks becoming the new favourites for victory.

But the home side redoubled their efforts and held firm to force the penalty shoot-out that eventually took them through to a meeting with Peterborough in round four in 10 days’ time.

Mowbray conceded his team’s performance was flat, but he was delighted to see them salvage some reward from a low-profile evening.

“It was pretty low key early on,” said Mowbray.

“The fact it was half the normal size crowd and that we’d left one or two players out maybe impacted on the team mentally. We didn’t show the normal intensity.

“That said, we found ourselves 2-0 up and should have won the game from that point.

“Very poor goals allowed them back into the game and after they scored so late the positive thing for me was that the team managed to react.

“Instead of allowing the momentum to totally swing their way in extra time we managed to galvanise ourselves and get going. I was pleased with their application and ultimately we got there.”

Mowbray today began the process of re-energising his players for Saturday’s home match against Cardiff after several ended last night looking exhausted.

And he is confident that they can avoid a repeat of last season, when the fifth-round replay against Middlesbrough took its toll.

“Last season we had extra time and penalties in the fifth round against Middlesbrough and lost it,” said Mowbray.

“It takes a lot out of the team and you hope winning a penalty shoot-out brings positives and a good mental frame of mind going into Saturday’s game. It’s always better psychologically winning a football match. You’re legs and brain don’t feel so tired and you go into Saturday feeling a lot better about yourself.

“I think that had an impact on the side last season.

“We were top of the league for a week with 10 games to and then we played Middlesbrough in the cup and went to penalties.

“That was a few rounds further down the road though.”

However, Charlton boss Alan Pardew was quick to point to the positive of his side looking forward to a week’s break when fourth-round day comes around. He believes his side were unlucky not to progress, but he reckons they could feel the benefits of having fewer fixtures.

And he is already looking forward to the teams’ fourth meeting of the season in their Championship clash at The Valley on Good Friday.

“It was never going to be bad side that came out of this tie,” he said. “West Brom just had that bit of luck in the shoot-out and squeezed through.

“I felt we controlled the first game and the biggest game is still to come. That’s the one at The Valley and that’s the one that will matter.”