Charlton and Cardiff resumed their Sky Bet Championship campaigns after the international break by playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the close to two-week hiatus for the top two tiers in the country, plenty had gone on off the field with a new era rung in for the Bluebirds as Neil Harris arrived to take over from Neil Warnock.

Lee Bowyer – as he has been several times this season – was linked with the job too but – as he has each time this year – remained in charge of the Addicks for this lunchtime kick-off.

Despite a lack of resources on the bench, as Bowyer had eluded to on more than one occasion in the build-up, the home side once again showed just why he’s so keen to stay here and make it work, in the first-half at least.

After some early exchanges of possession with no real chances for either side, Cardiff had the first of the game as Callum Paterson skewed wide from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cross.

Charlton, as resilient as ever, went up the other end to emphatically respond, though, as Macauley Bonne’s cross was eventually converted by Conor Gallagher – the ball finding him via a Jonathan Leko miscue and a Cardiff deflection.

The impetus for the first-half was then with Charlton. Cardiff had moments in the initial 45 with them clearly looking to use Gary Madine in the air – an early sign of how Neil Harris wants to change things – but at times he could not quite link-up with those around him, a lack of playing time no doubt to blame.

And, as we got towards the break, Charlton would score again.

Erhun Oztumer, a player that Lee Bowyer didn’t feel would be physical enough for the Millwall clash, made his presence felt as he drove towards the Cardiff defence – their midfield giving him far too much space – and he found Leko who made no mistake this time.

2-0 at the break, and Charlton were looking ready to spoil Neil Harris’ inauguration party for the side from Wales.

The second half, though, saw the Bluebirds in the ascendancy.

An early penalty offered a sign of things to come. Junior Hoilett’s spot-kick far too tame, though, for a goalkeeper of Dillon Phillips’ ability.

The Addicks, however, did not heed the warning from their opponents, and they soon had a foothold back in the game, as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing slammed home a loose ball in the box.

A headache for Bowyer was soon increased, too, as Josh Cullen came off on a stretcher – his controlling presence going missing in the middle of the park was soon evident.

With a bit more space opening up, Neil Harris changed his approach. Off came Gary Madine and Lee Tomlin was part of the replacement party – a player that knows exactly how to exploit space.

And, indeed, that is what happened, he worked the ball on the edge of the box and fired home – immediately justifying his arrival on the pitch, and vindicating Harris’ move to switch things up.

The game, then, was back level and, indeed, in the final exchanges things opened right up. Charlton let loose with Gallagher, Bonne and young Alfie Doughty flying forwards whilst Cardiff looked to use their extra experience and aerial threat to win out.

In the end, neither would budge and 2-2 it would finish. A true game of two halves and one both managers will feel was there for the taking.

Ultimately, a point will likely be looked on the better for Harris after they showed real fight to get back level - a quality he's bound to want to see more of.

And, for Bowyer, with him all too aware of the current problems his squad faces in terms of players missing, losing two such important points after their recent run really will be disappointing.