Charlton 1-1 Fulham

Ross McCormack scored four last season at Charlton – this time he had to settle for just the one - but it may end up being priceless.

The Fulham forward sees The Valley as a happy hunting ground, and he was on target after just eight minutes only to see the lead cancelled out eight minutes later.

Charlton's Alou Diarra in action against Fulham's Danny Guthrie (R)

Still, it was a whole heap better than Good Friday, bad, if you are a Fulham fan when they were thumped 4-1 at home by Brentford.

Boss Kit Symons made five changes from that side and it paid dividends when a long punt upfield found Matt Smith nodding to find McCormack arcing a header over the stranded keeper and in on seven minutes.

Ross McCormack celebrates scoring the first goal for Fulham with Ryan Tunnicliffe (L)

McCormack tried his luck at the near post next as did Tim Hoogland on the half volley, with Stephen Henderson this time standing tall to block.

Then time stood still as Morgan Fox curled a low centre.

Every Fulham defender let it bypass him and Johann Gudmundsson pounced at the back post to stab the ball into the roof of the net.

How he missed an identical chance on 27 minutes, only the Icelander will know.

Charlton's Morgan Fox (L) and Tal Ben Haim (R) in action against Fulham 's Ross McCormack

This time Igor Vetokele supplied the centre, and with the goal gaping Gudmundsson somehow smashed the ball into the side netting.

McCormack’s curling free-kick just before the break was well parried, but after an hour speedy Tony Watt escaped down the left and sent a cross-cum-shot, Fulham were grateful to see inch past the far post.

McCormack then brought the best out of Henderson with a curling right-foot effort that sent the keeper full length to his left.

Charlton's Jordan Cousins in action against Fulham 's Danny Guthrie (L)

Sub Bryan Ruiz got a sight of the entire goal on 74 minutes, but fired over when it was easier to hit the target, and in an end-to-end game Watt nearly smuggled the ball past Marcus Bettinelli at his near post as Fulham desperately tried to clear their lines.

One of the five changes was Scott Parker, roundly booed by the home faithful every time he touched the ball.

Charlton fans reckoned he was one greedy so-and-so for leaving them more than 10 years ago. Fulham know he is worth every penny of the Premier League wages they are paying him after another sterling show in midfield.

Whites: Bettinelli; Hoogland, Burn,Turner, Husband, Tunnicliffe, Parker, Guthrie (Kacaniklic 68), Kavanagh (Ruiz 68); Smith McCormack; subs not used: Kiraly, Stafylidis, Woodrow, Rodallega; Donnelly

Att: 16,521