Substitutes not used: Vega Dominguez Walker gk

Substitutes not used: Vega, Dominguez, Walker (gk).Charlton Athletic (3-5-2): Ilic; Rufus (Robinson, 40), Tiler, Youds; Mills, Redfearn (Brown, 82), Kinsella, Mortimer (S Jones, 61), Powell; Hunt, Mendonca. Substitutes not used: K Jones, Petterson (gk).Referee: M Reed (West Midlands).Results, page 27. DAVID O'LEARY has failed in his first foray into the transfer market yesterday when the new Leeds United manager's pounds 4m bid to bring David Batty back from Newcastle United was rejected. First, Anderton's perfect pass inside the full-back allowed Stephen Carr to cross low into the six-yard box, where Allan Neilsen's slide carried the ball home past the helpless Ilic.Eight minutes later Andy Sinton sent Justin Edinburgh down the left for a measured cross, Fox arriving at the near post flicked the ball on and Chris Armstrong thrust himself between two static Charlton defenders to head his first League goal of the season.But Charlton were not finished - they rarely are. In the 74th minute, the substitute Steve Jones turned Edinburgh - perhaps illegally - and carried the ball to the line before cutting it back for Hunt, who, though off balance, side-footed in the equaliser.

Until that point, the Tottenham defence - a rare compliment for them- had looked impassable.That notion was well and truly shattered as Charlton stole ahead shortly afterwards. After the ball had been patiently played around at the back, Carl Tiler sent it forward for Clive Mendonca to chest down into the path of Paul Mortimer. Mendonca took a return pass - in too much space from Tottenham's perspective - and although his shot was deflected on to a post by Sol Campbell's sliding tackle, Hunt was in the right position to score.It was Tottenham's turn to respond to their manager's demands after the interval with two goals in 12 minutes. The work-rate was duly stepped up - Curbishley like George Graham, is not a man to be disregarded - and Charlton immediately created and wasted the sort of chance that costs Premiership lives.Danny Mills lifted a pass forward that John Scales, possibly off balance, allowed to bounce behind him, where Chris Powell, all alone, lobbed over the bar. In the first half we struggled with our game for the first time this year."Graham made allowances for the fact that with David Ginola suspended and Steffen Iversen injured, he was forced to use Chris Armstrong as a single striker, Andy Sinton and Ruel Fox supporting, in theory, from the wings.

Spurs nevertheless gave their visitors an anxious time in the first half hour, even against three centre-halves. Only when one of them, Richard Rufus, was taken off injured did Charlton prosper, finding a better balance as John Robinson came on to play on the right in a 4-4-2 formation.Sasa Ilic, back in goal a fortnight after suffering concussion at Chelsea, saved well early on from Darren Anderton's swerving free-kick, but had his captain, Mark Kinsella, to thank for heading off the line from Sol Campbell."Get 'em working" was the instruction to Kinsella midway through the first half from the Charlton manager, who must have been alarmed both by how easily Tottenham were cutting through and how little forward progress his own side were making. "We don't think we played that well," said Alan Curbishley, "but we dug in. Tottenham Hotspur 2 Charlton Athletic 2 WITH THE Premiership table as congested as Seven Sisters Road on a match night, a place in the top six was on offer to the winners at White Hart Lane, but neither north nor south London could grasp it. Tottenham, cruising early on, became caught up in the heavy midfield traffic later, falling behind to Andy Hunt before going into overdrive and stealing ahead. Hunt, however, pegged them back again with a 75th- minute equaliser which was hotly disputed by the home side.That decision aside, their manager, George Graham, was happy enough with his team's performance and might just have enjoyed moving above Leeds United into ninth position."The quality of our football in the second half was excellent," he said. "At 2-1, I thought we were going to win the game." He was not alone, but Charlton are nothing if not resourceful and recovered to achieve another remarkable result in their annus mirabilis of 1998, carrying them back into the top half of a League that most observers thought they would be propping up by now.They left White Hart Lane, like Highbury, Anfield and St James' Park with a point under their belt, yet without, on this occasion impressing their own manager.

Their secretary, Mike Fatkin, admitted: "We are all extremely disappointed that Tony has decided to turn down the committee's offer and leave for another county We are losing one of our most experienced players.". The 32-year- old Swansea-born batsman was offered a new two-year deal by Glamorgan but turned it down.He has scored more than 10,000 first-class runs with a top score of 203 against Leicestershire at Swansea in 1996 since making his debut in 1986.His departure comes as a big blow to the Welsh county. He bowled with no pain, so that's a bonus for him, " Graf said.Tony Cottey, Glamorgan's vice-captain, is to sever his connection with the Welsh county and join Sussex on a five-year contract. SHANE WARNE may return to Australian state cricket in a one-day cup match against New South Wales this week.

The ominous news that England's chief tormentor is anticipating a comeback from his shoulder injury follows his successful spell in a club match at the weekend. Warne, who has claimed 313 Test wickets, said it was the first time he had played in 18 months without pain. Facing a race against time to be fit for this winter's Ashes series - which starts in Brisbane this month - he will play again for the Melbourne club, St Kilda, tomorrow.Shaun Graf, a St Kilda team-mate said that if Warne comes through tomorrow without any problems he will probably play against New South Wales this weekend "Everything is on target He's feeling fine, and there's no discomfort. With Butcher unable to bat because he was nursing stitches in the injury next top his eye, Nicholson tore through England's tail with consummate ease.Cork fell in identical circumstances to Hussain four overs later and both Warren Hegg and Ramprakash, who battled for four hours for his 81, were caught in the deep as they adopted an aggressive policy in a vain attempt to unsettle Nicholson.Mullally provided some enterprising stroke play in an unbeaten 25, but rather ominously for the forthcoming series, England's tail was swept away to give Nicholson career best figures in one of his first matches back since being sidelined for a year with chronic fatigue syndrome."Our coach told us we should learn from the English bowlers because they dropped it a little short in the first innings and said we should not do that ourselves," Nicholson said "At the WACA you have got to be full. It does take a bit more time but that's why we have these preparation games before the Test matches."Yet if England's attack, with the exception of Darren Gough and Alan Mullally, were wayward in line and length it was not a problem which affected the far less experienced Nicholson, whose pace and hostility disturbed everyone but Nasser Hussain and Mark Ramprakash.Hussain, who was the acting captain in the absence of the injured Alec Stewart, resumed on 93, claimed England's first century of the tour and looked comfortable until WA took the second new ball and recalled Nicholson to the attack.Five overs later, Nicholson found the edge and Hussain was superbly caught by Michael Dighton at second slip for 118.