Home should be where promising campaigns are forged and possible promotion dreams fulfilled. For Charlton, if they have any aspirations of emulating Southampton and going from League One to the Premier League in successive seasons, they had better get their act together at The Valley in double-quick time.

Admittedly, it took an 86th-minute equaliser from Huddersfield – a penalty – to spoil Charlton's attempt at gaining a fourth Championship win on the spin. Yet the fact that Huddersfield had played for more than half the match with 10 men, after Keith Southern's sending-off, told more of the story.

To add further perspective to Charlton's situation, they have won twice in nine league attempts in south-east London, not the hottest streak in their own backyard. "It's not through lack of trying," Chris Powell, their manager, said. "We should have seen it out today but if we nick another win or two here, that will go well with our away form."

Southern's red card, from the referee, Lee Collins, for a rash 34th-minute challenge on Michael Morrison annoyed Simon Grayson, the Huddersfield manager. "I've seen it on the DVD," he said. "It was two committed players, 50-50 on a wet pitch, and Keith got the ball first. He didn't jump off the ground. Even Morrison said to Keith that he got the ball first. But the referee made a very quick decision. We will definitely be appealing against it."

Powell agreed, if not with Grayson's percentages on the tackle. "It was not a sending-off," he said. "It was just an honest challenge, perhaps 60-40 in our favour, and no one pulled out. The referee let a lot go and the game became very patchy. At 10 v 11, we just had to be patient."

Huddersfield – also promoted last season, via the play-off final and a spot-kick shoot-out with Sheffield United – had seen their encouraging start evaporate. Emmanuel Frimpong, making an impressive debut on loan from Arsenal before retiring with cramp, spearheaded Charlton's revival, culminating in Rob Hulse's tap-in from a Bradley Pritchard cross on the hour.

But when Ben Hamer, the Charlton goalkeeper, fumbled the ball and Chris Solly felled Peter Clarke in the ensuing melee, Adam Clayton stepped up to guide in the penalty.

"I wonder if we'd have got that if we hadn't had a player sent off," Grayson said, suggesting that Collins might have had a guilty conscience. "Maybe, maybe …" Powell said.