Charlton boss Alan Pardew believes referee Paul Taylor favoured Watford after seeing his side blow a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at The Valley.Pardew was unhappy with some of Taylor's decisions as Aidy Boothroyd's team fought back to claim a point.

Darren Ambrose's strike and an own goal from Dan Shittu had put the home team in the driving seat, but two goals in as many second-half minutes from substitute John-Joe O'Toole and Shittu brought Watford level.

Pardew said: "The referee gave them a lot of soft decisions. Things like that can cost you at the end of the season.

"The referee assisted them with some of his decisions, and he damaged us by blowing up on other occasions.

"We are playing catch-up in this league, and it would have been huge for us to get three points.

"Their first goal looked offside, and it was a crucial decision. We took a knock from that decision, and I'm convinced we would normally have defended better for their second goal."

Watford were outplayed before the break, with Charlton thoroughly deserving their lead.

Ambrose put them in front in the 15th minute when he swept the ball in from close range after Andy Gray had flicked on Zheng Zhi's cross.

Charlton doubled their lead nine minutes before the interval, Shittu turning Greg Halford's low cross past his own goalkeeper Richard Lee.

Boothroyd went onto the pitch to gee up his players before the start of the second half - and within 10 minutes they were level.

O'Toole - who looked suspiciously offside - steered Tommy Smith's mis-hit shot beyond Nicky Weaver, before Shittu climbed highest to head in Mat Sadler's right-wing corner.

Boothroyd said: "I told them that fighting back from 2-0 down was what winning championships was all about.

"Look at Stoke, they were 2-0 down against Scunthorpe last night, but fought back to win 3-2.

"They are top of the table because they have scored one more goal than us. Promotion will be decided by such fine margins.

"It will be about those inches. I said to the players that someone would have to make the difference."

The result leaves Charlton still seven points adrift of Watford, and Pardew added: "We can't afford too many more draws or defeats if we are going to win automatic promotion.

"We are still chasing a top-two spot, so we need to go on a big run. Our flair players will be very important to us."

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