For the third game in a row, Jan Poortvliet opted for an unchanged line-up and in doing so disproved the theory that Chris Perry can't play two games in a week. On this performance, he simply has to start every game, as his experience along with Kelvin Davis' heroics behind him kept Saints in the game.
Given Charlton's height up front and danger at set pieces, Poortvliet should have started wtih the extra aggression and height of Alex Pearce, a mistake he thankfully rectified at half time to change the game in Saints' favour.
Up front the problems continued as Saints had no real cutting edge or ability to retain possession, factors which made it an uphill battle for Saints until the midfield finally clicked in the second half.
First half - on the ropes
Charlton were clearly boosted by the departure of their manager and their uncharacteristic direct style caught Saints on the hop. They pressed well and, with Gillespie showing his years of experience, delivered a number of dangerous balls into the Saints' box.
It was a reminder that they do have a decent squad and it is surely a matter of time before they start moving up the league, particularly if they keep our old nemesis Phil Parkinson of Colchester fame in charge.
As so often this season, Saints looked exposed at full back with both converted midfielders looking vulnerable, a situation not helped by the lack of protection from Lallana and Wright-Phillips in front of them. Wotte made a robust defence of 4-4-3 earlier in the week, but when Saints are on the back foot, it leaves the defence exposed and a switch to 4-4-2 would have made Saints harder to play through.
With so little time on the ball, Saints' young midfield didn't have the strength to impose themselves on Charlton and were lucky to go into half time at 0-0.
Second half - fighting back
Poortvliet deserves credit for making the key tactical switch at half time, bringing on a hugely motivated Alex Pearce for the ineffective Robertson and allowing Jack Cork to go into midfield.
Instantly, Saints looked much more secure at the back and finally found their passing range in midfield with Surman, Cork, Lallana and Schneiderlin's silky skills weaving pretty patterns in midfield.
Unfortunately, so much of the wonderful one touch football was outside the danger area allowing Charlton to get back and defend in numbers and meaning Saints required a wonder-pass to open up their defence.
Saints did at least start creating chances with Wright-Phillips squandering a one-on-one with a tame shot from too far out and several shots from distance and from penalty box scrambles.
Poortvliet settled for the draw late bringing on Wotton when he might have exploited Charlton's nerves by going for the win.
On the Cross verdict
On reflection, it was a decent point against a decent side returning to form.
Despite Saints getting on top of Charlton in the second half, we simply did not look like scoring. We rarely got to the byline, rarely had numbers in the box and rarely counter attacked at speed and with our lack of physical presence up front that makes it very difficult for us to score, no matter how attractive the football being played in the centre of the park.
Thankfully the defence is slowly coming together. If we can start getting better protection for the full backs then there is sufficient quality in the back three of Davis, Perry and Pearce to compete with most sides in this league.
As has been said all season, this side is an experienced striker short of a good team. It has steadily improved in all areas of the pitch bar the vital one and unless we can address this failing, we will be fighting to stay clear of the bottom three all season.
A final word on Charlton, a family club with so much in common with our own, who provided a warm welcome in and around the ground on a bitterly cold day, with many outside the ground admitting it was the best they had played all season. A decent point indeed.