Lee Hendrie was the Villa hero as he scored a last-gasp equaliser to deny 10-man Charlton all three points on a night of high drama at The Valley.

But referee Graham Poll will earn the headlines for a controversial first half performance, as he sent off Charlton defender Richard Rufus and also awarded the home side a dubious penalty.

It all added up to a 2-0 lead for Charlton at the break thanks to a George Boateng own goal and Claus Jensen's spot kick.

Villa hit back with a second half bombardment against the 10 men and earned a point with well-taken goals from half-time substitutes David Ginola and Darius Vassell.

Charlton weathered the storm thanks to some heroics from goalkeeper Sasa Ilic, and skipper Mark Kinsella broke free to slot home what looked like being the winner with three minutes remaining.

But, in the dying seconds of four minutes of injury time, Hendrie turned in the box and fired home Villa's third equaliser of the night.

There was no indication of what was to come as the game started tamely between two teams with aspirations of qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup.

But the deadlock was broken when Villa midfielder George Boateng scored an own goal after 15 minutes to give Charlton the upper hand.

Charlton striker Shaun Bartlett made a powerful run into the Villa box before feeding Jonatan Johansson on the right, and his low cross was sliced into his own net by Boateng.

Poll had already upset the home fans when he showed an officious yellow card to Charlton defender Paul Konchesky after six minutes.

Konchesky conceded a free-kick on the halfway line down the Charlton left, then was booked for standing in front of Villa defender Mark Delaney to prevent him from taking it quickly.

After 22 minutes, Poll redressed the balance with the home fans by booking Alpay. The Villa defender fouled Scott Parker on the edge of the box but appeared to earn the caution for disputing the decision.

There were few real chances, and then the game exploded into life in controversial fashion after 35 minutes - and not surprisingly it was referee Poll who was the centre of attention.

Rufus was late with a lunging tackle on Delaney on the edge of the Villa box, and the right-back collapsed painfully in a heap. Poll reached into his pocket and pulled out the red card for Rufus.

The atmosphere became hostile and the football was almost forgotten as tempers flared.

Dion Dublin was booked after 40 minutes for sending Fish crashing into the advertising hoardings, then two minutes later Charlton skipper Mark Kinsella was also cautioned for a foul on Wright.

In between the mayhem, Villa should have equalised after 39 minutes. Skipper Paul Merson - wearing the armband in the absence of injured Gareth Southgate - sent in a fine low drive which came back of the right hand post. The ball fell invitingly for Ian Taylor, but with the goal at his mercy he scooped it over the bar.

There was time for more drama and controversy from Poll when he awarded 10-man Charlton a penalty after 45 minutes, ruling that Steve Staunton pulled back Paul Robinson.

Jensen kept a cool head to blast home the spot kick and double Charlton's lead, and it was no surprise that Poll was booed off the pitch at half-time by both sets of supporters.

It came as no surprise when Villa manager John Gregory made an attacking double substitution at the break, replacing Boateng and Steve Stone with Ginola and Vassell.

With the extra man, Villa pinned Charlton back in their own half, and most of the moves were orchestrated by Ginola who took up a position on the left.

It was inevitable that the Villa pressure would pay off, and it was Ginola who pulled a goal back after 56 minutes. The ball was worked down the left and into the box and the Frenchman swept it into the opposite corner for his third goal for the club.

Dublin was denied an equaliser three minutes later when he met Merson's cross from the right with a powerful header which Ilic tipped over the bar from point blank range.

Merson produced another fine flying save from Ilic after 61 minutes as he pushed the Villa captain's fierce drive round his left post.

But Vassell equalised for Villa with a fine solo effort after 74 minutes, as he skipped round three challenges inside the box before beating Ilic with a low drive inside his near post.

Merson thought he had given Villa the lead after 86 minutes with a fierce shot from 25 yards which hit the bar and bounced down on to the goal line.

But Charlton responded immediately as Kinsella raced upfield and slotted the ball beyond the advancing David James.

That looked like being the winner, until in the dying seconds of four minutes of injury time, Hendrie turned in the box and blasted home Villa's third equaliser of the night.

Teams

Charlton: Ilic, Fish, Rufus, Todd, Konchesky (Salako 70), Parker (Newton 70), Kinsella, Jensen, Johansson (Brown 82), Robinson, Bartlett.

Subs Not Used: Svensson, Caig.

Sent Off: Rufus (36).

Booked: Konchesky, Kinsella, Robinson.

Goals: Boateng 16 og, Jensen 45 pen, Kinsella 89.

Aston Villa: James, Delaney, Alpay, Staunton, Wright, Stone (Ginola 46), Taylor, Boateng (Vassell 45), Hendrie, Dublin, Merson.

Subs Not Used: Joachim, Samuel, Enckelman.

Booked: Alpay, Dublin.

Goals: Ginola 59, Vassell 75, Hendrie 90.

Att: 20,043

Ref: G Poll (Tring).