Charlton 1 (Jackson 90) QPR 0.
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
The arrival of cash-heavy QPR at The Valley pinpointed the lopsided struggle Chris Powell has been waging to keep Charlton in the Championship. And this magnificent, emotion-charged victory over the West London plutocrats neatly highlighted the resourceful fist he’s making of defying overwhelming financial odds.
His opposite number, Harry Redknapp, was able to choose a side from what Powell ruefully called “an embarrassment of riches.” The absence of prolific Charlie Austin was covered by the recent acquisition of Irish international Kevin Doyle, while suspended (I know, I could hardly believe it myself) Joey Barton was replaced by the even more recently acquired Ravel Morrison in a seamless jerk-for-jerk adjustment to R’s midfield. In response, Powell cheerfully admitted that his squad had been “cobbled together” from what was available to him.
After being thoroughly outwitted by his less-trumpeted rival, Redknapp was in typically disingenuous mood. “I thought Ravel was excellent on an impossible pitch. He was head and shoulders above everyone else on the field.”
To what my Mum would have dismissed as “blatherskiting” by an “eejit”, the only polite answer is “Cobblers!” The pitch, though bald and unattractive, was perfectly playable, while Morrison, despite seeing a lot of the ball, did little with it and, if his shooting was any guide, appeared to have his boots on the wrong feet. If he was “head and shoulders” above Charlton’s academy kids, Diego Poyet and Jordan Cousins, then the Pope really is still Polish. Unless, of course, Redknapp meant Michael Morrison, who was superb at the heart of the home defence.
The outstanding contributions of Poyet and Cousins were a reproof to Redknapp’s cheque-book version of management. Developed within the club and both still teenagers, they have stepped up from Sparrows Lane to warm the cockles of Powell’s heart. Mind you, it helps that during their development, they are under the experienced wing of their marvellous captain Johnnie Jackson.
As the Addicks have endured one frustration after another during this awkward season, Jackson has been scapegoated by a school of scholarly tacticians, many of whom don’t even attend games. He’s too slow, they say, his legs have gone, he only plays because he’s Powell’s favourite. To which, again, cobblers, cobblers and not-so-cobblers because the third point is conceded. Of course he’s Powell’s bloody favourite. Why the hell wouldn’t he be!?
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Alongside a mixed bag of youngsters and new arrivals, Jackson was immense against Rangers. Tackling, blocking, encouraging, giving every inch and ounce of effort, he was everywhere at once. And, oh yeah, scoring, to which we’ll happily return later.
In reply to Charlton’s snapping, hustling urgency, the elegant West Londoners passed, trotted, passed again, broke occasionally into a gentle canter, then passed yet again. A shot at goal seemed the last thing on their minds. They didn’t actually manage one on target, though Morrison screwed a couple horribly wide and Yohann Thuram had to improvise nobly after presenting Dorian Dervite’s ill-advised backpass to substitute Modibo Maiga. The Addicks were far more purposeful in the shooting department.
Cousins made that point in the early going. Set up by Danny Green’s short lay-off, he drilled a low 25-yard piledriver against the right post; wrongfooted by the rebound, Reza Ghoochannejhad prodded against the opposite post as Robert Green floundered helplessly. Much later, the Addicks’ willingness to have a go paid handsome dividends.
Having replaced the ineffectual Green midway through the second period, Astrit Ajdarevic made an immediate impact with his nimble feet and ability to pick the right pass. He can shoot, too, as he demonstrated with a curling drive which was bound for the top right corner until Green’s full-length intervention at the expense of a right wing corner.
Shaking off his obvious disappointment, Ajdarevic took over corner-taking duties from Jackson in a ploy probably devised in training to free the skipper for other things. His wickedly delivered inswinger was met beyond the far post by Jackson, whose prodigious leap above Aaron Hughes was crowned by a firm downward header which cannoned off a defensive, goalline leg to find the roof of the net.
To state that the last gasp goal caused pandemonium would be to distort reality. The previously fretful Valley erupted in delirium; press box neutrality took an overdue break; Jackson and his overjoyed colleagues joined the Lower North in behaving badly; reason and reserve fled for cover. This was far more than a winning goal, this was a corner hopefully turned, temporary relief at least from all the setbacks steadily inflicted by this arduous campaign. And wouldn’t you know it was Charlton’s intrepid captain who delivered the goods? In added time too, which speaks highly of those supposedly knackered legs. Jackson dropped! Powell out! Only way to go, really.
Charlton: Thuram, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Green (Ajdarevic 64), Cousins, Poyet, Jackson, Church (Harriott 89), Ghoochannejhad (Tudgay 64). Not used: Hamer, Sordell, Wood, Fox. Booked: Jackson.
QPR: Green, Hughes, Dunne, Hill, Traore, Hoilett (Keane 54), Carroll (Benayoun 81), Jenas, Morrison, Onuoha, Doyle (Maiga 69). Not used: Murphy, Suk-Young, Henry, O’Neil.
Referee: Carl Ilderton. Att: 17,333 (3,267 visiting).
Peter Cordwell says
When the winning goal was scored a demented scribbler ran the length of the press box with a clenched fist matched by mad look in the eyes. Most unseemly but understandable, I suppose. Wonder if Harry was on dnb?