Leeds United 0 Charlton 1 (Ghoochannejhad 54).
Kevin Nolan reports from Elland Road.
Charlton really are warming to the 1-0 scoreline. Twelve of their league games this season have been decided by this narrowest of margins. After losing six of the first eight, they have balanced the books by winning their last four. That’s responsible accounting.
As this eventful game moved into the second of five added minutes, their 1-0 prospects seemed doomed to bitter disappointment. Having led the fight to hang on to Reza Ghoochannejhad’s wonderful strike, Diego Poyet had given way to youthful enthusiasm, stuck his foot in where it didn’t belong during a desperate melee and conceded a last gasp penalty by tripping Aidan White. His yellow card was inevitable. So was the spotkick from which Leeds sharpshooter Ross McCormack sought to level the score.
A reasonable candidate for Championship player of the year, McCormack destroyed the Addicks at The Valley last November with all four goals in United’s 4-2 victory, the second of them a penalty tucked confidently past Ben Hamer. Once again the same two protagonists faced each other, with the outcome expected to be identical. Except that Hamer had done his homework. Making himself busy on his line, he feinted to his left, guessed McCormack’s intended target and saved his firmly struck shot down low at his right hand post. The spontaneous celebrations among his teammates suggested they recognised a season-defining moment when they saw one.
Hamer and the estimable McCormack had already confronted each other mano-a-mano early in the second half. A restless bundle of energy, Leeds’ skipper eluded Poyet as the youngster slipped before turning to detonate a fiercely rising drive. Achieving a last inch of extension as he dived, Hamer’s faint touch turned the rocket against the underside of his bar. His luck was in as Lawrie Wilson whacked the rebound off the goalline.
As if encouraged by the close shave, the Addicks wasted little time in exploiting the situation. And it shouldn’t escape notice that two of their controversial loan signings combined to cut the scoring mustard.
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Sadly missed during the routine defeat at Derby, Astrit Ajdarevic had recovered from ‘flu to lend a creative spark in midfield. His lancing pass through the inside right channel picked out Reza running intelligently in anticipation of the delivery. Controlling expertly, the slim Iranian cut back inside Jason Pearce on to his favoured left foot and bent a beautifully weighted shot across a startled Jack Butland into the far corner. As has been noted here on more than one occasion, the kid has undoubted ability and a goal in him. This one might open a small floodgate; it was certainly overdue. It might be wise for us to cut him some slack for his dubious commitment to the physical side of things because you don’t score goals of this quality without having something special about you. On you go, Reza. Sorry for beginning to doubt you.
It might appear that this report spotlights deficiencies in Poyet’s performance. No offence intended. The 18-year old prodigy, watched by his no doubt critical father Gus, again contributed mightily to Charlton’s stirring triumph. His tackling and distribution were flawless and once he learns to get stuck in (I’m joking, I’m joking!) he’ll be some player. At his shoulder, fellow Academy hotshot Jordan Cousins was no less effective. Shame he was unable to convert a last minute chance on the breakaway. As already mentioned, Ajdarevic added guile in the centre of midfield while Johnnie Jackson lent his know-how to a still inexperienced midfield. It might be time for his ageist critics to give it a rest.
Charlton’s back four were, as usual, sound as a pound. The two flying Ws, Wilson and Rhoys Wiggins, put the miles in up and down their respective flanks, centre backs Michael Morrison and Dorian Dervite kept McCormack and his towering strike partner Matt Smith relatively quiet. Behind it all, Hamer racked up yet another clean sheet and made nonsense of Yohann Thuram’s reported strop about selection. Which brings us to young Joe Pigott, who toiled manfully up against ruthless centre backs Tom Lees and Pearce, neither of them above the judiciously applied cheapshot in innocuous areas. Joe stuck it out, did his best but was wisely replaced by Jonathan Obika early in the second period. More will be heard from yet another product of Charlton’s excellent academy.
Six points from their latest perambulations through the heartland of England represents a more than healthy return from three tricky games. It was handy that Nottingham Forest and Leed United were encountered while both clubs were busy tearing themselves apart (hope Forest have pulled themselves together by the weekend, by the way) but there you go, you can only beat what’s in front of you. And that’s Reading at The Valley on Saturday. Won’t be easy. They never are at the sharp end of the season. But we mustn’t weaken now. We owe that much to Ben Hamer and his indomitable mates. We’re in this together.
Leeds: Butland, Wootton (Poleon 70), Lees, Pearce, Warnock, Byram, Tonge, Mowatt, White, Smith (Hunt 46), McCormack. Not used: Cairns, Murphy, Pugh, Brown, Stewart. Booked: Pearce, Tonge, Wootton, Mowatt.
Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Ghoochannejhad (Petrucci 84), Adjarevic,Poyet, Cousins, Jackson, Pigott (Obika 53). Booked: Poyet.
Referee: Scott Duncan Att: 17,343 (271 tourists).