AFC Bournemouth 1 (Wilson 3) Charlton 0.
Kevin Nolan reports from Goldsands Stadium.
A disorganised rabble, bizarrely dressed up as orange-flavoured ice lollies, turned out for Charlton at Bournemouth and tamely surrendered their frankly deceptive unbeaten record. It had to happen some time, of course, and there was some consolation in knowing that technically at least they were the last Championship side to have their colours lowered, Nottingham Forest having lost their lunchtime fixture at Cardiff earlier in the day. So the losing cloud was ringed by a silver lining. Some cloud. Not much of a lining.
After falling behind to Callum Wilson’s third minute goal, these desperatedly disappointing Addicks managed to create just one genuine chance in their hapless search for an equaliser. Admittedly, the spectacular save Artur Boruc made to divert Johann Gudmundsson’s terrific free kick to safety midway through the first half was world class but it stood alone during an afternoon the keeper could safely have spent with his feet up and a cigar on. It’s certainly hard to recall anything else that inconvenienced him.
It was a second minute error committed by Gudmundsson, gifting Matt Ritchie a clearcut shooting chance from 25 yards and indirectly leading to Wilson’s opener, that began gormless Charlton’s downfall. Stephen Henderson’s excellent reactions kept out Ritchie’s low drive at the expense of a corner but his relief was shortlived. Ritchie’s inswinging delivery from the right was retrieved from beyond the far post by Marc Pugh, who skinned Jordan Cousins before whipping in a dangerous low cross from the left byline. Sharp as a tack recently, Wilson flicked past Henderson from close range and though there were lengthy motions to be gone through, the Addicks were already on their way to their first defeat.
Bournemouth’s clever young manager Eddie Howe, though pleased with the result, will be questioning how his dominant side neglected to polish off their passive visitors. A three or four goal margin wouldn’t have flattered them.
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Ritchie’s alert interception of Gudmundsson’s careless square pass was clearly part of Howe’s tactical plan to disrupt Charlton’s often ponderous build-up from the back. Wilson, supported by eager beavers Ritchie and Charlie Daniels consistently threw awkward spanners into the machinery. Henderson was denied opportunity to play short to his back four, Andre Bikey and Tal Ben Haim were forced to resort to long ball clearances, plan A wasn’t supported by a viable plan B. In the ensuing mayhem, the Addicks’ midfield found themselves ineffective onlookers, while up front, Igor Vetokele could last only 45 minutes, leaving far too much asked of richly promising 17 year-old full debutant Karlan Ahearne-Grant.
There was another explanation for the Cherries’ failure to press home the early advantage given them by the prolific Wilson. In Henderson, they came up against a bang in-form goalkeeper, who defied them with a string of superb saves. His early defiance of Ritchie was followed by a sprawling effort to keep out Andrew Surman’s raking drive and instinctive bravery at Wilson’s feet. He also showed his savvy in forcing Wilson wide when sent through by Simon Francis, without fouling the nippy forward, and was rewarded when the danger man managed only to hit the sidenet from a diminishing angle. Henderson also deserved the luck he received when Wilson hit the base of a post following Ritchie’s short free kick. Under less pressure in the second period, he managed another superb stop from Ritchie’s blockbuster, with Harry Arter ballooning the rebound.
Charlton actually improved slightly in the second half, without suggesting they had enough about them to rescue even a point. Vetokele and Johnnie Jackson had been withdrawn during the interval, the former due to some niggling injury or other, the latter possibly to protect him from a second yellow card but just as possibly as a reaction to an anonymous first period. Gudmundsson joined them on 67 minutes, yet again failing to go the distance.
With their goals rationed to one per game, the Addicks are facing the first serious questions of a reasonably successful season. An outstanding back four, anchored by the inspired goalkeeping of Henderson, has kept them afloat but their midfield is too easily overpowered. And a counterpunching style, which invites the opposition forward in the hope of catching them on the break, contains the seeds of its own destruction. The bulk of the action at Bournemouth took place in Charlton’s half. That’s been the case in nearly every game this season, in several of which they’ve been outclassed.
Still, one defeat hardly represents a crisis and they have the opportunity to bounce back at home to Bolton on Tuesday evening. We’ll know a bit more about them after that game. It might be nice, though, if they actually took it to the Trotters. Make the opposition soak it up for a change. Bit revolutionary, perhaps, but worth trying.
Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Arter, Surman, Ritchie, Pitman, Pugh, Wilson. Not used: Camp, Harte, Gosling, Smith, Stanislas, Fraser, Rantie. Booked: Surman.
Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins, Gudmundsson (Wilson 67), Buyens, Jackson (Moussa 46), Cousins, Vetokele (Harriott 46), Ahearne-Grant. Not used: Pope, Morrison, Fox, Tucudean. Booked: Jackson, Solly, Henderson.
Referee: James Linington. Att: 10,360 (1,388 visiting).
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