Charlton 2 (Watt 74, Buyens (pen) 79 Leeds United 1 (Morison 40).
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
This “meaningless” mid-table match lived down to its promise during a first half of soporific inertia, from which Leeds emerged with a lead supplied for them by a goal of stunning quality which stood out incongruously in the dross surrounding it. Not that Charlton seemed to care much until Guy Luzon presumably got among them during an awkward interval. It seems to have worked because the second half saw an entirely different kettle of Addicks.
Led by ex-Charlton employee Neil Redfearn, in temporary charge at Elland Road until dodgy chairman Massimo Cellini completes his current Football League ban on May 4th, United showed up without six overseas stars who claimed implausibly to be hors de combat for various reasons. It was either an appalling stroke of misfortune or a contemptuous slap in the face for Redfearn, who had already lost his assistant, Steve Thompson, to suspension during a week which was self destructive even by Leeds United’s chaotic standards.
Proving not for the first time that no love is as blind as that of a supporter for his/her football club, over 3,000 fans followed United down from Yorkshire to leave nobody in doubt that their loyalty was unquestioned and their respect for fellow Yorkshireman Redfearn unconditional. His hastily reshuffled team did their camp followers proud in the early going.
Former Crewe midfielder Luke Murphy should have capped the visitors’ bright start but made a volleyed hash of converting the chance made for him by young hot shot Alex Mowatt’s cross and Steve Morison’s headed flick. Morison’s inadvertent shins then blocked a lazy clearance by Stephen Henderson as the Addicks reverted briefly to needless interpassing in front of their own goal but the ball rebounded an uncomfortable yard wide of the grateful goalkeeper’s left post.
As the Whites continued to set the pace, Morison’s striking sidekick Billy Sharp headed Sam Byram’s precise centre tamely over the bar before Tal Ben Haim popped up at the other end with a speculative shot which Igor Vetokele diverted on to an upright, then hastily retreated to his defensive post to crudely chop down Byram as the academy graduate aggressively crossed the 18-yard line.
Stepping up to take the penalty, Sharp hit his shot firmly but within reach of Henderson, who brought the house down by turning the ball onto his left-hand post at full stretch. His marvellous save unfortunately protected equality for just three more minutes.
Scorer of two stunning long range goals during the 2-2 draw these sides shared at Elland Road in November, highly rated academy graduate Mowatt came desperately close to punishing a foul committed by Yoni Buyens with a curling free kick which the indiarubber Henderson turned aside at the expense of a right wing corner. Charlton’s luck, as it turned out, had unfortunately just run out.
Murphy’s outswinger was aimed deliberately for the penalty spot where Morison met it with a searing sideways-on volley which the defiant Henderson managed to touch as it screamed into the top left corner. Morison’s habit of scoring against Charlton remains unbroken. Mind you, he also scored for the Addicks in a 4-4 draw with the club that dare not speak its name but that hardly balances the books.
Also twice a scorer in the 2-2 draw last year, Johann Berg Gudmundsson was oddly benched while Charlton sleepwalked through a dire first half. With only three games left in the season, the hungry playmaker hardly needs rest as he proved by replacing the subdued Chris Eagles and inspiring a stirring rally. The chances arrived thick and fast as first Vetokele badly sliced Tony Watt’s clever pass wide, then Yoni Buyens’ curling effort forced Stuart Taylor to produce a smart diving save. United were beginning to creak by the time Gudmundsson stepped inside Scott Wootton to pick out Watt wide of the far post with a sumptuous centre. The Scot’s neatly cushioned volley beat Taylor on its way into the far corner and Charlton were level. But parity was not enough for the hungry Gudmundsson.
Pursued by a posse of anxious defenders as he dribbled parallel to their goal, the Icelandic playmaker found space to unleash one of those stinging left-footed shots which have brought him eleven goals this season. Diving to his left, Taylor could only push the ball away but looked favourite to complete the save as he sought to regain his feet. Reaching the rebound before the struggling keeper, however, Vetokele nicked possession but was clumsily brought down by Taylor as he moved clear of his challenge.
Watt briefly fancied the penalty but in Yoni Buyens, the Addicks already have a deadeye spotkick taker. Taylor became the eighth goalkeeper this season to head one way as Buyens’ perfect penalty was stylishly clipped home in the opposite direction. The matchwinner crowned an excellent contribution from the rangy Belgian – one of many during Charlton’s “meaningful” second half. Comfortably mid-table or not, winning always beats losing. Its a good habit to get into…the alternative’s an equally hard one to break.
Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Ben Haim, Gomez, Fox, Eagles (Gudmundsson 46), Diarra (Cousins 11), Buyens, Bulot, Watt, Vetokeke (Church 90). Not used: Etheridge, Wiggins, Johnson, Lepoint. Booked: Vetokele, Watt.
Leeds United: Stuart Taylor, Wootton, Cooper, Bamba, Charlie Taylor, Murphy, Austin,
Byram (Dawson 88), Mowatt. Sharp (Montenegro 84), Morison. Not used: Cairns, Ngoyi, Berardi, Sloth, Phillips.
Referee: T. Harrington Att: 18,053 (3140 visiting).