About Kevin Nolan

Reading 1 (Sharp 13) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Madejski Stadium.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report sponsored by Grant Saw Wealth Management

More than a hundred years ago, Mark Twain bitterly expressed his contempt for statistics. There are three kinds of lies”, he declared, “lies, damned lies and statistics.”

The wily old codger had a point but nobody can be right all the time. Even he would have to concede that statistics prove, among other things, that the world is round, a cat has nine lives and that both of the Mayor of London’s sizeable feet are more often than not found in his even more sizeable mouth. And they can also help in putting together a valid, number-crunching analysis of Charlton’s faltering progress through the season so far. Do your best to keep up with me as I present the case for the judicious use of statistics.

The Addicks’ sixth 1-0 defeat at Reading lends substantial weight to the mathematical equation that if you score at least once against them, preferably early in the first half, you’re better than evens to beat them by the only goal of the game. They just can’t score themselves, this latest blank being their eighth of the season in nineteen tries – that’s somewhere between a 40% or 50% ratio, according to my abacus. And if it’s goals you’re after, steer clear of Charlton because there’s been only 35 scored in 19 games. These are numerical facts, which I invite you to absorb while I extricate myself from a statistical morass of my own making.

Armed with the figures, it was safe to assume that this second 1-0 setback within four days was all but certain as early as the 13th minute, when dependable lower league goalscorer Billy Sharp put Reading into the lead. Picking up a loose ball after Dale Stephens’ poor touch and unconvincing attempt to redeem his error conceded possession dangerously near Charlton’s penalty area, Sharp moved smoothly into shooting range before placing a crisp drive into the bottom left corner.
Sharp’s clearheaded finishing inserted daylight between two otherwise evenly matched sides. It looked even more decisive when Charlton’s Simon Church failed to match his marksmanship before the interval.

Church had been his usual, hardgrafting self, willing to run himself into exhaustion for the cause. Minutes before Sharp pounced, his ceaseless running had panicked Reading right back Stephen Kelly into a poorly judged challenge as they disputed a raking delivery down the inside left channel. It felt like a penalty, looked like a penalty, probably was a penalty. Not so ruled referee Darren Sheldrake, which meant it wasn’t a penalty. Apparently Sky TV
disagreed with him, which will console Chris Powell no end.

Undeterred by his ill-fortune, Church was presented with an excellent opportunity to balance the books as the first half entered added time. Played through a square defence by Yann Kermorgant’s finely measured pass, he outstripped his pursuers, let fly on the run but placed his shot too close to advancing goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. Based on bitter experience – not to mention the statistics we’ve already expounded – there was justification in concluding that his miss would prove costly.

Not that the Addicks went quietly. Impressive willpower forced them on top as the Royals’s self-assurance began to waver, though Garath McLeary almost derailed the process by clipping the bar soon after the break. But the running was generally made by the resurgent visitors and when, with 20 minutes left, Powell went for broke with the bold introduction of three attacking substitutes, a clear statement of intent had been made.

With a massive point to prove, Marvin Sordell was one of the newcomers. There is clearly a talented player lurking beneath the diffidence he has shown in Charlton’s colours and he was eager to make an impact. Twisting, turning, protecting the ball expertly, he surely did enough to nail down a start in Saturday’s crucial engagement at Yeovil. Likewise, the almost completely forgotten Danny Green threw himself, with renewed enthusiasm, into the fightback. Benched skipper Johnnie Jackson was the third sub but though his influence was felt, he fluffed his lines with a botched attempt to exploit Kermorgant’s set-up.

To be honest, Charlton came up with little else but effort despite the modest pressure they exerted. There were bits and pieces but nothing clearcut. Which is where we came in.

So to Yeovil on Saturday, where the natives will be even more restless than usual after two impressive wins recently. A re-vamped line-up, geared for attack, might be the way forward in the West Country but we’ll see. Something has to change before freefall sets in. With his keen insight into the proletariat’s pastimes, that’s something that London’s flaxen-topped Fat Controller (wasn’t he hilarious when he rugby tackled that bloke during a football game?) will be keeping an eye on. Meanwhile, I’ve just finished my last two propositions with prepositions, liberties which betray the pressure I’m feeling. I’m cracking up just when I need to impress my new sponsor most. Swear to God I can do better!

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report sponsored by Grant Saw Wealth Management

Reading: McCarthy, Kelly, Pearce, Guthrie, Cummings, McAnuff, Gorkss, McCleary (Blackman 90), Williams (Akpan 64), Pobrebnyak, Sharp (Robson-Kanu 67). Not used: Federici, Le Fondre, Drenthe, Obita. Booked: Kelly, Gorkss.

Charlton: Alnwick, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Stewart, Stephens (Jackson 70), Cousins, Evina (Green 70), Church (Sordell 70), Kermorgant. Not used: Pope, Hughes, , Pritchard, Wood. Booked: Morrison.

Referee: Darren Sheldrake. Att: 18,149.

N.B. This report is the first filed under the new sponsorship of Grant Saw Financial Management, managed by canny Glaswegian Ian Starkey from his premises at the Royal Standard in Blackheath. I haven’t actually met Ian and there are those who might recommend, from his point of view, that we leave it that way but his interest and involvement are sincerely appreciated. I look forward to sharing many a riveting conversation with him concerning financial planning and wealth management, two topics which keep me awake at night.
My encyclopaedic knowledge of Glasgow Rangers, which dates back to Willie Waddell and George Young, will no doubt cement our new relationship and I look forward to a fruitful future.

Charlton 0 Ipswich Town1 (Smith 5).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

As an exercise in utter frustration, Charlton will have to look long and hard before finding a better example than this desperately disappointing game. The points were effectively on their way to Suffolk after five of the more chaotic minutes in Valley memory. During the eighty five which remained, nothing of deep significance happened, a state of affairs which suited conservative Ipswich down to the ground. Their work already done and dusted, the visitors felt no pressing need to exert themselves and chose to grind it out. Followers of Charlton on the road might recognise the process.

Into those opening five minutes, though, was crammed enough action to send heads spinning and all of it took place in sleepwalking Charlton’s penalty area. No more than fifty seconds had elapsed when sureshot David McGoldrick was played through to confront Ben Alnwick but was outguessed by the advancing keeper, who turned his low shot away for a right wing corner; Aaron Cresswell’s left-footed delivery was met by Tommy Smith’s head but Alnwick smuggled the ball clear for another right wing corner; Daryl Murphy’s header powered Cresswell’s inswinger goalward but Alnwick again saved magnificently, then miraculously kept out Christophe Berra’s point-blank effort to convert the rebound.

Having singlehandedly stood off the rampant Tractor Boys, Alnwick was entitled to a little support. No such luck. Cresswell crossed over to the opposite flank to pick out Smith with a pinpointed outswinger which left the rampaging centre half the easy task of heading down into the centre of goal. Scarcely a defensive muscle moved; in fact, scarcely a defensive muscle, apart from the overworked Alnwick’s, had moved since kick-off.

It was the mother of all nightmare starts but, to be fair, was completely out of character for a defence which has now conceded a miserly 20 goals in 17 league games. That impressive statistic is undermined somewhat by the miserable total of 14 goals scored at the other end. Five of Charlton’s games had ended 1-0, three of them defeats. Even at such an early stage, this one seemed destined to make it four. And that’s not hindsight talking. A cursory glance through their “chances” tells a depressingly futile story.

Soon after Smith scored, Yann Kermorgant crossed from the left for Dale Stephens to glance a header wide; Rhoys Wiggins set up Jordan Cousins to shoot harmlessly off target; Lawrie Wilson’s hard-driven low cross eluded Simon Church on its untouched journey to the far touchline; on the half hour, Wiggins provided the Addicks’ stand-out attacking moment with a fiercely swerving cross-cum-shot which Dean Gerken awkwardly pawed to safety off his right post. It didn’t exactly amount to a relentless siege.

Ponderous and slow in their build-up, with square and backward passing the order of the day, the second half was similarly dire but let’s again record Charlton’s “highlights.” Johnnie Jackson had a brief sight of goal but hesitated and the fleeting chance was lost; Wilson’s skyscraping centre was awkwardly touched over the bar by Gerken; Cameron Stewart cut in from the left to shoot firmly with his right foot but was foiled by Gerken’s plunging save; Cousins sliced hopelessly wide; Michael Morrison haplessly missed headed contact with Kermorgant’s cross. And in added time, Charlton’s torment was exacerbated by a refereeing howler.

Fussy referee Duncan was perfectly placed to spot the coldbloodedly professional foul, with which Cole Skuse halted Kermorgant’s progress in the centre circle but, with his wits about him, might have sensibly allowed an advantage which ended with Stewart promisingly placed to equalise. His premature whistle instead awarded Charlton a meaningless free kick and proved, beyond reasonable argument, that crime often pays when you know what you’re about. But nothing disguises the inconvenient truth that Charlton were comfortably beaten by an average side which rarely found it necessary to shift out of low gear.

So after Tuesday’s victory over Doncaster, it was a case of an important step forward, followed quickly by another sickening knockback. A knockback which apparently was a tactical triumph for Town boss Mick McCarthy, who watched the Addicks in midweek, wove a cerebral web to ensnare them and delivered a meticulously conceived masterclass, which featured the cunning plan of scoring early, then winning 1-0. Ain’t it great when all your schemes come together, especially scoring early, then winning 1-0?

Here’s another version of events. When you win, you’re a coaching genius; when you lose, you’re a coaching blockhead. Much of what remains is cobblers. It’s all about the result and even though many of us admire the tough, outspoken McCarthy, especially since he was disgracefully abused in 2002 by that quisling whose name, like that of Jesse James’ assassin, doesn’t belong alongside his, let’s not get carried away. Ipswich won. Fair play to them. They were marginally the better of two moderate sides. The work of a Chess Grandmaster it wasn’t. But what a cruel kick in the guts for Charlton it was!

Charlton: Alnwick (correction on the pronounciation, by the way – it’s Ann-ick), Wilson (Sordell 86), Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Stewart, Stephens, Jackson (Green 69), Cousins, Kermorgant, Church (Pigott 69). Not used: Pope, Hughes, Evina, Wood. Booked: Morrison.

Ipswich: Gerken, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Skuse, Anderson (Edwards 74), Tunnicliffe, Murphy (Nouble 74), Tabb ( Hunt 84), McGoldrick. Not used: Loach, Wordsworth, Mings, Graham. Booked: Nouble.

Referee: S. Duncan. Att: 16,645

Charlton 2 (Stephens 39, Church 60) Doncaster Rovers 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Recalling their miserable experience almost exactly three months ago, it was easy to understand Doncaster Rovers’ obvious reluctance to repeat this fixture. Put yourself in their place – The Valley was the last place they wanted to be on one of these cold, cheerless November evenings. But that’s how it goes. You have to deal with it. Which they didn’t. They were technically present but they didn’t turn up.

To recap the circumstances for readers oblivious to the fortunes of Doncaster and Charlton, Rovers were leading 3-1 when an unseasonal deluge caused the game on August 31st to be abandoned at half-time. Their position wasn’t quite as strong as the scoreline suggests because they had been reduced to ten men and had their 3-0 lead reduced by Simon Church’s goal shortly before the interval. An awkward second half awaited them but you’d have to say their prospects were promising.

None of which counted for much second time around. Despite missing numerous chances, Charlton exploited their second bite at the cherry to cruise home comfortably. Possibly feeling sorry for themselves, Donny lost by a racing distance .
In managing to double their home wins this season, Charlton were confident and assured enough to toy with their visitors. Only one minute had elapsed when Lawrie Wilson’s impudently contrived chip sent Church in to face Ross Turnbull in the first of their two critical one-on-one confrontations. The striker’s first touch was immaculate but his low right-footed shot scudded wide of the target.

Undeterred by the miss, the Addicks swarmed all over their visitors. A quickthinking dummy by Dale Stephens over Rhoys Wiggins’ low cross provided Yann Kermorgant with the space he needed to beat Turnbull with a crisp snapshot which rebounded off a post.

Dummies were clearly in vogue with Kermorgant’s instinctive deception setting up Johnnie Jackson to unleash a full-blooded rocket. Turnbull reacted superbly to touch the effort over the bar though, as it turned out, the defiant keeper had merely delayed the inevitable. Six minutes before the break, the Addicks grabbed an overdue lead with another candidate for their goal-of-the season competition.

Adjusting his feet perfectly as Bongani Khumalo’s looping header (always direct your defensive headers away to the side of your goal, kids) cleared Cameron Stewart’s centre to him outside the penalty area, Stephens sent an expertly cushioned volley dipping neatly into the top left corner. The legality of the goal seemed unimpeachable but Donny boss Paul Dickov questioned it anyway.

On his sunniest day, Dickov seems a punchline short of a good laugh but his passionate protests to fourth official Kelly were sincere. Something about offside during the build-up apparently. To be fair, the feisty boss’s eventual acceptance of Charlton’s superiority was graceful and he won press room friends with his restraint and dignity. Never thought I’d hear myself saying that.

Football’s accepted wisdom, despite Doncaster’s passivity, demanded a clinching goal and Federico Macheda fired a warning shot across the home team’s bows with a twisting, turning run, which he ended with a fierce drive narrowly over the bar. There was little else to recommend the South Yorkshiremen and the chances continued to arrive -and be missed – by the home side.

Church failed by agonising inches to convert Stewart’s searching cross, then Wilson forced a fine flying save from Turnbull, with the excellent Jordan Cousins drilling the rebound too high. But on the hour, Church sealed the issue.
Jackson’s precisely measured pass sent the gutsy Welshman sprinting through a square defence to confront Turnbull again. Holding off his pursuers, he kept his nerve, shot on the run as the keeper narrowed the angle and found the left corner off the base of the left post.

With the visitors showing signs of collapse, Stewart’s ferocious shooting came into its own. His left-footed drive produced yet another fine save from Turnbull before this two-sided player used his other foot to crash another cannonball against the bar. Five minutes from time, Charlton’s debutant keeper Ben Alnwick (pronounced Al-ick , we’re reliably informed), who had replaced warm-up injury victim Ben Hamer shortly before kick-off, registered his first genuine save for the club by spectacularly turning aside substitute Theo Robinson’s corner-bound drive.

Routine though it turned out to be, this was a vital victory for Charlton. Once again, a defence which has conceded only 19 goals in 16 league games, did its bit and on this occasion was supported by a display of bright, uninhibited attacking. Must do better with their chance-taking, it’s true, but there’s renewed optimism around the club these days. Anyone would think it’s for sale.

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Stewart (Green 90), Stephens, Cousins, Jackson (Hughes 90), Church (Sordell 81), Kermorgant. Not used: Pigott, Evina, Harriott, Wood.

Doncaster: Turnbull, Quinn, Khumalo, Wabara, De Val (Peterson 76), McCullough, Wellens, Coppinger, Duffy, Paynter (Robinson 68), Macheda. Not used: Maxted, Cotterill, Wakefield, Bennett, Woods. Booked: Wellens.

Referee: S. Hooper. Att: 14,140.

QPR 1 (Austin 40) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Loftus Road.

Nouveau riche Queens Park Rangers left it closer than expected before edging past cash-strapped Charlton in this so-called local derby. A superb strike from prolific Charlie Austin proved to be the difference between sides widely separated by finance. Rangers’ banking business would be welcomed by Coutts; the Addicks were probably customers at the Co-op before it fell from grace.

Funny club, QPR. Funny peculiar, that is, although sometimes funny unintentionally as well. To be fair, until recently nobody had an unkind word to say about them, chiefly because nobody had a word of any kind to say about them. For over a century, they flew inoffensively under football’s radar. That changed abruptly when Laurel and Hardy acquired the club in 2007.

Stanley Jefferson Ecclestone is a tiny Englishman with expertise in F-1 motor racing, whose interest in football was piqued by the arrival of all-seater grounds; prior to that seismic event, microscopic Stan struggled to see what was going on.

Oliver Norval Briatore, a portly Italian with more dubious affiliations to the motor racing industry, fondly imagined he was the brains behind Stan. Ollie left F-1 amid allegations of race fixing and not much of him has been seen since.

That’s all motor oil under the bridge now, of course, with Stan and Ollie’s ephemeral legacy two inglorious seasons in the Premier League. The world’s eight-richest man, Lakshmi Mittal, was briefly involved but the torch has now been passed to Tony Fernandes. Though the rank-and-file fans and staff remain average, likeable Joes and Josies, it’s safe to say the owner/operators know the value of a pound at Loftus Road.

Fans and bigshots alike didn’t get much for their money in this monotonous game. Without extending themselves unduly, the Rs claimed three precious promotion points against modest opponents content to limit the potential damage of a crushing defeat. The upshot was a low-key affair which was settled by one flash of inspiration from a player, who has made an irritating habit of victimising Charlton.

Last season for instance, while with Burnley, Austin settled an otherwise scoreless clash at The Valley with a spectacular strike from all of 30 yards. Now earning a more substantial crust in West London, he duplicated the feat in almost identical circumstances. Picking up a routine pass from Joey Barton, he stepped inside Jordan Cousins, took brief aim, then crashed an untouchable drive beyond Ben Hamer into the top right corner. That’s precisely what QPR paid for when they pried him from Burnley and re-located him in the Smoke.

With capable help from Barton, Austin’s 40th minute goal settled Charlton’s hash. Apart from a venomous shot, which Hamer brilliantly saved, he was well policed by Michael Morrison and Dorian Dervite and it was Barton’s more industrious influence in central midfield which kept Rangers ticking – and in front.

As much tortured poet as common-or-garden footballer these days, the one-time enfant terrible is a reformed character (though he did fit in a booking for old time’s sake) and seizes every opportunity to remind us of it. Even so, you’d still back him to bash up any of those poncey French philosophers. Sartre wouldn’t stand a chance. Nor would Piaf.
Not that the hardworking but limited Addicks posed much threat to QPR’s superiority. They mustered only two shots on target, the better of them a stinging effort from Cousins seconds before Austin scored, which Robert Green parried with difficulty. Simon Church provided the other one after picking up Hamer’s hefty clearance, rounding Benoit Assou-Akotto but rolling the tamest of efforts at Green.

Midfielders Dale Stephens and Bradley Pritchard combined to exchange a couple of other chances. Stephens accepted Pritchard’s first half pass but stood embarrassingly on the ball prior to shooting; played momentarily clear by Stephens’ defence-splitting ball early in the second period, Pritchard’s loss of confidence was palpable as he was snuffed out.

By far the busier keeper, Hamer kept the contest nominally alive with a string of fine saves. He followed his sharp stop from Austin by expertly fielding Gary O’Neil’s rebound effort, dived athletically to turn Matt Phillips’ daisycutter aside, then later on beat Barton’s netbound free kick to safety. He deserved the luck he received when substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips’s improvised chip left him helpless but hit the bar.

With this most daunting of fixtures behind them, the Addicks’ priorities will turn to the more promising visits of Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday and Ipswich Town on Saturday. You could almost group them together as twelve-pointers. At least Austin won’t be playing.

QPR: Green, Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Akotto, Phillips (Johnson 77), Barton, O’Neil, Kranjcar (Wright-Phillips 65), Jenas (Henry 46), Austin. Not used: Murphy, Traore, Onyewu, Young. Booked: Barton.

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Pritchard (Harriott 58), Cousins, Stephens, Jackson, Stewart (Sordell 87), Church (Kermorgant 58). Not used: Alnwick, Hughes, Evina, Wood. Booked: Jackson.

Referee: Dean Whitestone. Att: 17,397 (1,820 Charlton).

Charlton 2 (Stewart 45, Jackson 70) Leeds United 4 (McCormack 17, 48 pen, 73, 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

On a dank, drab afternoon, not to mention a sodden pudding of a pitch, Charlton produced their best attacking display of the season, scored two fine goals but still lost to Leeds United. Their downfall can be traced to an inability to control in- form striker Ross McCormack.

The sharp, mobile Scot’s finishing was in a class of its own, his open-play hat-trick as clinical as it gets, the penalty he slammed past Ben Hamer a foregone conclusion. Supported by the superb goalkeeping of Paddy Kenny, he was the difference between these sides; a difference, it needs to be said, enhanced by more dubious methods.

McCormack’s tour-de-force made it almost possible to overlook the darker side of Leeds’ contribution to this sometimes rollicking match. Almost but not quite. A team with gamesmanship in its DNA turned every trick in a repertoire indelibly associated with Elland Road to secure a rare away win. As early as the 38th minute, Kenny set the black arts in motion with a booking for timewasting. His colleagues, meanwhile, broke up play by rolling, writhing and whining in regular, pain-wracked agony. Rarely can a football team have suffered such wretched ill-health. And it was all done on the watch of new manager Brian McDermott, whose record at his former clubs seemed scrupulously devoid of such sharp practice. Leeds don’t change but apparently he does. Still, when in Rome….!

Scoring more than once for the first time in nine games, Charlton chose an inopportune occasion to sag defensively. They should draw heart, however, from a bright, often imaginative performance which, had McCormack and Kenny not skilfully interfered, would have earned them only their second home win of a struggling campaign.

With Callum Harriott’s flair preferred to Bradley Pritchard’s diligence on the right flank, the Addicks started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in five games since October 1st. Lively Harriott had already gone close twice before McCormack struck for the first time.

A foul by Jordan Cousins on Rodolph Austin in the centre circle began the process; Tom Lees’ soaring free kick was astutely nodded over a flummoxed Lawrie Wilson by Dexter Blackstock, leaving McCormack to take a steadying touch before rifling a left-footed drive past Ben Hamer.

Spurred on by Rhoys Wiggins, Charlton hit back spiritedly. The first of the left back’s series of low-driven crosses was awkwardly cleared for a corner by Jason Pearce, a second was turned on to the outside of a post by Simon Church. The Welshman’s sweetly struck half-volley from yet another of Wiggins’ fine deliveries seemed certain to bulge the net but was brilliantly parried by Kenny.

The visitors looked likely to survive to half-time until Cameron Stewart spectacularly equalised in added time. Johnnie Jackson’s free kick was headed out to the winger, whose explosive 25-yard volley left Kenny helpless on its way into the top left corner. While United wilted briefly, Harriott shaved the bar with a curling drive, marvellously improvised from the right flank with the outside of his left foot.

Three minutes after the break, Harriott’s promising display took a turn for the worse. Responsibly tracking Danny Pugh’s aggressive run into Charlton’s penalty area, he stuck a defensively untutored foot in where it didn’t belong and tripped the left back. McCormack made easy work of converting the clearcut spotkick. Erratic referee Stroud got that one right but, unfortunately for Charlton, had been less eagle-eyed when turning a tolerant eye to the blatant first half trip which felled Church in the area. You’ve seen ’em given – about 99% of the time!

Still irrepressible, Harriott promptly went close to making amends. His viciously swerving drive was magnificently fingertipped over the bar by Kenny while, unmarked at the far post, Dorian Dervite should have done better than make a hasty hash of stabbing Jackson’s corner over the bar. But Charlton weren’t kept waiting long for a second equaliser.
Church’s twisting run along the left byline twice left Lees and Lee Peltier bewildered in its wake before the striker’s low centre was forced home by Jackson, who had typically found a yard of space in a congested six-yard box.

The setback was McCormack’s cue to strike again while the Addicks were still basking in their success. Drifting clear as Hamer hesitated in dealing with Luke Murphy’s free kick, he dispatched a venomous volley inside the right post. It was United’s third shot at goal but their hitman wasn’t finished yet.

With the paltry addition of four added minutes proving that artful timewasting pays off, it was cruelly ironic that it was McCormack who used them to score again. Wiggins’ irritated foul on Austin gave the insatiable Scot the opportunity to curl a sumptuous free kick into the top left corner. His fourth goal put a buoyantly overdue spring in the visitors’ step. Their touching return to the rudest of health gave encouragement to us all and should be exhaustively recorded in the pages of Lancet without delay.

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson (Pritchard 86), Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Harriott (Kermorgant 67), Cousins, Stephens, Stewart (Sordell 86), Jackson, Church. Not used: Alnwick, Hughes, Evina, Lennon. Booked: Morrison, Wiggins.

Leeds: Kenny, Peltier, Lees, Wootton (Zaliukas 46), Pearce, Pugh, Murphy, Austin, Brown, McCormack, Blackstock (Smith 76). Not used: Green, Tonge, Thompson, Poleon, Cairns. Booked: Kenny, Blackstock.

Referee: Keith Stroud. Att: 17,601.

Birmingham City 0 Charlton 1 (Stephens 56).

When diminutive referee Scott Mathieson ordered three added minutes at the end of this tense, scrappy game, an unmistakeable frisson of deja-vu caused hairs to stand up on necks in the away end of this pleasantly scruffy old ground.

Squirming anxiously behind the goal, 855 travelling fans had gone through this before. Twice in fact last season when Birmingham City salvaged 1-1 draws with last gasp equalisers in both league games. To concede once could be dismissed as misfortune; to lapse a second time just has to be carelessness; but a third added time disaster was not only unthinkable but unendurable. City substitute Peter Lovenkrands clearly sympathised because, in a hectic conclusion, he ended Charlton’s agony by blasting a six-yard sitter wildly over the bar.So it was uncomfortably close at the end but the Addicks held on to this second successive 1-0 victory away from home.

Depleted by injuries to Richard Wood and Yann Kermorgant during last week’s clash with Wigan, Chris Powell reacted with his usual resourcefulness. Bringing in the admirable Dorian Dervite and the invaluable experience of Johnnie Jackson, he changed his formation to a counter-punching 4-5-1 and was rewarded by impressive stubbornness from every member of his resilient side. This fourth consecutive clean sheet was built on defensive solidity, which began up front with the tireless endeavour of Simon Church, ran down the spine of the team and was supported at the back by the flawless goalkeeping of Ben Hamer.

This was, it should be said, no desperate backs-to-the wall feat of resistance. Hustling and harassing all over the pitch, the Addicks soaked up everything City had to offer, sapped their resolve, then polished them off with an opportunistic 56th minute goal of their own. Masterminded by their streetwise manager, this was the text-book away performance.

Entertainment was admittedly in short supply, particularly during a sterile first half, in the drab course of which the visitors created the better chances. As early as the second minute, Jackson’s close range header was repelled by Darren Randolph’s face; Church glanced Jackson’s precise cross wide; Church exploited Kyle Bartley’s slip to set an opening for Jackson to drag a shot wide. It was hardly one-way traffic but the best the Blues could offer was Lee Novak’s rasping drive which Hamer saved brilliantly at full length. Novak’s foul on Hamer ruled out Dan Burn’s “scoring” header.

Nine minutes after the break, the visitors stepped up the pace and lowered the boom on their weakening hosts. Tricky left winger Cameron Stewart had already shown a willingness to cut inside right back Paul Caddis to let fly right-footed. His first effort was painfully blocked by Burn but his sights were set. A second drive brought Randolph down to save awkwardly at his right post, Jackson nibbled at the rebound, Randolph parried gamely but sent the ball spinning towards the far post, where Stephens was waiting to tap into an empty net. In sublime form recently, the stylish midfielder had added an overdue goal to yet another masterful contribution in Charlton’s cause.

Laboured and predictable in their intention to batter the Addicks into submission, City aimed everything at Nicola Zigic’s lofty head but Dervite and a rock-like Michael Morrison dealt capably with the crude aerial assault. Alongside their resolute centre backs, stalwart full backs Lawrie Wilson and Rhoys Wiggins snuffed out wide men Chris Burke and Demarai Gray, with Bradley Pritchard improving on an erratic first half  to do his usual indefatigable bit on every blade of grass available to him. Jordan Cousins continued to belie his extreme youth and Stewart is combining his defensive duties with attacking menace on the left flank. So solid was this Charlton crew that Powell’s first and only substitution was the 90th minute replacement of an understandably weary Jackson by Jordan Cook. From start to finish, this remarkably plucky team were a credit to their boss. And it was no surprise that they did it again. This lot would go through walls for him.
Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Bartley, Burn, Robinson, Burke, Reilly, Adeyemi, Gray (Lovenkrands 62), Novak ( Ferguson 62), Zigic. Not used: Doyle, Mullins, Lee, Shinnie, Brown. 

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Pritchard, Stephens, Cousins, Jackson (Cook 90), Stewart, Church. Not used: Alnwick, Hughes, Evina, Sordell, Harriott, Lennon.

Referee: Scott Mathieson. Att: 14,070.

Charlton 0 Wigan Athletic 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

This earnestly contested stalemate featured Charlton’s third consecutive clean sheet, an achievement which eluded them during their first ten league games. With a paltry total of nine goals so far, only three of them scored at The Valley, it’s just as well they’ve defiantly clamped down at the other end. Their spirit might be bruised but remains unbroken.
Boosted by the return of Yann Kermorgant, the Addicks probably looked to this fixture for a change in attacking emphasis. Unfortunately, their wretched luck continued, as the Big Yann limped off after just 35 minutes, with a recurrence of his ankle injury. He had started brightly by dominating in the air, screaming blue merde over every decision as usual and generally exuding that air of bristling menace so clearly lacking in his absence.

Kermorgant’s departure significantly altered Charlton’s approach to this important game. Though Marvin Sordell proved a capable deputy, their priority became corporate solidarity and defensive discipline, with an eye to catching their visitors on the break. To a man, each player did his bit in securing a point which might prove invaluable. If you can’t win, make damn sure you don’t lose, so they say; it’s their five draws that currently keep Charlton off the bottom of the Championship table.

While the hatches were being battened down following the early disruption, nobody was more prominent than Dale Stephens, who has come into his own with a series of fine performances recently. He took this game by the scruff of its neck and inspired his teammates to increased effort. His stylish ability to break up the opposition’s play, then turn defence into attack with authoritative passing, was vital to Charlton’s re-adjustment during their brief period of vulnerability. Stephens’ blistering drive, following hardworking Simon Church’s lay-off early in the second half, would have been a worthy winner. From my angle, it seemed destined for the top left corner but instead shaved the woodwork.

Singling out Stephens for mention in no way diminishes worthy contributions elsewhere. Centre backs Michael Morrison and Richard Wood were immense in keeping Grant Holt under control and consigning the highly touted Nick Powell (playing in the hole behind Holt, if my astute tactical eye served me right) to the margins. Holt pushed, shoved and out-moaned Kermorgant but got nowhere; gifted Manchester United loanee Powell supplied the miss of the match by blasting a six-yard sitter wildly over the bar just past the hour. Right back Lawrie Wilson, meanwhile, put James McLean in his pocket, finding time also to make several marauding runs down the right flank.

Providing his customary sturdy support to Stephens and a slightly subdued Jordan Cousins, Bradley Pritchard won’t appreciate being reminded that he was responsible for squandering Charlton’s best chance. Intelligently tracking the inroads made by Rhoys Wiggins’ perceptive pass to Cameron Stewart, he was perfectly placed to meet the flying winger’s precise cutback but haplessly shovelled a left-footed shot over the bar from the edge of the penalty area. Before the interval, Wood nodded Stephens’s outswinging corner down inside the left post but young goalkeeper Lee Nicholls scooped the ball away.

Improving Wigan had the better of the second half and were desperately unlucky not to take the lead when Chris McCann’s fierce header sent McLean’s corner thudding against the bar. Ben Watson blasted a good chance wide, while James McArthur ended a series of ricochets by doing likewise. McLean’s deflected effort flew into the sidenet and it was becoming hectic around Ben Hamer’s goal by the time substitute Callum McManaman’s sliced shot wasted the Latics’ last opportunity.
The depth of Chris Powell’s squad had already been further depleted by the inconvenient 57th minute loss of Wood to injury. His replacement Dorian Dervite, not for the first time, plugged the gap superbly but the list of available personnel gets thinner.

The boss’s talent for imaginative re-deployment of his assets will immediately be tested by next Saturday’s awkward trip to Birmingham City. His patience knows no bounds, his grace under pressure seems unshakeable. He’s going to need both qualities in keeping Charlton’s heads above water. They’re in safe hands.

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS HERE! SPONSOR REQUIRED FOR CHARLTON ATHLETIC MATCH REPORTS – email rob@greenwich.co.uk

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Wood (Dervite 57), Wiggins, Pritchard, Stephens, Cousins (Jackson 84), Stewart, Church, Kermorgant (Sordell 35). Not used: Pope, Hughes, Evina, Green. Booked: Pritchard.

Wigan: Nicholls, Boyce, Rogne, Barnett, Perch, McArthur, Watson (Espinoza 72), McLean (McManaman 65), McCann, Powell, Holt (Fortune 75). Not used: Shotton, Gomez, Beausejour, Crainey.

Referee: S. Martin. Att: 23,600 (775 visiting).

Blackburn Rovers 0 Charlton 1 (Church 7).

Kevin Nolan reports from Ewood Park.

A devilishly timed thunderstorm of biblical dimensions descended on homely old Ewood Park in almost the exact minute that referee Kevin Wright’s final whistle ended six interminable added minutes and spared increasingly haggard Charlton prolonged agony.

In mere seconds everyone was drenched to the skin by stair-rod rainfall, not that a small pocket of intrepid travelling fans so much as noticed. They were far too busy celebrating a magnificent performance and a priceless result against the odds. A mere spot of inclement weather was unlikely to dampen their ardour.  Apres le deluge there were three precious, sorely needed points to savour.

Those same fans would cheerfully admit that their heroes had spent the closing stages of this epic victory pinned firmly inside their own half. Defending their 7th minute lead as if their lives depended on the result, they had long since tossed style to the winds and unapologetically resorted to clearing their lines anywhere and anyhow.  It was hair-raising stuff but it distorted what, in many important respects, was an admirable away display. For make no mistake, Charlton deserved to win this gruelling game.

Boosted by Simon Church’s excellently constructed goal, the Addicks organised themselves solidly, counterattacked intelligently and gave at least as good as they got until Rovers’ sheer pressure told. That recent dip in form, which included spiritless concessions to Millwall and Burnley were forgotten as this latest of three vastly improved performances revitalised their prospects. The welcome returns from injury on Saturday of skipper Johnnie Jackson and Yann Kermorgant, who announced his 68th minute arrival with an audacious (and only narrowly wide) effort from the centre circle, contributed to the new feel-good factor.

Church’s matchwinner warrants special attention. The initial momentum was provided by Dale Stephens’ firm recovery tackle on Josh King and as defence was quickly turned into offence, by the midfielder’s brilliantly chipped pass to the goalscorer. Expert chest control provided the time and space Church needed to adjust his shape before slotting calmly past the advancing Jake Kean.

Up front for Rovers, meanwhile, prolific Jordan Rhodes had been warmly favoured over Church to open the scoring. It was clearly vital to the buoyant visitors’ chances of retaining their lead that the Championship’s hottest marksman was kept under control. Outstanding centre backs Michael Morrison and Richard Wood were coping impressively until Rhodes was picked out by Leon Best’s pass. A velvety touch set up a venomous volley which was heading inside the right post but was spectacularly touched aside, at full length, by Ben Hamer. A glancing header into Hamer’s arms, followed by a wild effort shovelled over the bar from close range, were the best Rhodes could manage later on. Thanks to the vigilance of Morrison and Wood, this was one of his quieter afternoons but he remains a striker of rare quality. Blackburn’s dependence on him was aptly underlined by the dreadful mess made by Best of converting a point blank chance after Hamer’s inconclusive punch.

Just as important to Charlton’s success was the burgeoning midfield partnership of Stephens and rookie Jordan Cousins. The older player’s ability has never been in doubt; his skill in keeping the ball moving with short or long passing is complemented by a ferrety, foot-in knack of stealing possession, a fierce shot and underrated strength in the air.

Cousins has stepped up from Development Squad football to the Championship  with nerveless authority. An eye for the correct pass fits in neatly with precocious decision making. He can shoot accurately and also does his bit with his napper. The kid would be wise to hone his trade with Charlton. No sense in disappearing into some Premiership cul-de-sac.

Deliberate if ponderous in their build-up play, Rovers were driven to distraction by the tireless hustling of their determined visitors. Rarely given time on the ball as Bradley Pritchard joined Stephens and Cousins in a ball-hunting trio, they also came up against full backs of the highest quality in Lawrie Wilson and Rhoys Wiggins, back in the form which marked him out as the Championship’s best left back. All in all, there’s the makings of a useful side capable of climbing the table. With not a bean to spend and beset by injuries to key players, Chris Powell is proving a wizard of improvisation. Even the torrential rain couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. It’s clear he has the dressing room. All we need to do now is convince the few stubborn dissenters that he is the best -indeed only- man for the job. Then we’ll all be on the same page together.

Blackburn: Kean, Kane, Cairney, Lowe, Spurr, Kilgallon, Marshall (Campbell 84), Lowe, Dann, King (Judge 77), Best (Williamson 66), Rhodes. Not used: Eastwood, Taylor, Marrow, Morris. Booked: Dann, Kane.

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins, Pritchard, Stephens, Cousins, Stewart (Evina 75), Church (Jackson 77), Sordell (Kermorgant 68). Not used: Alnwick, Dervite, Green, Gower.

Referee: Kevin Wright. Att: 13,915.

N.B. All things must pass. So it’s with regret and gratitude that I part company with Maybridge Consultants, generous sponsors of my reports during the last two seasons. They have been good friends but have ceased to trade. They seemed sincere when assuring me that their decision had nothing to do with me and I choose to believe them. I have to admit, though, that there’s a bit of the Jonah about me.

The top and bottom of it anyway, as my old pal Johnny Yarnton used to say, is that I’m seeking a new sponsor to keep me going. This website is run very much as a one-man band enterprise by an affable, touchingly altruistic chap called Rob Powell, who struggles to pay me.
Is there any chance that out there somewhere is an understanding entrepreneur who ius willing to get involved? Enquiries should be e-mailed to rob@greenwich.co.uk and will all be acknowledged.

Might be embarrassing if there are no takers but there you go…I found out a long time ago that there are times when you can’t please any of the people any of the time. Meanwhile, the reports will continue until I start falling asleep over the half-time soup. Kevin Nolan.

Charlton 0 Blackpool 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Though lacking the pizazz of the midweek barnburner which rattled Notts Forest, there was still something tangible for Charlton to savour after this dour stalemate against promotion seekers Blackpool.

Not least among its merits was the point that kept their nose above the Championship’s relegation waters. That temporary edge provides psychological relief, as did their first clean sheet of an already troubled season.

Both plus points were achieved by a threadbare squad, deprived of five potential starters, but fully committed to papering over the cracks. It’s almost possible now to forget the miserable capitulations to Millwall and Burnley. Almost but not quite. But his selection problems might usefully be borne in mind by the minority of theoreticians routinely second-guessing Chris Powell and regularly rhubarbing for his removal. Tactically switched-on thinkers, every one of them. And privy, of course, to everything that goes on inside Sparrows Lane.

Charlton’s chances this term will depend rather less on formulaic systems than on sheer heart and ability – that is until football is turned over to dust-dry analysts to be mulled over by cost-conscious accountants. If and when that day arrives, you can keep it -or, better yet, stick it down that tactical “hole” they go on about. And chuck the “diamond” after it. Some of us are still coming to terms with the “W” formation
The heart and ability Charlton need has been epitomised recently by 19 year-old Academy graduate Jordan Cousins. Asked to step up from the Development Squad to plug gaps in a dwindling squad, the tall, athletically-built kid has responded magnificently. He followed an outstanding midweek contribution with another man-of-the-match performance on Saturday. As one appreciative fan was overheard to remark, “he’s a proper footballer”. He’s certainly one opponents find difficult to bully off the ball. That’s an important quality the likes of Callum Harriott would do well to emulate.

Partnered unselfishly by a revitalised Dale Stephens, Cousins dominated central midfield under the frustrated gaze of self-styled “Guvnor” Paul Ince, an expert better qualified than most to evaluate the youngster’s dynamic all-round qualities.
Neither Stephens nor Cousins shied away from the uglier requirements of tackling, covering or, in Stephens’ case especially, lending last ditch support to redoubtable defenders Michael Morrison and Richard Wood in the Addicks’ penalty area. That last ditch boot or head which lustily cleared its lines when all hands were called to the pumps frequently belonged to Cousins but even more often to Stephens.

While hardly a spinetingler, this honest-to-goodness game was no scoreless bore. Chances were few, defences remained largely in control but there were moments when a flash of inspiration -or more likely a lapse in concentration- might have settled the issue.

For the Seasiders, savvy old pro Ricardo Fuller needed constant supervision. It was his meaty header from one of Jack Robinson’s huge throws near the end of a cagey first half, which forced an excellent, full stretch save from Ben Hamer.
“Before you could say Jack Robinson” was, by the way, a meaningless boast in this bloke’s case. That seemingly endless delay as he laboriously crisscrossed the field prior to heaving the ball into Charlton’s penalty area meant you could namecheck his entire family tree while waiting for play to resume. Stick a time limit on throw-ins and “Jack” might have heaved the ball back in play before we realised his surname was “Robinson.” Just an idle thought.

Carrying most of Blackpool’s threat, meanwhile, was Ince’s son Thomas, a much coveted 21-year old in no need of nepotism from this dad. Dangerous if allowed to hit his stride, he was handled with authority by Rhoys Wiggins but popped up with a chance to steal the points in the closing moments. Gifted clear sight of goal by a misplaced header from Lawrie Wilson, the normally accurate sharpshooter dragged an unconvincing low drive harmlessly wide of the left post.

Ince Jr’s miss effectively confirmed the scoreless stand-off, an outcome Cousins had earlier placed in doubt with a 25-yard rasper which Matt Gilks smuggled around an upright. Unhibited shooting is another of his assets. A useful goal or two would come in handy.

Teetering nervously one place and one point above the bottom three, the Addicks will use the international break to assess their parlous position and work on the walking wounded. On Saturday, Powell was down to the bare bones in naming an 18-man squad, his lack of options obvious to all but his remorseless detractors. Skint as he is, he might have grasped the irony that Blackpool, having presumably sold their soul, are sponsored by Wonga, those compassionate champions of the financially oppressed underdog. He could do with a bob or two himself but that ain’t the way to go. Got Faust into more trouble than he baragined for.

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins, Gower (Pritchard 57), Cousins, Stephens, Harriott, Sordell (Pigott 86), Church (Stewart 76). Not used: Alnwick, Hughes, Evina, Dervite.

Blackpool: Gilks, Broadfoot, Cathcart, MacKenzie, Robinson, Basham, Osbourne (Gosling 74), Ince, Bishop, Dobbie (Barkhuizen 83), Fuller (Davies 79). Not used: Orr, Chopra, Grant, Martinez.

Referee: Keith Hill (spot-on all afternoon). Att: 15,487.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton 1 (Sordell 58) Notts Forest 1 (Reid 2).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

This cocklewarming performance by resurgent Charlton swept away the gloom enveloping The Valley, following three dispiriting defeats. More composed finishing might even have improved the mood further but recovery sometimes starts with the smallest of steps. We’ll know more when Blackpool hit town on Saturday.

For the time being, the Addicks are entitled to savour a hugely encouraging evening, one they began disastrously by surrendering a potentially morale-destroying goal after just two minutes.

It seemed obvious, even to the tactically naive, that with the winklepicking left foot of Andy Reid in Forest’s line-up, the concession of needless free kicks in Charlton’s defensive third should be kept to a minimum. No doubt Chris Powell had drummed home this message but the exuberance of youth betrayed Jordan Cousins, who carelessly nudged Reid in contesting an innocuous ball near the right touchline. The Irish visionary promptly used the opportunity to swing over a deceptively swirling delivery, which embarrassed a poorly positioned Ben Hamer on its way into the top left corner of his net.

If Cousins was crestfallen, it didn’t show. He buckled down immediately  with a magnificent contribution to Charlton’s recovery. Not 20 until March, he showed the confidence, not to mention the swagger, of a seasoned pro. There’s the body language of Steven Gerrard about him, with his ability to pass accurately short or long, a willingness to shoulder personal responsibility and based on the late drive which unluckily rattled the woodwork, power in his shooting boots. This kid’s on his way up so let’s enjoy him while we can.

Alongside Cousins, Dale Stephens continued his steady return to form, while full backs Rhoys Wiggins and Lawrie Wilson were rampaging raiders along the flanks. They were the stand-out quartet but every member of this depleted side earned credit for digging down into reserves of pride to deliver for a boss who, God knows, deserves no less.

But, oh, those missed chances! In the first half alone, the profigacy began with Wiggins’ deflected cross looping up conveniently for Simon Church, who headed awkwardly down into the turf and allowed Karl Darlow time to gratefully turn the effort over the bar; Church’s challenge for a Mark Gower centre made space for Stephens’ powder puff tap into Darlow’s arms; Church then made a mess of converting the rebound after Darlow superbly parried Stephens’ rocket, with Stephens’ follow-up attempt shaving an upright.

All through an exciting first half, the Addicks were driven on by a solidly supportive crowd, at the heart of which the North Stand stayed fanatically committed. The ball was either sucked or blown towards Forest’s goal and, three minutes after the break, the sideline heroes were rewarded by an overdue equaliser.

Charlton’s early build-up was, frankly, inelegant, with Callum Harriott’s wildly miscued shot whistling untouched in the direction of the far touchline. Staying alert to its possibilities, Wilson kept the move alive by retrieving the loose ball to square intelligently for Marvin Sordell to shoot home on the turn.

Clearly unwilling to settle for a useful draw, Charlton hunted down their rattled visitors. Harriott’s raking low cross barely eluded a sliding Richard Wood at the far post, Sordell twisted sharply to shoot narrowly wide, before Cousins’ ferocious effort almost uprooted a post, following Stephens’ inswinging corner. It was one-way traffic with Forest struggling to survive and lucky to do so.

Church’s limping withdrawal at least allowed young Joe Pigott to shake off the unwarranted criticism which marred his full league debut against Millwall and show character with a spirited cameo. And there was still time for Cousins to crown a stirring display by sliding in fearlessly to block Chris Cohen’s point-blank “sure thing.”

If Forest have been largely ignored in this account, they will be consoled by the addition of a valuable point to their promotion push. And I hope they won’t mind me calling them “Notts Forest”,  a liberty for which some outraged Trentsider put me in my place last season (that was actually fine by me because I quite like living in London). Apparently it’s “Nottingham Forest”, “pronounced “Nott-num Forest”. It’s OK to call the other team “Notts County”  but not “Nottingham” or even “Nott-num County”. I’m getting a bit bogged down by apostrophes so talk among yourselves while I disentangle myself.

Anyway, where were we?  Oh yeah, I remember. No offence, pal, but cobblers. Everyone in the country calls “Notts Forest” ” Notts Forest”. I mean, we don’t go around calling ourselves “Charlt-un” Athletic”, do we? Well, we do sometimes but only among ourselves. Notts Forest. Slips off the tongue. With or without apostrophes.

Gosh, I hope I haven’t gone too far. That bloke was really annoyed and we’ve got to play them away yet. It’s only our little joke, mate.

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins, Gower (Hughes 74), Stephens, Cousins, Harriott (Dervite 90), Church (Pigott 78), Sordell. Not used: Alnwick, Evina, Cook, Stewart.

Forest: Darlow, Lichaj, Collins, Hobbs, Lansbury, Chalobah (Harding 55), Cohen, Mackie, Reid, Blackstock (Henderson 70), Derbyshire (Cox 55). Not used: DeVries, Halford, Jara, Abdoun.

Referee: Fred Graham. Att: 15,587.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.