Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Best 57) Charlton 2 (Harriott 22, Church 65).

Kevin Nolan reports from Hillsborough.

Let’s get one thing straight. There is little evidence to suggest that Charlton’s chances of avoiding relegation will be affected by their convoluted Cup run. These bonny battlers show every sign of coping with whatever is thrown at them so bring on the sixth round at Bramall Lane. Winning is contagious. Meanwhile, relax. You’ll need your rest.

This delayed 5th round win, hard on the heels of an epic league victory over QPR, was bitterly earned over a side desperate to secure a titanic, money-spinning clash with their despised local rivals. There were dollar signs clouding Sheffield Wednesday’s eyes but they might have made the mistake of spending the money before the cheque arrived. No Steel City derby for them. Nor Sheffield United. Charlton proved to be what John Lennon called a Spaniard in the Works.

Wednesday were left with regrets but few complaints. They were beaten by visitors with an insatiable hunger for success which carried them through numerous rough spots. Four of Monday night’s heroes were recent Academy graduates, one of them (Morgan Fox) making his senior club debut, as Chris Powell showed yet again that he is prepared to trust youth. Mind you, he placed them under the veteran eye of skipper Johnnie Jackson, whose crowdsurfing weekend celebrations faced a tougher test at Hillsborough, where travelling fans are squirrelled away in a remote top tier behind a goal. A suited-and-booted Powell duly stepped up to the challenge by swinging on the crossbar at the end. Undignified, of course, but the occasion got to him, as it had many of us on Saturday.

In the early going, the Owls hardly managed a touch. Buoyed by the pressure-releasing dismissal of QPR, the confident Londoners got among them, hogged the ball and should have scored before a resurgent Callum Harriott gave them a 22nd minute lead. Set up by Harriott’s darting run, Astrit Ajdarevic fired a shot against Glenn Loovens’ legs, then squirted the rebound off another blue-and-white defender for a fruitless corner. But the Addicks were not kept waiting long for their breakthrough.

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A restless blend of skill and strength, 18-year old Diego Poyet is in the first team to stay, or someone else’s first team unless Roland Duchatelet ties him down to a deal. His hustling urgency won him possession to the right of Wednesday’s goal, with his ball in screwed wildly but effectively by Ajdarevic into Harriott’s feet on the edge of the penalty area. Still only a kid but slightly more experienced than his former U-21 mates, the 19-year old left winger did what came naturally in firing an unstoppable drive into the top left corner.

Well on top, the Addicks created a string of chances to make this tie safe before the interval. A senior citizen compared to Poyet, yet another19-year old (sorry about turning this into a litany of ages but this was a bunch of adolescents strutting their stuff) in Jordan Cousins forced Damian Martinez to save awkwardly at his near post with a blistering drive before more industry by Poyet set up Simon Church, whose tame effort hardly troubled Martinez. At the other end, Chris Maguire’s cross swung dangerously but untouched across goal. The Owls were improving but a formidable goalkeeper stood in their way.

Preferred to Yohann Thuram, Ben Hamer was a study in composure, first in dealing with Gary Gardner’s long range rocket, then effortlessly beating down Leon Best’s fierce half-volley after the striker eluded Fox (not 21 until September, by the way).
With a massive prize dangling in front of them, the South Yorkshiremen hauled themseves back ino contention after the interval. A rare slip by Poyet gave Jacques Maghoma enough space to curl a shot narrowly wide and though Jackson sent Ajdarevic’s lay-off skimming past a post in reply, Wednesday’s equaliser was on the cards.

A foul by Richard Wood on Gardner conceded a free kick, bent in by Maguire and touched on by Miguel Llera. In the ensuing chaos, Best hammered a rising drive through the heaving masses and Hillsborough at last erupted. Its relief wasn’t to last.

While Charlton briefly sagged, Fox’s foul on Best caused another hectic scramble from Maguire’s inevitably accurate setpiece but the home side’s equality lasted less than ten minutes before they fell behind again. Llera’s foul on Church was professional enough to earn him a yellow card from referee Mark Clattenburg but oil was poured on his troubled waters as Jackson’s wickedly dipping free kick was bundled past Martinez by a dubious combination of Church’s head/shoulder/arm. Wednesday’s protests were perfunctory and the goal stood.

What remained was an intense siege of Charlton’s goal, during which Hamer distinguished himself. His instinctive reaction in clawing Adthe Nuhui’s resounding header off the goalline after it cleared Harriott’s head and bounced off the inside of the left post was impressive. So was his plunging effort to beat Nuhiu to Maghoma’s whipped-in cross, then steal the loose ball off Best’s toe. But his piece-de-resistance was put aside for added time.

Already airborne in pursuit of Maguire’s vicious 20-yard drive, the keeper’s problems were complicated by a treacherous deflection off Michael Morrison. Finding an extra extension from somewhere, he managed to conjure the ball over the bar. If catches win matches, as ex-England opener and Sheffield Wednesday nut Michael Vaughan would surely confirm, then marvellous saves like this one certainly make sure you don’t lose them. Hamer’s performance surely resolved Charlton’s goalkeeping dilemma in his favour. We’ll find out at Leicester next Saturday as this crowded season gathers added pace. Keep the faith.

Wednesday: Martinez, Palmer, Loovens, Llera, Mattock, Maghoma, Coke (Lavery 58), Gardner (Nuhiu 58), Maguire, Afobe (Helan 74), Best. Not used: Kirkland, Buxton, Onyewu, Hutchinson. Booked: Llera, Mattock, Loovens, Best.

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Wood (Dervite 90), Fox, Wilson, Cousins, Poyet, Ajdarevic (Hughes 90), Jackson, Harriott, Church (Ghoochannejhad 85). Not used: Thuram, Green, Sordell, Nego. Booked: Wood.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg. Att: 24,607.

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).

Charlton 0 Birmingham City 2 (Macheda 22,79).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

The table is a stickler for truth and with two thirds of the season gone, Charlton are where they belong – third from bottom of the Championship. The mutual ineptitude of their three closest rivals offers hope but you can rely on the kindness of strangers only so long. Eventually you sink or swim on your own merits.

An unfamiliar line-up, featuring only four starters from the side which beat Birmingham City at St. Andrews on November 2nd, fought earnestly to complete a league double over the Blues. As usual lately, they fell short with a goal in each half enough to settle their hash. Still they remain within touching distance of safety. Thanks to low standards, the issue is far from resolved yet.

Whatever the outcome of Charlton’s fight to stay in the Championship, the wisdom of disconnecting the main components of an admittedly misfiring team and re-calibrating them with untested parts comes into question. Our new guvnors might well know what they’re about but it seems to the less business-savvy of us that spreadsheets, rather than team sheets, dictate policy these days. Surely Chris Powell’s need was for reinforcements, not replacements, as he juggled injuries and suspensions alongside a poorly stocked squad That’s probably an unpopular point of view in the board room but I’ve never actually been inside one and I’ll take my chances.

Not that blame for this latest discouraging setback is directed at the three new arrivals making their Valley debuts. Far from it. Up front, Reza Ghoochannejhad was a lively, mobile handful for the visiting defenders, has a goal in him and can be forgiven for his risible attempt to con a penalty from unimpressed referee Adcock; at the tip of the Addicks’ new-fangled midfield diamond, Astrit Ajdarevic improved on a quiet first half, coming into his own with a repertoire of tricks and flicks; goalkeeper Yohann Thuram was horribly exposed for both City goals but contributed several important saves and, despite some faulty kicking, is beginning to settle down to the job. They’re the future but trouble is the future looks bleak. And getting bleaker all the time.

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It’s possible to build an argument that Charlton were unlucky to lose this game but just as easy to demolish it. They dictated much of the action, played pleasingly at times, with young Diego Poyet outstanding, but were again undone by their failure to improve on a miserable record of just 23 goals in 28 league games. With depressing statistics like those, you’re doomed to struggle.

Gamely coming to terms with their stodgy but playable pitch, the Addicks carved out one or two early chances, the best of them falling to Ajdarevic, who headed tamely at Darren Randolph after Richard Wood nodded Lawrie Wilson’s free kick back from the far post. Ajdarevic had also lobbed Wilson’s through pass over the bar when promisingly placed. In reply, Lee Novak drove into the sidenet and Federico Macheda sidefooted Paul Caddis’ low cross narrowly wide. With dreary predictability, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock after 22 minutes.
A borderline foul by Wood on lanky midfielder Tom Adeyemi gave left-footed Manchester City loanee Emyr Huws the perfect opportunity to whip in a wickedly dipping free kick from the right touchline. The most delicate of glances from Macheda’s head in a congested box re-directed the ball beyond a frozen Thuram and into the left corner. A familiar gloom settled over The Valley and was destined to stay there despite occasional shafts of light.

Charlton’s embattled keeper promptly rescued his side with an alert one-on-one save after right winger Chris Burke, not for the first time, outwitted Cedric Evina before Jordan Cousins missed his side’s best chance before the interval.

Set up by Reza’s clever touch and Ajdarevic’s thoughtful pass, the youngster shot unconvincingly against Randolph’s legs. The ex-Charlton keeper also reacted smartly to save Ajdarevic’s acrobatic volley from Johnnie Jackson’s sweeping delivery, then clawed Jackson’s snapshot to safety. With the Addicks on top, a diving Reza was straining inches away from converting Cousins’ fiercely driven, head-high cross.

There was no relief from frustration after the break as Reza’s michievously deflected shot tested Randolph’s reflexes, Michael Morrison curled wide and Marvin Sordell’s long range effort brought Randolph tumbling to his left to save, Another excellent block from Thuram kept his side in the contest as Evina’s error allowed Burke in again but the Addicks were effectively finished off with ten minutes remaining.
Contemptuously brushing aside substitute Danny Green’s wafer-thin challenge in the centre circle, Adeyemi ran purposefully at Charlton’s wavering defence, before picking the precise moment to release Macheda into space to his left. From point blank range, the perennial Manchester United loanee, seen earlier this season in Doncaster Rovers’ colours and still only 22, made easy work of beating Thuram. And that’s all she wrote.

Winners only five times in twenty eight league games, Charlton should by rights be marooned at the foot of the table.Surprisingly though, their plight, while desperate, is not hopeless yet. They can’t rely on handouts from rivals much longer, of course, before it runs out. Self reliance, that’s what it’s all about -good old get-up-and-go gumption as practised by our betters in Chipping Campden. See me, I’m all for it, me.

Charlton: Thuram, Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Evina, Cousins, Poyet (Parzyszek 87), Jackson (Green 73), Ajdarevic, Sordeel (Church 73), Ghoochannejhad. Not used: Phillips, Hughes, Nego, Lennon. Booked: Morrison, Ghoochannejhad.

Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Martin, Packwood, Robinson, Burke, Lee, Adeyemi, Huws, Novak, Macheda (Lovenkrands 87). Not used: Doyle, Howard, Shinnie, Brown, Rusnak, Blackett. Booked: Huws, Macheda, Robinson.

Referee: J. Adcock. Att: 15,878 (2001 visiting).

Wigan Athletic 2 (Fortune 88, Gomez 90) Charlton 1 (Sordell 3).

Kevin Nolan reports from the DW Stadium.

Unique among the transfer window deals cut by new owner Roland Duchatelet was his ruthless replacement of Ben Alnwick by Standard Liege’s surplus-to-requirements goalkeeper Yohann Thurma-Ulien. It might also become the one he comes to bitterly regret, assuming, of course, that he dreads relegation as much as the rest of us.

The Alnwick-Thuram-Ulien dispute drove an inevitable wedge between Duchatelet and his neatly shafted manager Chris Powell. Goalkeeping was obviously the least of Charlton’s problems, as evidenced by their impressive goals-against column and the recent inclusion of the nervous newcomer at Middlesbrough was a huge surprise explained, to sceptical guffaws, by the enforced absences of Alnwick and deputy Ben Hamer due to illness and injury respectively. As usual, the fans were treated on a need-to-know basis. In other words, they were impolitely ignored. As was Powell apparently.

It hardly strengthened Duchatelet’s hand that Thuram-Ulien’s early blunder at the Riverside Stadium, despite several fine saves later on, cost the Addicks a worthy point. But the football-innocent owner, advised possibly by an all-knowing eminence grise, was merely biding his time.

Solid, dependable Alnwick was duly re-instated for the cup ties at Oxford and Huddersfield, where he kept clean sheets before the three personally blameless goals he conceded during a lamentable team performance at Doncaster became his swan song. With unceremonious haste, he was bundled off to Leyton Orient, leaving Thuram-Ulien, in Hamer’s continuing absence, No. 1 goalkeeper by default. Powell had won one or two battles but it was Duchatelet who won this particular war.

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Thuram-Ulien’s contribution in this most heartbreaking of defeats, was a bizarre combination of instinct and folly. It included another of his colourfully trademarked saves with his feet and featured again a curious aversion to catching high balls. Patting, palming, occasionally punching weakly clear, his lack of penalty area authority spread confusion and panic among a defence heroically striving to protect the 3rd minute lead given them by Marvin Sordell. There’s nothing a beleaguered rearguard appreciates more than a keeper who bosses them about while dominating his area. It offers them welcome respite, breeds confidence and mutual respect. You can be certain about this much in the short term. The word will quickly out that Charlton’s goalkeeper has an almost religious aversion to fielding crosses, preferring to try his luck by alternative, unorthodox methods. Against Birmingham City next weekend, for instance, expect him to have plenty of company under corners, free kicks and crosses. Should be interesting but more than likely costly, unless his colleagues are especially alive to the scraps he leaves.

Sordell’s excellently taken opener, meanwhile, gave the visitors heart as well as something to defend. It’s been a desperately disappointing season for the 2012 Olympian but clearly his manager believes in his potential. Sordell repaid that trust somewhat by running purposefully on to Johnnie Jackson’s lancing through pass, then composed himself before slotting calmly past the advancing Ali Al Habsi.

Confidence duly flooded through Powell’s unfamiliar team, featuring as it did three starting debutants and when 19 year Harry Lennon arrived to replace injury victim Rhoys Wiggins, a third Academy graduate to join the impressive Diego Poyet and constantly evolving Jordan Cousins. It’s becoming a new-look Charlton and none the worse for it.

Though the Latics dominated possession, the Addicks had their moments. Slimline forward Reza Ghoochannejhad (that’ll be Reza, then) started brightly and before understandably tiring, showed an encouraging willingness to shoot. One uninhibited drive tested Al Habsi, a better one clipped the bar. Emerging right back Loic Nego struggled early on but improved: Astrit Ajdarevic showed again that he’s an elegant craftsman with more to offer. There’s hope for the future. Trouble is the future’s right now and it’s bleak.

The second half of this ultimately disastrous game turned into an almost non-stop siege of Charlton’s goal, during which Thuram-Ulien cut a chaotic, sometimes awkwardly effective, figure. His reward was ironic applause from the away end for a solitary catch but to paraphrase the French observer of the Charge of the Light Brigade, his madcap antics were magnificent but not goalkeeping. Not as we know it, anyway, and eventually his wildness wore Charlton down.

Having survived goalmouth scramble after scramble, the Addicks were glimpsing the finishing line when the roof fell in on them. As they began to weaken, a smart pass from substitute Josh McEachran gave fellow sub Marc-Antoine Fortune room to sidefoot a neat finish past Thuram-Ulien.

The disappointment was heartfelt but worse was to follow. From a free kick wearily conceded by Michael Morrison to the left of goal, third substitute Jordi Gomez squeezed a not altogether convincing winner between Thuram-Ulien and his near post.

It was easy to be angry about the late surrender of even a vital point but this was wonderful, if unrewarded backs-to-the wall defiance, which has a perverse beauty of its own. It deserved better but that’s football. It knows exactly where to kick you and delights in doing so. Wonder how Ben Hamer’s recovery progressing? Or if there’s any point in even wondering about it?

Wigan: Al Habsi, Perch, Boyce, Barnett, Beausejour, McArthur (Gomez 74), Watson, Mcmanaman, McCann (McEachran 57), McLean, Maynard (Fortune 57). Not used: Nicholls, Crainey, Espinoza, Browning. Booked: Beausejour, McEachran.

Charlton: Thuram-Ulien, Nego, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins (Lennon 8), Poyet, Cousins, Jackson, Ajdarevic (Dervite 82), Sordell (Pritchard 73), Ghoochannejhad. Not used: Phillips, Hughes, Green, Church. Booked: Lennon.

Referee: Michael Bull. Att: 14,321 (729 visiting).

Doncaster Rovers 3 (Meite 26, Brown 36 pen, Duffy 67) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from the Keepmoat Stadium.

As damp squibs go, this so-called six-pointer took the biscuit if metaphors can be mixed at the start of this report. You would safely assume that a clash between sides respectively placed 21st and 22nd in the Championship would be a blood-and-guts knockdown brawl with no quarter asked or given. Most of time, you’d be right. But not on this occasion. You’ll come across more aggression in a dove sanctuary.

With a gritty Cup victory over Huddersfield up the road still fresh in the memory bank, Charlton were confidently expected to tackle this vital game in great heart. Instead they obediently rolled over and allowed Paul Dickov’s spirited side to patronise them from whistle to whistle. As the second half wore on, Rovers passed the ball metronomically between them to cock-a-hoop cries of “Ole!” from their jubilant fans. Their victims seemed neither humiliated nor irritated by the experience. On the contrary, their attitude was one of weary resignation, if not acceptance, of their fate.

There’s something ominously dispiriting going on behind the scenes at The Valley, or so it seems to your ear-to-the-ground reporter. Rumours are cheerfully bandied about, none of them encouraging. With two days left in the transfer window, the scuttlebutt is of outgoing rather than incoming players. The question mark hanging over Yann Kermorgant seems a good place to start.

Since nobody tells us anything, we’re at liberty to call the moody Frenchman’s body language as we see it. And without pre-judging the outcome before Friday, this was a bloke going through the motions with his suitcase already packed for the seaside. He didn’t fall out with a single opponent, nor did he squeeze in even one moan at the referee. At one point, he shook hands after being unceremoniously decked by James Husband. All very civilised but you wouldn’t have seen any of that a few weeks ago. And the prolonged wave he gave to his fans at the end had rather more “Adieu” than “Au Revoir” about it. Sue me if I’m wrong.

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Anyway, sorry about that, now I’m spreading disheartening rumours of my own. You can’t help wondering, though, if our new owners have arrived to dismantle rather than improve the current team. The curious decision to allow Michael Smith to leave, for instance, smacked of hard-nosed business rather than long term vision. The big Geordie has scored three times in two games for Swindon and may, next season, be operating a division above Charlton. He was worth a look. And the arm which Chris Powell draped around Dale Stephens after substituting him a quarter hour from the end seemed one of parting sorrow. The beleaguered manager needs an arm round his own shoulder (you up for that, Roland?) rather than the dog’s abuse he’s coming in for from certain quarters. Debate his decisions by all means but keep it decent. This is one of ours who deserves better. And more than one of us demands it for him.
As for the game itself, that was over and done with as soon as Donny decided that nearly a half hour of softening-up was enough and polished off their helpless victims with two goals within ten minutes of each other.

The opener was a scrambled egg of a goal, not that Rovers much cared about its quality. After Johnnie Jackson performed heroically to scrape Bongani Khumalo’s header off the line at the expense of a right wing corner, the immediate danger seemed ended. Not a bit of it as Mark Duffy worked a quickly taken flagkick, before rapping a close range effort against Ben Alnwick’s legs. The rebound cannoned off Abdoulaye Meite inside the near post and this one-sided match was already effectively over.

Ten minutes later, the formalities were all but completed. Richie Wellens’ piercing pass into Billy Sharp’s feet allowed the returning local hero to turn for goal inside the penalty area before being chopped down by Lawrie Wilson. A red card for Wilson and a spotkick were equally inevitable; Chris Brown calmly found the bottom right corner from 12 yards.

Resuming with ten men, the Addicks were facing a morale-destroying hiding but Rovers chose to coast and spared them. Midway through a routine second half, though, the excellent Duffy split a tiring defence to beat a blameless Alnwick from distance.

As time slipped away, Sharp had a chance to claim the goal his inspiring contribution merited but after rounding Alnwick, inexplicably failed to find the target. No matter – his effect on Rovers is galvanic and his goals might well keep them up. Wellens also might have been suitably rewarded for his captain’s example but unluckily hit the bar from 40 yards. Somewhere during the dismal proceedings, Jackson shot over the bar and Simon Church did likewise but they were hardly moments to cherish and you are free to disregard them.

We journey on, meanwhile, to Wigan where hopes are high but expectations are correspondingly low. You never know with Charlton, of course, so don’t rule them out. But something has to change and quickly. Help me, Roland, help help me, Roland….

Doncaster: Turnbull, Tamas (Quinn 77), Khumalo, Meite, Husband, Coppinger, Keegan, Wellens, Duffy, Brown (Peterson 89), Sharp (Cotterill 77). Not used: Furman, Maxted, De Val, Stevens.

Charlton: Alnwick, Evina (Wood 46), Morrison, Dervite, Lennon, Wilson, Cousins, Stephens (Ajdarevic 79), Jackson, Church (Harriott 76), Kermorgant. Not used: Thuram-Ulien, Green, Sordell, Pigott. Booked: Stephens. Sent off: Wilson.

Referee:Paul Tierney. Att: 7289 (448 visiting).

Huddersfield Town 0 Charlton 1 (Church 54).

Kevin Nolan reports from the John Smith Stadium.

With two mighty leaps, gutsy Charlton threw off their FA Cup shackles and, with this second victory in four days, vaulted from the third to the fifth round in easy stages. Say what you like about their ability but leave their spirit out of it. Despite regular setbacks, that burns brightly.

In wet, windy West Yorkshire, where the rain was siling down as they say hereabouts, they were up against the usual handicaps. For different reasons, their outstanding full back partnership of Chris Solly and Rhoys Wiggins was unavailable, while talisman Yann Kermorgant was rested with Tuesday’s critical assignment at Doncaster Rovers considered a more pressing priority. With his dwindling resources showing signs of being reduced rather than augmented before the transfer window closes, Chris Powell performed his customary sleight-of-hand and sent out a side dedicated to disputing every inch of territory with the locals.

Ace midfielder Dale Stephens possibly took the Henry V exhortations a little too literally with an unnecessarily robust 28th minute tackle on Adam Hamill, which triggered an unseemly outbreak of the usual “you and whose army?” pseudo-aggression between the opposing bands of brothers. Stephens escaped with a caution, Michael Morrison and Anthony Gerrard joined him in referee Attwell’s notebook for disagreeing about the colour of the card, Danny Ward’s nasty lunge took out Town’s resentment on innocent Cedric Evina before Stephens pushed his luck with a fair but borderline challenge on Oliver Norwood. Both Hamill and Evina limped off later but this wasn’t rugby where stamping has apparently succeeded eye-gouging as the evil deed de nos jours and peace eventually broke out again.

Pre-hostilities, the Addicks had been indebted to keeper Ben Alnwick for staying on terms. His sturdy reliability had already been demonstrated with a competent gathering of Norwood’s snapshot before a marvellous save denied Ward. Played through by Paul Dixon’s measured pass, Ward shot firmly on the run but Alnwick somersaulted to his left to parry, then recovered the rebound as James Vaughan closed in for the kill.

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Replacing Kermorgant, Marvin Sordell had come closest for the visitors when blasting Simon Church’s cutback narrowly over the angle of post and crossbar, Johnnie Jackson nodded Stephens’ free kick wide but it was Town who called the first half tune and the Addicks who were more grateful for the break.

Nine minutes after resumption, all that changed as willing workhorse Church shot Charlton into the lead. Full debutant Astrit Ajdarevic (Ad-ar-evitch) played his part by picking out Lawrie Wilson, whose darting infield run and clever reverse pass dovetailed with Church’s intelligent off-the-ball running. Turning sharply, the Welsh international beat Alex Smithies with a low, scuffed crosshot which found the net off the far post.

Town boss Mark Robins had seen enough. Possibly regretting that he hadn’t started Sean Scannell, he sent on the tricky right winger to turn the tide. A one-man army, Scannell began to run at the visitors’ rearguard, where 19 year-old Harry Lennon had relieved Evina to make his first team debut. The latest in an encouraging supply line of Academy talent, the tall, well-built kid, normally a centre back, acquitted himself nobly but Scannell was a different proposition. His direct running and unselfishness caused chaos and created a flood of chances.

The newcomer began by bamboozling Callum Harriott on the right byline before cutting back for Ward to blast wildly into the crowd. Hungry for the ball, he set up Ward again but a weak shot scudded wide. Taking the bull by the horns, Scannell eluded Lennon and crashed in a fiercely angled drive which was sneaking inside the right post until Alnwick dived to beat it clear. Charlton’s in-form goalie also plunged bravely into flying feet to claim a dangerous low cross from second sub Duane Holmes, who stood out for the Terriers last Spring in an U-21 play-off semi-final at Sparrows Lane.

Scannell had one last shot in his locker. Embarking on a determined solo run, he made it into the penalty area where he was surrounded by a wall of pursuing defenders. Sapped by his unremitting effort, he managed only an inconclusive effort which dribbled harmlessly wide.

The wise word, meanwhile, is that this Cup run diverts attention from the bread-and-butter priority of staying in the Championship. It’s hard to refute that assertion but Charlton are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. A less than enthusiastic attitude to Cup commitments has outraged supporters in the recent past and no doubt persuaded Powell, a natural competitor, to have a genuine go at progressing. Added to which, the club has already made about a quarter million in prize money, which will cheer Roland up. Success breeds success anyway, so it’s onward to the Keepmoat Stadium for the fourth of five successive away games on Tuesday evening. We’ll talk again on Wednesday morning.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Smith, Gerrard, Wallace, Dixon, Hamill (Sinott 35, Scannell 55), Gobern (Holmes 64), Norwood, Clayton, Ward, Vaughan. Not used: Bennett, Woods, Stead, Bunn. Booked: Gerrard.

Charlton: Alnwick, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Evina (Lennon 35), Adjarevic (Cousins 69), Stephens, Jackson, Harriott, Sordell (Green 69), Church. Not used: Thuram-Ulien, Wood, Cook, Pigott. Booked: Stephens, Morrison.

Referee: Stuart Attwell. Att: 10,102 (382 visiting).

NB  …. And Charlton’s reward for the heroics described above? An away tie at Hillsborough against fellow Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, that’s what!  No disrespect to an historic old club but how’s that for a kick in the nuts?  Mind you, the winner will be one game away from Wembley.  I’m starting to warm to it.

Oxford United 0 Charlton 3 (Kermorgant 35, 59), Green 38.

Kevin Nolan reports from the Kassam Stadium.

Having spent a wretched half hour demonstrating an apparent lack of interest in the FA Cup, an almost full strength Charlton pulled themselves together and efficiently disposed of Oxford United in this 3rd round replay. A two-goal salvo dented local hopes in the first half, a third on the hour saw them off. The questionable fruits of the Addicks’ labours is a 4th round trip on Saturday to Huddersfield Town, where they have lost twice already this season. Not the best of draws but to win it, you have to be in it.

Before Yann Kermorgant scored the first of two excellent goals, the Championship strugglers seemed at pains to descend to United’s lower level, colluding with them in a dreadful mishmash of misplaced passes, carelessness in possession and mutual inefficiency. An assignment in West Yorkshire was clearly a poisoned chalice to be passed on at all costs. Then, to general surprise, the visitors scored and discovered, in the process, that they had little to beat. The opener itself was well worked and clinically converted.

A familiar mixture of promise and frustration, left winger Callum Harriott shook off the lethargy to loft a pass to Simon Church, back to goal and shadowed by Jake Wright. Expertly shielding the ball, Church laid off to Kermorgant, whose vicious 15-yard drive exploded into the net off Ryan Clarke’s vainly groping right hand.

The process was so simple that the Addicks wasted little time in doubling their advantage. Tactically switching wings with Danny Green, Harriott eluded left back Tom Newey before sending Church sprinting through the U’s dishevelled defence. While Green kept pace with him to his left, the busy forward bore down on Clarke, then chose the precise moment to square generously for his colleague to walk the gift over the line. Church’s unselfishness in sacrificing his own need to score in his team’s interest will not have gone unnoticed by his appreciative manager.

Possibly relieved that a Cup odyssey which began with a 1st round trek to Gateshead on November 9th was finally over, outclassed Oxford offered little in reply. A crisp drive from James Constable, their solitary effort on target, was collected without fuss by Ben Alnwick, while Josh Ruffels headed David Hunt’s cross narrowly wide. But there was nothing much else to trouble the Addicks as they coasted serenely into the next round.

There were, of course, motions to be gone through and respect owed to honourable losers. On the hour, Kermorgant added a final flourish to Charlton’s comfortable victory after Johnny Mullins’ irritable challenge on the rampant forward, for which he became the game’s only booking, briefly soured the benign mood.
Picking himself up from the turf, Kermorgant sized up a 30-yard free kick, slightly to the right of centre. His left-footed skipper Johnnie Jackson showed an interest in having a go from a more advantageous angle but his burly teammate was having none of it. A textbook strike soared into the top right corner with Clarke a helpless witness to its deadly accuracy. And apart from the aforementioned motions, that was all she wrote. Or nearly all.

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For revelling in the unaccustomed absence of pressure, Chris Powell duly indulged in a small helping of cup romance. With eight minutes remaining, the game’s most accomplished player, Dale Stephens, gave way to 18-year old Diego Poyet, son of Gus, the former Chelsea and Uruguay star. The small pocket of musical, travelling fans promptly confided in us that the son was better than the father. Actually, if he’s half as good, he’ll be useful but during his brief debut cameo, he showed skill, guts and a hint of acceptable cockiness, masquerading as confidence.

There were other plus points for Powell. Jackson sailed through 90 committed minutes, Alnwick’s return to rude health proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is currently Charlton’s best goalkeeper and Green, along with Harriott, provided ressurance that the squad has depth. It’s also worth mentioning the surprising return from injury of Marvin Sordell, an overlooked striker with plenty to prove.

On the negative side, it might be time for the club to show transparency in clearing up the doubt surrounding Chris Solly’s absence. Football is a constantly turning rumour mill, the latest of which suggests that the outstanding right back faces further surgery following a recovery setback. If true – and it remains no more than a rumour – the news underlines the continuing problems faced by Powell, who also temporarily lost Rhoys Wiggins, his other full back star, to suspension last weekend.

The beleaguered boss, like the Victorian poor, has nothing…and is expected to make it go a long way. It would help his cause if fans were told the truth. After all, they march arm-in-arm, shoulder-to-shoulder, with the team they and deserve no less. To be honest – and I’m nothing if not honest – I wouldn’t mind knowing myself. Not that I’m nosy or anything but….well, y’know.

Oxford: Clarke, Hunt, Raynes, Wright, Newey, Rigg (O’Dowda 79), Davies, Mullins, Ruffels, Smalley, Constable (Marsh 79). Not used:Rose, Long, Lynn, Shama, Bevans. Booked: Mullins.

Charlton: Alnwick, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Evina, Green, Stephens (Poyet 82), Jackson, Harriott (Pritchard 68), Church, Kermorgant (Sordell 76). Not used: Phillips, Wood, Lennon, Pigott.

Referee: David Coote. Att: 3,225.

Middlesbrough 1 (Ledesma 16) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from the Riverside Stadium.

As Charlton begin to fray around the edges, with injury, illness and the occasional suspension biting into their meagre resources, the abrupt decline in health of regular goalkeepers Ben Hamer and Ben Alnwick caused raised eyebrows among the more sceptical of 258 fans who rallied to their cause on chilly Teesside.

With third choice Nick Pope loaned out to York City and 18-year old rookie Dillon Phillips on the bench, the decks were conveniently cleared for brand-new loan signing Yohann Thuram-Ulien to rocket up the ranks from obscurity to first line goalkeeper, within mere days of his arrival in South East London. The big stopper stepped up for his debut in English football and proved to be the difference between these mediocre sides. He is ineligible for Tuesday’s Cup replay at Oxford which means that the return to blooming health of either Hamer or Alnwick will be monitored anxiously between now and then. A curious business and it promises to get curiouser. Though there’s not an evidential leg to stand on, you may feel inclined, meanwhile, to “pull the other one.”

While finding his debut feet, Thuram-Ulien negotiated an awkward opening, during which he was reprieved by Curtis Main sidefooting wastefully wide before Marvin Emnes drove a clear chance into the sidenetting. In the 16th minute, however, his luck ran out.

Picking up a loose ball in an innocuous position, Emmanuel Ledesma was possibly following instructions to test the newcomer’s ability as he moved forward to potshot from long range. He speculated to accumulate as a diving Thuram-Ulien allowed the crisply driven low shot to bounce up and over his left arm on its way inside the right post.

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It was a catastrophic start for Charlton’s embryonic keeper but, to his credit, his subsequent performance made a sound case to be considered their man-of-the-match in the face, admittedly, of indifferent competition. Several outstanding saves included an unorthodox effort to keep out Mustapha Caryol’s fierce drive with an outthrust foot, followed by a quick adjustment to neatly field Emnes’ deflected effort to convert the rebound. In the second half, Thuram-Ulien reacted nimbly to prevent Caryol from crowning a brilliant solo run with a cleverly curled decider, then saved his best for last in bravely foiling Dean Whitehead in one-on-one confrontation at close range. But he never altogether convinced.

Thuram-Ulien’s defiance kept the Addicks in hopeful pursuit of a useful point until the dying moments when Dale Stephens’ last gasp blockbuster was brilliantly saved by the artful old stager in Boro’s goal. Shay Given had been given little to do until his late call to action but he predictably was equal to the task. Mind, you, he had been given the benefit of considerable doubt minutes earlier when substitute Simon Church beat him to Yann Kermorgant’s far post header to bundle in what appeared to be a perfectly legal equaliser. It was no surprise, of course, that referee Stroud disallowed the “goal.” After all, when was the last penalty awarded against a goalkeeper for physical excess under a high ball? Everyone knows that they are paragons of virtue in such circumstances.

News that all of their relegation rivals had won (except for Sheffield Wednesday whose 1-1 draw at Burnley was probably the most impressive result) piled on the agony for the visitors. A late red card issued to Rhoys Wiggins for a reckless challenge on Whitehead had capped a dispiriting afternoon and there were few bright spots to highlight. Young Jordan Cousins is wilting under undue pressure while Callum Harriott’s promising career is treading water; Jordan Cook was largely anonymous, valiant skipper Johnnie Jackson’s willing legs are feeling the pace.

Godd news is thin but still visible on the ground. Charlton’s spirit, that intangible quality on which their Championship survival will depend, emerged almost intact. After a shaky start, they grew into this game, more than matched Boro and finished more strongly than their conquerors. But they need urgent help. A second Standard Liege loanee -Astrit Ajdarevic – showed neat touches in an 18-minute cameo but midfield, while obviously important, is not the pressing priority. Nor is the dubious fast-tracking of a new goalkeeper. What the Addicks urgently require is a goalscorer and the search for one should occupy managerial hearts and minds. Not to hold the ball up, bring colleagues into play, run the channels, operate with his back to goal, track back to do his share of defensive work, do all the donkey work recommended by the coaching manuals, none of that sophisticated stuff. Just an uncomplicated goalhanger who puts the bloody ball in the opposition’s net on a regular basis. It’s why forwards are paid more than defenders. So find one and stump up the dough to pay him. Or we’ll be recruiting for League One next season.

Boro: Given, Varga, Williams, Ayala, Friend, Ledesma, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Carayol (Kamara 88), Main (Smallwood 79), Emnes (Jutkiewicz 57). Not used: Konstantopoulos, Butterfield, Gibson, Woodgate. Booked: Whitehead, Ledesma, Ayala.

Charlton: Thuram-Ulien, Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins, Cousins (Ajdarevic 77), Stephens, Jackson (Green 67), Harriott, Cook (Church 67), Kermorgant. Not used: Phillips Hughes, Evina, Dervite. Sent off: Wiggins.

Referee: Keith Stroud. Att: 14,548 (258 visiting).

Charlton 2 (Morrison 53, Kermorgant 82) Oxford United 2 (Mullins 13, Davies 24).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Under normal circumstances, a 3rd Round FA Cup tie involving Charlton and Oxford United would make little impact outside their own parochial boundaries. In fact, this reasonably entertaining game would have slipped by unnoticed had the public not been diverted by lurid details of broken drains, immobile water tables, protective domes and two previous postponements in conditions which the rest of the country was finding surprisingly clement at this time of year.

So with the er, shall we say carrot, of a 4th Round journey to Huddersfield beguiling them, these sides finally closed in combat. Well, one-sided combat anyway because for 45 minutes, the Addicks performed as if still waterlogged. According to Chris Powell, his chaps contributed their worst half of football so far this season; as one who has witnessed all the others, he’ll get no argument from me.

Charlton were dreadful. Sluggish, unco-ordinated, apparently still marooned in their dressing room, they couldn’t put a foot right. Which is not to rob their League Two visitors of credit for exploiting the situation. United sensed an opportunity, worked tirelessly to press home their unexpected advantage and ran their hosts ragged on their way to a 2-0 interval lead. An unpromising assignment in West Yorkshire clearly held more attraction for them.

Dozy Charlton were still sleepwalking when they fell behind. A right wing corner from Scott Davies was returned to him by Richard Wood’s powerful but misdirected header. The midfielder’s second delivery caused penalty area chaos, during which Johnny Mullins’ bobbled shot found a berth inside the left post, with help from two deflections. A lucky goal but hardly against the run of play.

Ten minutes later, Oxford doubled their lead. Young Jordan Cousins, in the throes of a rare off-day, was caught dawdling in possession by Mullins, who fed top scorer James Constable. The centre forward’s feint to shoot instead made space for a precise pass which allowed Davies to run through to beat Ben Hamer with a firm crosshot. The natives, such as they were, had become decidedly restless. Had the impressive Sean Riggs’ crisp half-volley, from Tom Newey’s precise cross, not cleared the bar by inches to make it three, outright mutiny might have erupted.

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As it was, the Addicks departed at half-time to a heartfelt chorus of disapproval. One florid faced bloke dismissed it all as “rubbish” another irate citizen confessed to being “embarrassed.” Not a word was said in Charlton’s defence but this game wasn’t over. Not while Powell had anything to do with it.

No doubt encouraged by a few well chosen managerial words, the Addicks set about restoring order upon resumption. The early goal they needed arrived just eight minutes into the second period, with Jordan Cook delivering a peach of an inswinging corner, which Michael Morrison’s emphatic header dispatched into the top left corner.

Their confidence might have been shaken but the U’s spiritedly hit back. A clever diving header from Constable re-directed Riggs’ cross inside the left post but Hamer managed a low scrambling save at his right post. Not much else was heard from the visitors up front but they still had their valuable lead to protect.

Midway through the second period, Danny Green replaced the struggling Bradley Pritchard and it was the often frustrating newcomer who made the difference. Green began to torment left back Tom Newey with pace and trickery and sensibly saw plenty of the ball. With time beginning to run out, he nutmegged Newey along the right byline, glanced up to weigh his options, then picked out Yann Kermorgant with an astute cutback. Keeling over in text book style, the Frenchman applied just enough mustard on his sideways-on volley to leave Ryan Clarke helpless.

Kermorgant’s timely equaliser had turned the tie on its head and, in added time, the Addicks came close to sparing themselves an unwanted replay in Berkshire. Lawrie Wilson’s deflected centre looped up to substitute Callum Harriott at the far post, was headed purposefully goalwards but flicked off David Hunt’s head to safety. Seconds later, the whistle blew…and it began gently to rain.

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins, Pritchard (Green 66), Cousins, Jackson, Cook (Harriott 78), Church (Pigott 78), Kermorgant. Not used: Pope, Hughes, Evina, Dervite.

Oxford: Clarke, Raynes, Wright, Hunt, Newey, Rigg, Marsh (Smalley 53), Mullins, Ruffels, Davies (Williams 87), Constable (Kitson 78). Not used: Rose, Long, Bevans, O’Dowda.

Referee: S. Martin. Att: 5,566 (870 Oxford).

Ipswich Town 1 (Wood o.g. 23) Charlton 1 (Jackson 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from Portman Road.

Thirty one year old Nuneaton referee Stuart Attwell was a bit of a prodigy when he broke through to league football in 2009. He briefly made it to the Premier League but, following numerous controversies, was demoted to the Championship, much to the Championship’s dismay.

At braw, brich’t Portman Road, Attwell ushered in the New Year, hopefully not as he means to go on, by getting nearly every key decision wrong. His piece de resistance was in refusing Cameron Stewart an obvious penalty on the stroke of half-time, then adding insult to the Charlton winger’s injury by booking him for simulation. But let’s be fair, his incompetence was evenly distributed.

Battling bravely back from behind when Stewart was doubly insulted, the Addicks might well have been two down at the time. As early as the second minute, Attwell had taken a surprisingly lenient view of the clumsy challenge by Richard Wood which checked Daryl Murphy’s penalty area progress as they disputed a long ball over the top. Had he deemed Wood guilty of fouling Murphy, the defender might have faced dismissal. So a large round of applause came his way from 780 admirably impartial observers of the incident. Not that he didn’t make it up to the Tractor Boys later on.

After the dust and debris of controversy had settled over this eventful game, Charlton could be proud of the precious point they earned against considerable odds. To their credit, they kept the faith, soldiered on and were rewarded by an equaliser in the last knockings of normal time. Their goalscoring saviour was, almost inevitably, late substitute Johnnie Jackson but even the inimitable skipper would concede that, but for Ben Alnwick’s heroics shortly beforehand, his characteristically plundered strike would have been no more than a late consolation.

Alnwick had performed solidly, was given no chance of saving Town’s opener and had just kept his side in with a chance by diving to save Murphy’s cornerbound snapshot. On his shoulders rested the visitors’ dwindling hopes when Attwell made his third, critical penalty call and finally got one right.

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In attempting to clear Aaron Cresswell’s left wing corner, Jordan Cousins swung lustily at the ball but failed to notice Paul Anderson coming up on his blind side. The youngster’s boot caught player not ball, leaving Attwell to briefly consider his options before pointing to the spot.

Having rested prolific scorer David McGoldrick until bringing him on in the 68th minute, Mick McCarthy was entitled to congratulate himself on impressive foresight as his regular penalty-taker stepped up to double his Ipswich’s lead. McGoldrick’s shot was struck firmly but Alnwick launched himself to his left to pull off a magnificent save. His defiance practically demanded reward and, in Jackson, the right man was in the right spot to deliver it. Finding instinctive space as Kermorgant headed down for Simon Church to cushion a shooting chance for him, his improvised right-footed volley caught a useful deflection off Christophe Berra and nestled neatly in the top right corner. There was instant pandemonium in the away section and – it must be confessed- in a long suffering corner of the press box.

Until the late denouement, not much else had gone right for the battling Londoners. Following a bright opening, during which Alnwick’s plunging save from Murphy had been matched by Dean Gerken’s similar alertness in keeping out Kermorgant’s low snapshot, they fell behind in desperately unlucky circumstances. Played through on the left by Jay Tabb, the dangerous Murphy drilled a hard, low centre across a heavily populated goal area, where Michael Morrison’s failure to intercept at the near post distracted Wood into inadvertently turning the ball into his own net.

Before the interval, things got worse. Doubly worse as it turned out. Sent sprinting clear of  Luke Chambers by Kermorgant’s fine pass, Stewart was sent sprawling as the right back made awkward contact with his trailing leg. Clearly sinned against rather than sinning, Stewart was not only denied a clear penalty but was booked for his impertinence in expecting one.

The Addicks were still fuming when a further hammer blow was inflicted. Having been handed a rare start at Church’s expense, Marvin Sordell had given a promising account of himself, with one drive fizzing dangerously wide before disaster struck. While chasing down a lost cause, the out-of-luck striker pulled up with what the watchers of Casualty or Holby City among us instantly diagnosed as hamstring trouble. No blame attached to Attwell in this instance, though it’s tempting to implicate him. Without wishing to tempt providence, meanwhile, his replacement Jordan Cook belied understandable ringrust with a useful contribution as the plucky Addicks refused to surrender.

The last word belongs to -or, more accurately – is about Stuart Attwell, boy arbiter. They say that the best refs pass unnoticed under a game’s radar and there’s something in the the theory. After this game, on the other hand, Attwell’s fingerprints and footfalls were found in every corner of a battered pitch. Ponderous, pedantic, prosaic, he was football’s version of Inspector Lestrade. Arriving late, jumping to incorrect conclusions, arresting the wrong suspect, he piled error on error. When you can’t find anything good to say about someone, sometimes it’s as well to say something bad. So consider it said.

Ipswich: Gerken, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Anderson, Skuse, Tabb (Hyams 68), Taylor (McGoldrick 68), Tunnicliffe, Murphy (Nouble 82). Not used: Loach, Edwards, Wordsworth, Mings. Booked: Berra, Nouble.

Charlton: Alnwick, Solly, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins, Wilson (Church 71), Stephens, Cousins, Stewart (Jackson 81), Sordell (Cook 45), Kermorgant. Not used: Hamer, Evina, Dervite, Pritchard. Booked: Cook, Kermorgant.

Referee: Stuart Attwell. Att: 18,371 (780 visiting).