Charlton 1 (Kermorgant 57) Rochdale (Adams 53).
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
The once smooth progress of Charlton towards the Championship has slowed recently to an leadenfooted shuffle. This third 1-1 stalemate in four league games reduced their lead at the top of League One to seven points over second placed Sheffield United, who now have a game in hand. It’s always tough at the top. And it promises to get tougher, with uncompromising Stevenage next up at The Valley on Saturday.
In each of the three draws, the Addicks have fallen behind, before coming up with second half equalisers. That speaks volumes for their spirit but leaves unanswered, awkward questions about their inability to dominate the modest likes of Bury, Tranmere and, on Tuesday, Rochdale. They are looking decidedly shopworn. Still unbeaten in 2012, however, they plough on remorselessly under gathering pressure.
Averaging approximately a goal per game since the New Year, Charlton have resourcefully made the most of each precious strike. The goal which pegged back capable Rochdale was not only a beauty but ended an eight-game sequence, during which none of their forwards has found the net.
Scoreless since he converted a superb free kick on Boxing Day at Yeovil, Yann Kermorgant has plugged away gamely but lucklessly, his endless stream of cleverly headed flicks almost wilfully ignored by his strike partners. Chances have been few but when centre back Kevin Long was suckered into fouling the combative Breton ten yards outside the penalty area, the buzz of anticipation was palpable. And the crowd’s expectation was vindicated as Kermorgant curled an unstoppable free kick into the top left corner, the same spot picked out last Thursday by Oliver Muldoon to knock cocky Spurs out of the Youth Cup. Setpieces are clearly an important part of the coaching agenda at Sparrows Lane.
Having surrendered the lead they had taken just four minutes previously, second-from-bottom ‘Dale might reasonably have been expected to buckle. Not a bit of it. They persevered with the patient pass-and move game which had served them well and gave almost as good as they got during the remaining half hour. They deserved the point they worked so hard and skilfully to earn.
Forced into change by the continuing absence of inspirational skipper Johnnie Jackson and the last minute illness of outstanding right back Chris Solly, the Addicks lined up lopsidedly with left back Rhoys Wiggins moving across to replace Solly and Cedric Evina slotting in for Wiggins. Danny Green again filled in for Jackson on the left flank, while Bradley Pritchard stepped into Green’s right wing role. Bradley Wright-Phillips was a seamless replacement for hamstring victim Danny Haynes in partnership with Kermorgant up front. The impression was of a make-do-and-mend side doing their best to paper over unavoidable cracks. But that unquenchable spirit sustained them again.
A mildly critical Valley shifted uncomfortably during an uneventful first half of honest endeavour and slender achievement. Wright-Phillips, despite his long scoring drought, was his side’s likeliest scorer and was barely beaten to Wiggins’ lofted pass by alert keeper Peter Kurucz. A reminder of his lethal ability was then provided by the raking, low drive, following Kermorgant’s astute lay-off, which beat Kurucz but missed the left post by a whisker. By the time Wright-Phillips’ header from Green’s cross was smartly saved by the Hungarian keeper, the uncomfortable feeling grew that this was to be another fruitless outing for the goal-starved striker. Being bundled off Evina’s unselfish cutback hardly improved mood. Fortunately for Charlton, his hard-grafting colleague was due a change of luck.
Sensing their high-flying hosts’ nervousness, Rochdale had their first half moments, with Gary Jones’ shot deflected narrowly wide and Dale Stephens forced to head Jason Kennedy’s centre too close to his own bar for his peace of mind. Unconvincing though they were, it was still a mild shock when the league leaders fell behind eight minutes after the interval.
Caught pushing anxiously forward, Charlton were outnumbered in a three-on-two break led by Welshman Nicky Adams, who exchanged passes with Jones to his right before managing a scuffed shot on the run. A helpful deflection off Wiggins wrongfooted Ben Hamer on its treacherous way inside the right post, to the unrestrained joy of 121 intrepid wayfarers from Greater Manchester. The Addicks were up against it again but their despair was shortlived, thanks to Kermorgant’s moment of pure magic.
Galvanised by their instant equaliser, the home side had the better of the remaining chances. Stephens drove menacingly wide, before Kurucz produced a magnificent save to keep out Kermorgant’s far post header from Pritchard’s perfect cross. Kurucz continued his defiance with an instinctive close range block from Kermorgant after Stephens’ corner created chaos. At the other end, Wiggins produced a desperate last ditch block to foil substitute Joe Thompson, with Michael Symes bending the loose ball wide. It wasn’t impressive, Lord knows, but another small step forward was taken on Tuesday evening. Charlton aren’t exactly sprinting to the line but it’s getting closer all the time. Stay with ’em, these gutsy geezers are worth the effort.
Charlton: Hamer, Wiggins, Morrison, Taylor, Evina (Cort 82), Pritchard, Hollands, Stephens, Green (Wagstaff 65), Wright-Phillips (Clarke 72). Not used: Sullivan, Hayes.
Rochdale: Kurucz, Darby, Amankwaah, Long, Widdowson, Adams (Thompson 82), Kennedy Barry-Murphy, Jones, Jordan, Symes. Not used: Lucas, Grimes, Tutte, Holden. Booked: Long.
Referee: F. Graham. Attendance: 15,067.