Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Charlton 0.
Kevin Nolan reports from Amex Community Stadium.
Any doubt that Charlton have the heart and resolve to deal with the lingering threat of relegation was dispelled in freezing conditions on the South Coast on Tuesday evening. A performance of guts and commitment under severe pressure from Gus Poyet’s talented Brighton proved enough to secure a bitterly earned point, their 51st of this tortuous route march of a season. That’s enough to keep them up – or it would be under normal circumstances. Problem is that there’s nothing normal about the 2012-13 campaign. So the survival fight goes on under Chris Powell’s astute leadership.
Criticised in Tuesday’s programme for “lacking a Plan B” and “not making his substitutions soon enough to affect the game”, Powell’s clever deployment of his personnel was, in fact, instrumental in a rewarding four-point Easter. His resourcefulness in adapting his selection to circumstances is too often overlooked.
Never reluctant to make changes, without resorting to change for its own sake, the boss brought Ben Hamer back after a four-game absence and was rewarded at Brighton by a performance of breathtaking quality. Like Hamer, meanwhile, new additions Dorian Dervite and Andy Hughes had suffered in the alarming early chaos which saw the Addicks go 2-0 down to Bolton on Easter Saturday before recovering magnificently to win 3-2. All three of them, however, kept their heads and their places at the Amex Stadium where they disputed between them the notional award as man-of-the match.
Powell also altered his formation by adding Lawrie Wilson to a five-man midfield and dropping Ricardo Fuller to the bench, after the veteran’s heroic exertions three days previously. His approach was unapologetically defensive but this result vindicated him. The Addicks are involved in an unrelenting relegation struggle and those fans who yearn after beguiling football were advised to park themselves on the sofa to drool over the molten talents of PSG and Barcelona on TV. It’s a matter of life or death near the foot of the Championship table and no place for the fainthearted.
Dervite was the first of the terrific trio to make his mark with a selflessly brave block to deny Leonardo Ulloa a point blank chance. In front of him, Hughes settled down quickly to break up play with tackles and interceptions before passing sensibly out of trouble, his calmness lending confidence under the Seagulls’ steady pressure. But it was Hamer’s individual brilliance which inspired the besieged visitors to endure.
Possibly nettled at being dropped for four games, the often emotional keeper began a string of superb saves by reacting smartly to turn Matthew Upson’s header to safety, then capably dealt with a crisp drive from Kazenga LuaLua. Luck came to his rescue when Inigo Calderon hastily sliced a point blank opportunity wide as he stood watching helplessly. His impressive coolness in dealing with crosses and corners received stout support from the lusty boots and willing heads which dealt with so many of the balls which Albion rained in on his beleaguered penalty area.
It wasn’t quite one-way traffic, a point made by the sharp turn and blistering shot sent inches over the bar by Yann Kermorgant before the interval. But the siege continued unabated after the break, with Will Buckley heading Vicente Rodriguez’ cross wastefully wide at the far post. Another fine save by Hamer, after Upson met David Lopez’ corner, kept the scores level before the Addicks responded spiritedly, with Liam Bridcutt emulating the visitors’ stubbornness by heroically blocking Bradley Pritchard’s close range effort.
A late winner from either side was never out of the question and Hamer’s full length save from Lopez was more than matched by the breathtaking effort made by Tomasz Kuszczak to fingertip substitute Dale Stephens’ blistering half-volley over the bar. But it was Hamer who claimed the goalkeeping kudos with an astonishing added time save from Ulloa.
Picked out by Bridcutt’s precise cross, Ulloa seemed certain to break Charlton hearts until Hamer, while moving to his right, adjusted to divert the ball up on to his crossbar and over to apparent safety. The emergency was far from over because Gordon Greer managed to hit the left post from Lopez’ resultant corner. By that time, it must be admitted, your scrupulously neutral reporter had subsided into gibbering panic and his version of events, from the, er, unbiased sanctity of the press box, should be accompanied by a healthy dose of scepticism. Was it Rhoys Wiggins or Chris Solly, on the line, who helped Greer’s effort on to the post? Whoever it was, tell him from me he’s a hero!
Brighton: Kuszczak, Calderon, Upson, Greer, Bridge, Rodriguez, Bridcutt, Lopez, Buckley, Ulloa, LuaLua. Not used: Ankergren, Hammond, El-Abd, Crofts, Orlandi, Painter, Barker. Booked: Bridcutt, Greer.
Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins, Wilson (Stephens 75), Hughes (Taylor 90), Pritchard, Jackson, Harriott, Kermorgant. Not used: Button, Haynes, Kerkar, Fuller, Gower. Booked: Jackson, Hughes.
Referee: Mick Russell. Att: 28,043.
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As a self-confessed Barca drooler, I nevertheless followed the progress from the Amex via Sky Sports News DH (I’ve got HD but not the 3D glasses). I was also there to see Charlton’s amazing recovery against Bolton at The Valley. Johnnie Jackson’s solo goal, under those circumstances, was the moment of the season for me (after Messi’s 79th goal, of course, the one where he did the backflip and converted with his right ear).