Watford 1 (Pudil 71) Charlton 1 (Kermorgant 46,pen).
Kevin Nolan reports from Vicarage Road.
Charlton will travel up the motorway for Tuesday’s fixture at Huddersfield in good heart. They weren’t expected to fetch anything back from Watford except the experience of a good hiding but sheer stubbornness remains one of their endearing features. This draw was just reward for a sturdy, resilient performance during which they gave almost as good as they got.
There were admittedly moments, particularly in the throes of five interminable added minutes, when the Addicks’ backs were pinned firmly to the wall but, make no mistake, this point was earned not pinched. You might struggle to convince Gianfranco Zola’s moaning men that justice was done as they surrounded referee Andy Woolmer at the final whistle; but they conveniently overlooked the massive favour he did them by declining to add a yellow card to the penalty he awarded against Essaid Belkalem for scything down Lawrie Wilson a minute into the second half. Belkalem had been booked for a first half fracas with Simon Church and should have been sent off.
Settled now into the their solid-looking 3-5-2 formation underpinned by three equally uncompromising centre backs and two nippy wingbacks, the visitors had clearly no intention of serving as cannon fodder for Zola’s talented imports. While strikers Yann Kermorgant and Church worked tirelessly to close down passing movements at source and the inexhaustible Bradley Pritchard inspired the midfield resistance of back-to-form Dale Stephens and Johnnie Jackson, the Hornets found it difficult to make fluent progress from back to front. To their credit, they stuck to their principles but weren’t above launching the occasional up-and-under ball to Troy Deeney where necessary. Deeney received mainly short shrift from the excellent Dorian Dervite but did find time to miss a glorious chance to snatch victory in added time, bless him. We’ll proceed to that unchronologically.
Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.
New Scottish international Ikechi Anya had been unleashed on the tiring Londoners as replacement for Davide Faraoni shortly before the hour mark and ran them ragged with a scintillating solo run which carried him from his own half deep into Charlton’s defensive ranks. His work done, Anya slipped a short pass inside to Deeney, who spooned the sitter haplessly (and helpfully from certain perspectives) over the bar from 10 yards. An abortive appeal for handball against Dervite poured further oil on Watford’s troubled waters but they had no need to apologise for their point.
Still a villain to Charlton fans for his diving antics at The Valley last season, Fernando Forestieri carried the early fight to the Addicks, cutting in from the left to send a low crosshot, then a clever curler, both wide of the right post. The Hornets continued in charge and Diego Fabbrini eluded Michael Morrison but blasted narrowly over the top. At the other end, Manuel Almunia barely beat Church to Wilson’s fine low cross, then Richard Wood forced Kermorgant’s header past Almunia but was correctly flagged offside.
Give or take the odd awkward moment, Charlton could be satisfied with their first half efforts; twenty seconds into the second period, their prospects positively bloomed. Split open by Pritchard’s astute pass and Wilson’s heads-up run into the penalty area, a still dozing Watford were all at sea until Belkalem hurtled across to take care of the emergency. Over in a blur of arms and legs went Wilson for as clear a penalty as you’re likely to find. Oddly, Mr. Woolmer needed confirmation from his linesman but Kermorgant was in no such doubt in drilling the spotkick efficiently into the roof of Almunia’s net.
Falling behind had been no part of Watford’s agenda and they buckled down immediately to a search for parity. Deeny’s low drive tested Ben Hamer; Lewis McGugan drove Deeney’s pass narrowly over the bar; the suddenly galvanised Deeney volleyed dangerously close to the left post; Wilson’s magnificent tackle foiled Foresteri. The pressure was briefly relieved by Almunia’s alert save from Stephens but the inevitable equaliser was not long delayed.
Making space for himself inside the area, Fabbrini’s low shot was brilliantly saved by Hamer, who was helpless to prevent Daniel Pudil from converting the rebound. It’s customary to blame goalkeepers in these circumstances. You can forget about it. Hamer was blameless. As were his teammates. Goals just happen sometimes. It’s a sod but there you go.
If they were rattled by the setback, Charlton didn’t waver under intense pressure. They will cheerfully admit that they were the side more grateful for the final whistle, although they came close themselves to a late winner when a sliding Jackson turned Rhoys Wiggins’ low centre over Almunia’s bar. Their main concern will be the 65th minute withdrawal of Kermorgant with an apparent ankle injury. The marauding Breton might be spared the Huddersfield trip. He needs to be fit for next Saturday’s fixture. You know what I mean -the one that dare not speak its name.
Watford: Almunia, Cassetti, Angella, Belkalem, McGugan, Faraoni (Anya 57), Pudil, Fabbrini (Murray 83), Iriney, Deeney, Forestieri (Acuna 73). Not used: Battochio, Doyley, Smith, Bond. Booked: Belkalem, Faraoni, Iriney.
Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wood, Wiggins, Pritchard, Stephens, Jackson, Kermorgant (Pigott 65), Church (Cousins 90). Not used: Alnwick, Evina, Sordell, Gower, Stewart. Booked: Stephens, Church.
Att: 16,431 (1,784 Charlton). Referee: Andy Woolmer.