Yeovil Town 2 (Morrison o.g. 72, Miller pen 76) Charlton 2 (Stewart 37, Jackson 45).
Kevin Nolan reports from Huish Park
As usual in these fraught circumstances, there are conflicting ways of looking at the outcome of this critical relegation clash, one which leaves its contestants in exactly the same trouble at the foot of the Championship table as they found themselves prior to kick-off.
From Charlton’s perspective, a point gained on the ground of their closest pursuer seems, at casual glance, to be far from the shabbiest of results. If they hadn’t carelessly squandered a two-goal lead in the process, they might actually have allowed themselves a faint glow of satisfaction. Appearances are, of course, often deceptive.
It’s spirited Yeovil Town, who will draw greater encouragement from this stand-off. Facing comprehensive defeat after being outclassed for over 70 minutes, they had made no impression until, out of the blue, they luckily reduced their arrears. The effect was galvanic on both sides. The Glovers sensed they were still in with an unexpected chance, their visitors inexplicably panicked and this see-saw game flip-flopped on to its head. Within four more minutes, a penalty unnecessarily conceded by substitute Andy Hughes was converted by his victim, Ishmael Miller, and with shocking suddenness, the Addicks were reduced to clinging on desperately to salvage a point from the shambles. Their cause was hardly helped by the straight-red card dismissal of skipper Johnnie Jackson, of which more later.
It had promised to a be a pleasant stroll for Charlton before the interval. After the Westcountrymen had begun brightly enough, with John Lundstram skimming the bar from long range and Miller forcing a smart save from Ben Alnwick, the visitors took over. A series of fluent attacks, combining crisp passing and clever movement, tore Town to shreds; the handy lead they enjoyed at the interval seemed poor reward for their superiority.
Unpredictable left winger Cameron Stewart made all the difference. He started a brief dissection of Luke Ayling by cutting inside the right back before forcing Christopher Dunn into a flying save to keep out his dipping drive. Moments later, he improved on that effort by firing his side into an already overdue lead.
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Sent haring along the touchline by Alnwick’s laser-guided throw, Stewart used Yann Kermorgant’s shrewd running off the ball to make space for the uncomplicated shot he buried into the bottom right corner from 20 yards. This time Dunn stood no chance.
Having benefited from his goalkeeper’s imaginative distribution, the on-fire Stewart was intelligently prompted by centre back Dorian Dervite, who aggressively advanced into Yeovil’s half and sent him down the flank again. Rounding Ayling effortlessly, his precisely measured cross from the left byline left Jackson with the simple task of heading home at the far post. At which point, the Addicks were rampant, the Glovers a tattered mess.
Nothing in the second half’s opening exchanges altered the feeling that the issue was all but settled. In fact, had Dunn not reacted sharply to parry Simon Church’s enterprising overhead effort, Charlton would have moved out of sight of their struggling hosts. So it was a shock when their victims hit back.
Willowy wide man Joel Grant hadn’t made any inroads up against Lawrie Wilson but finally got the better of him and crossed instantly from the left touchline. Moving to the near post to deal with the danger, Michael Morrison succeeded only in turning the ball into his own goal. It was an unfortunate setback but it hardly explained how or why the erstwhile hunters became abruptly the hunted. Their transformation was absolute.
Four minutes after Morrison’s misfortune, substitute Andy Hughes clumsily tripped Miller a foot inside his penalty area. There seemed little need for such excess so far from goal but Miller was clearly not one to look a gift horse anywhere but squarely in the eye. He ruthlessly equalised from the spot.
There was even worse to come for the shellshocked Londoners. Impeded by Ed Upson as he burst into Town’s half, Jackson lost balance and lunged into Ayling as he sought to retain possession. Ayling did him no favours with his agonised reaction but there was no disputing the captain’s sending-off. As he departed, he almost crossed with substitute Chris Solly, whose return following four months of injury and rumour, would otherwise have stiffened his sinews.
So Charlton continue their long trudge to freedom through a minefield of pitfalls, many of their own making. It’s tough at the bottom. Well, fourth from bottom. And who knows, with a slice of luck from time to time, climbing to the security of mid-table. Nolan expects.
Yeovil: Dunn, Ayling, Webster, Duffy, Davis (McAllister 59), Edwards, Lundstram (Dawson 46), Upson, Grant, Morgan (Hayter 46), Miller. Not used: Foley, Stewart, Hoskins, Ralls. Booked: Ayling, Webster, Duffy.
Charlton: Alnwick, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Stephens, Cousins (Hughes 69), Stewart (Wood 90), Kermorgant, Church (Solly 82). Not used: Pope, Evina, Green, Sordell. Booked: Alnwick, Wilson, Kermorgant. Sent off: Jackson.
Referee: Craig Pawson.Att: 6,053.