Charlton 0 Derby County 2 (Ward 32, Bryson 87).
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
Yet another home defeat -their fifth of this arduous season- leaves Charlton teetering unsteadily on the brink of the Championships’s relegation trapdoor. Their already parlous plight was hardly eased by the success of their closest pursuers in closing the gap between them. As if in mitigation, though, the four teams immediately above them thoughtfully obliged by also losing.
Facing the division’s hottest in-form team, the Addicks acquitted themselves reasonably well without suggesting they had it in them to upset the odds. Their spirit was willing enough but their quality couldn’t match it. Once Derby moved into an admittedly fortunate lead just past the half hour, the destination of these three points was all but assured.
Without his suspended captain Johnnie Jackson, Chris Powell surprisingly handed forgotten man Danny Green his first league start of the campaign while, even more surprisingly, preferred Bradley Pritchard to Simon Church in a novel position behind lone forward Yann Kermorgant, which I believe might well be that mysterious “hole” the tactical experts waffle on about. The manager’s boldness went unrewarded by telling contributions from either newcomer, both of whom were quietly substituted midway through the second half. Kermorgant, meanwhile, was disturbingly colourless.
Currently in fourth place, Derby were no great shakes themselves but knew enough to record their seventh victory on the road. They impassively soaked up what their uninspired hosts had to offer, patiently bided their time and counterpunched them into submission. Hardly dynamic but highly effective, they followed to the letter the tried-and-true formula to beat Charlton.
Initially motivated and determined, the Addicks dictated the opening exchanges, with Michael Morrison burying a firm drive into Lee Grant’s midriff before Dale Stephens skied Cameron Stewart’s cross over the bar. Green’s unintentionally treacherous free kick sent Grant scrambling across his line to touch the ball over the bar but, with sickening inevitability, it was County who snatched an all-important lead against the run of play.
Frequently over-eager in putting his foot in where it doesn’t belong, Dorian Dervite was suckered by wily Ram Chris Martin into an unnecessarily physical challenge six yards outside Charlton’s penalty area. Making the most of his opportunity, Jamie Ward’s free kick caught a wicked deflection in an irresolute wall, wrongfooted Ben Alnwick and found the net. Funny, ain’t it, how the better a team is, the luckier it gets?
That familiar sinking feeling swept The Valley, fuelled by the knowledge that the Addicks had failed to score in five of their nine previous home games. Kermorgant’s improvised effort to surprise Grant from a prone position was unlikely to improve that grisly statistic and it was the Rams’ freescoring midfielder Craig Bryson who went somewhat closer to doubling his side’s lead before the interval. His blistering drive was bound for the top right corner until it was spectacularly saved at full length by Alnwick.
With the Midlanders content to protect their advantage, Charlton again set the second half pace. Stephens awkwardly stabbed Lawrie Wilson’s centre wide, while Kermorgant’s miscue became trapped between Morrison’s feet as he turned to shoot at close range.On the hour, Ward blasted Martin’s precise cutback against the bar when hitting the target seemed easier, his miss serving to prolong local agony.
The withdrawal of Green and Pritchard for Callum Harriott and Church respectively suggested the adjustment of an honest mistake and Charlton were briefly invigorated. Kermorgant’s precise cross from the left reached Morrison at the far post but was nodded wastefully wide, then Church broke clear to drive against the advancing Grant. Enough was enough, concluded the complacent visitors and Bryson’s elegantly dinked 87th minute coup-de-grace, after Ward and Conor Sammon combined to play him clear, belatedly settled the issue.
No doubt at his wits end, Powell has tried everything to turn the tide. All he-and his troubled charges- can do is to keep on keeping on. What you see is what you get, there’s nowhere else to turn. But they can do it, they can pull clear of the relegation dogfight under their manager’s decent, unhysterical stewardship. He needs the fans to close ranks behind him, even those who vocally question his every decision. He was obliged to watch helplessly as last season’s successful squad was weakened, not a penny was made available to him, the club’s invisible board seems to have cut him loose while they’re busy touting their wares. He’s still the man, though, truer and better than any of the fairground barkers being touted as possible replacements. Neil Warnock anyone? I don’t think so! Ian Holloway? Spare me!
Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is sponsored by Grant Saw Wealth Management
Charlton: Alnwick, Wilson (Sordell 85), Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Green (Harriott 65), Cousins, Pritchard (Church 65), Stephens, Stewart, Kermorgant. Not used: Pope, Evina, Wood, Solly. Booked: Stephens, Kermorgant.
Derby: Grant, Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Hendrick, Eustace, Bryson, Ward (Kean 88), Martin (Sammon 85), Dawkins (Russell 74). Not used: Legzdins, Davies, Bennett, Cisse. Booked: Keogh.
Referee: Andy Davies. Att: 16,871.