Middlesbrough 1 (Ledesma 16) Charlton 0.
Kevin Nolan reports from the Riverside Stadium.
As Charlton begin to fray around the edges, with injury, illness and the occasional suspension biting into their meagre resources, the abrupt decline in health of regular goalkeepers Ben Hamer and Ben Alnwick caused raised eyebrows among the more sceptical of 258 fans who rallied to their cause on chilly Teesside.
With third choice Nick Pope loaned out to York City and 18-year old rookie Dillon Phillips on the bench, the decks were conveniently cleared for brand-new loan signing Yohann Thuram-Ulien to rocket up the ranks from obscurity to first line goalkeeper, within mere days of his arrival in South East London. The big stopper stepped up for his debut in English football and proved to be the difference between these mediocre sides. He is ineligible for Tuesday’s Cup replay at Oxford which means that the return to blooming health of either Hamer or Alnwick will be monitored anxiously between now and then. A curious business and it promises to get curiouser. Though there’s not an evidential leg to stand on, you may feel inclined, meanwhile, to “pull the other one.”
While finding his debut feet, Thuram-Ulien negotiated an awkward opening, during which he was reprieved by Curtis Main sidefooting wastefully wide before Marvin Emnes drove a clear chance into the sidenetting. In the 16th minute, however, his luck ran out.
Picking up a loose ball in an innocuous position, Emmanuel Ledesma was possibly following instructions to test the newcomer’s ability as he moved forward to potshot from long range. He speculated to accumulate as a diving Thuram-Ulien allowed the crisply driven low shot to bounce up and over his left arm on its way inside the right post.
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It was a catastrophic start for Charlton’s embryonic keeper but, to his credit, his subsequent performance made a sound case to be considered their man-of-the-match in the face, admittedly, of indifferent competition. Several outstanding saves included an unorthodox effort to keep out Mustapha Caryol’s fierce drive with an outthrust foot, followed by a quick adjustment to neatly field Emnes’ deflected effort to convert the rebound. In the second half, Thuram-Ulien reacted nimbly to prevent Caryol from crowning a brilliant solo run with a cleverly curled decider, then saved his best for last in bravely foiling Dean Whitehead in one-on-one confrontation at close range. But he never altogether convinced.
Thuram-Ulien’s defiance kept the Addicks in hopeful pursuit of a useful point until the dying moments when Dale Stephens’ last gasp blockbuster was brilliantly saved by the artful old stager in Boro’s goal. Shay Given had been given little to do until his late call to action but he predictably was equal to the task. Mind, you, he had been given the benefit of considerable doubt minutes earlier when substitute Simon Church beat him to Yann Kermorgant’s far post header to bundle in what appeared to be a perfectly legal equaliser. It was no surprise, of course, that referee Stroud disallowed the “goal.” After all, when was the last penalty awarded against a goalkeeper for physical excess under a high ball? Everyone knows that they are paragons of virtue in such circumstances.
News that all of their relegation rivals had won (except for Sheffield Wednesday whose 1-1 draw at Burnley was probably the most impressive result) piled on the agony for the visitors. A late red card issued to Rhoys Wiggins for a reckless challenge on Whitehead had capped a dispiriting afternoon and there were few bright spots to highlight. Young Jordan Cousins is wilting under undue pressure while Callum Harriott’s promising career is treading water; Jordan Cook was largely anonymous, valiant skipper Johnnie Jackson’s willing legs are feeling the pace.
Godd news is thin but still visible on the ground. Charlton’s spirit, that intangible quality on which their Championship survival will depend, emerged almost intact. After a shaky start, they grew into this game, more than matched Boro and finished more strongly than their conquerors. But they need urgent help. A second Standard Liege loanee -Astrit Ajdarevic – showed neat touches in an 18-minute cameo but midfield, while obviously important, is not the pressing priority. Nor is the dubious fast-tracking of a new goalkeeper. What the Addicks urgently require is a goalscorer and the search for one should occupy managerial hearts and minds. Not to hold the ball up, bring colleagues into play, run the channels, operate with his back to goal, track back to do his share of defensive work, do all the donkey work recommended by the coaching manuals, none of that sophisticated stuff. Just an uncomplicated goalhanger who puts the bloody ball in the opposition’s net on a regular basis. It’s why forwards are paid more than defenders. So find one and stump up the dough to pay him. Or we’ll be recruiting for League One next season.
Boro: Given, Varga, Williams, Ayala, Friend, Ledesma, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Carayol (Kamara 88), Main (Smallwood 79), Emnes (Jutkiewicz 57). Not used: Konstantopoulos, Butterfield, Gibson, Woodgate. Booked: Whitehead, Ledesma, Ayala.
Charlton: Thuram-Ulien, Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins, Cousins (Ajdarevic 77), Stephens, Jackson (Green 67), Harriott, Cook (Church 67), Kermorgant. Not used: Phillips Hughes, Evina, Dervite. Sent off: Wiggins.
Referee: Keith Stroud. Att: 14,548 (258 visiting).