Brighton 3 (Lingard 11, Ulloa 43, Forster-Caskey 90) Charlton 0.
Kevin Nolan reports from the Amex Stadium.
Comfortably beaten at Brighton by the now routine 3-0 margin, Charlton were spared lasting damage to their survival hopes by generally favourable results elsewhere. This fixture had probably inspired hope among the other relegation-haunted wretches that progress could be made at the Addicks’ expense but, by and large, they blew their opportunity. There is a limit, of course, to such co-operation and Charlton must stand on their own feet when fellow sufferers Barnsley visit The Valley on Tuesday evening.
Charlton, as expected, stepped out of their class on the South Coast and it was hard to escape the impression that Jose Riga accepted as much. There was never any prospect of even a point as the visitors went through the motions, with damage limitation their sole motivation. As far as Brighton were concerned, this was a “gimme”; they might even have gone easy on their victims, such was their effortless superiority.
Once slick Albion took an 11th minute lead, any interest in this humdrum game as a serious contest disappeared. The goal itself opened a can of coaching worms.
Sensibly or perhaps otherwise, the new regime has encouraged their defence to pass their way from back to front. Less of the hoofball, more tika-taka is apparently the new mantra. Obedient to the doctrine, Ben Hamer duly played the ball along the ground to Michael Morrison, a reluctant recipient who wasted little time in returning it to him. Undeterred, Hamer next tried Diego Poyet, ominously shadowed by Kazenga Lua Lua in a central position outside the penalty area. Normally tenacious in possession, Poyet was pickpocketed by Lua Lua, stumbled as he sought to recover and was left helpless as Jesse Lingard picked up the pieces before depositing them efficiently inside the right post. A lusty boot upfield at some point might have been a better idea but that could just be the philistine in this correspondent.
Secure in their superiority, the Seagulls showed little desire to crush their victims. Lua Lua broke clear but was smothered by Hamer’s brave save at his feet but, as their early grip relaxed, so the Addicks improved. Three minutes before the break, their solitary moment of menace went unrewarded and was promptly punished.
Overshadowed recently by his Academy honcho Poyet, Jordan Cousins has done more than his bit during the unremitting schedule of relegation battles. At the attractive Amex Stadium, he fought bravely while, it hurts to say, certain teammates bottled tackles, skirted the issue and otherwise dodged the column. It wouldn’t do to mention names but 1,869 witnesses might suggest you look for the offenders up front.
They didn’t include Cousins, needless to say, because what you see is what you get from this kid and you’d have to be blind not to notice his commitment and courage. His brilliantly sinuous solo run left a train of breathless pursuers in its wake before being capped by an accurate short pass to Reza Ghoochannejhad. Potshooting instinctively, the slim Iranian’s effort looped off Bruno Saltor, beat Casper Ankengren in flight but rebounded off the crossbar. It was an unlucky break which brought prompt retribution at the other end.
Leading an immediate riposte, Lua Lua again did the damage, his crisp pass allowing Leonardo Ulloa to turn, in a debatably offside position, then dispatch a rising drive into the top right corner. The flag stayed down, the goal stood, the Football League Show couldn’t comment because its head was deeply buried in sand at the time.
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With goal difference still an important priority for the outplayed Londoners, a long second half stretched out before them. Their resistance was boosted by the surprise 65th minute return of talismanic right back Chris Solly in place of the ineffectual Reza.
Solly was his usual immaculate self and surely nailed down a starting place against Barnsley. Tackling, covering, passing with his customary verve, he’s the exception to the rule that match fitness takes an age to acquire. He simply took up where he’d left off on New Years Day, which makes it an unpleasant duty to report that his error contributed to Brighton’s irritating added time goal, which meant nothing to the result but could be important later on. His defensive header was powerful enough but landed at the feet of subsitute Jake Forster-Caskey, whose firm drive deflected off – who else but the snakebit Solly – to leave a wrongfooted Hamer helpless. Error, schmerror, it’s great to have him back. It’s a timely tonic which could have a profound impact on Charlton’s chances. I feel better already!
Brighton: Ankergren, Saltor, Greer, Upson, Ward, Lingard (Rodriguez 90), Andrews, Stephens, March (Calderon 89), Lua Lua (Forster-Caskey 64), Ulloa. Not used: Brezovan, Dunk, Mackail-Smith, Lopez. Booked: Lua Lua, March.
Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Ghoochannejhad (Solly 65), Cousins, Poyet, Ajdarevic (Harriott 46), Jackson (Church 81), Sordell. Not used: Thuram-Ulien, Wood, Pigott, Fox.
Referee: Roger East. Att: 28,770 (1,869 visiting).