Charlton 2 (Cousins 8, Moussa 90+3), Wigan Athletic 1 (McManaman 22)
Bob Peeters wasn’t in charge when Wigan Athletic overhauled Charlton with two savagely late goals at The DW Stadium last February. He can count himself lucky because Cockney witnesses of that particular sickener still experience recurring nightmares. Well, they did until last Saturday’s events purged their trauma.
At the time, the supercilious attitude of Latics boss Uwe Rosler exacerbated the misery, his demeanour suggesting that he had carefully planned the victory from start to finish. The double sucker punch was, he implied, all part of an exquisitely timed coup. Cobblers, of course, because Wigan had ridden their luck- nothing wrong with that, of course – but we were deliciously reminded at a fever-pitch Valley yesterday, that in football what goes around comes around. And sometimes, when it comes around, it’s worth the wait… sometimes REALLY worth the wait.
This absorbing game, one which simmered but never actually caught fire, had entered the third of five added minutes when lively substitute Franck Moussa optimistically tried his luck from outside the area. His uninhibited shot caught a wicked deflection off Robert Kiernan, looped wildly over the straining grasp of Scott Carson and settled, with almost a pleasing plop, in the net behind the stricken keeper. Cue pandemonium.
While Moussa and his overjoyed teammates cavorted round the right corner flag, Peeters, clearly out of control and with no obvious destination in mind, careered down the touchline in Rosler’s general direction. It’s fair to say that Wigan’s disgruntled gaffer received his counterpart – how to put this? – less than graciously. He was distinctly gefruntzed – which is a Yiddish way of saying he was more than a little cheesed off and ready to dispute the matter. Uncivil words were exchanged, fisticuffs were a possibility until the game resumed, then it all kicked off again at the final whistle. The return on February 21st could be tasty.
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Rosler’s irritation was understandable because his talented Latics promised far more than they delivered. Their passing was precise, their movement intelligent, their ability to keep the ball impressive. It was cerebral stuff but it lacked dynamism. They allowed this game to drift away from them and had tacitly settled for a point by the time Moussa struck. There were no meaningful shots at goal from the visitors, apart from Callum McManaman’s excellent equaliser. And that’s basically the purpose of football.
Charlton’s 8th minute opening goal was a case in point. The ominously composed visitors had been camped in the Addicks’ half, before, with dramatic suddenness, they found themselves behind to an uncomplicated tactic they themselves appeared to have shunned.
Buckling down uncomplainingly to his unfamiliar wide role on the left, Jordan Cousins accepted Johann Gudmundsson’s raking pass, stepped inside James Perch and bent a 25-yards beauty into the far top corner. Simple, direct, a lesson for the learning.
A quarter hour later, Wigan seemed to have picked up on it. Running down James McArthur’s long pass to the right of goal, the outstanding McManaman turned Rhoys Wiggins inside out near the byline before squeezing a firm, low drive through Stephen Henderson from a tight angle.
Briefly given a bit of a chasing by the methodical Lancastrians, Charlton resisted stoutly. New centre back Andre Bikey was immense, his sturdy defending complemented by his willingness to play constructively from the back; his partner Tal Ben Haim offered solid support; Wiggins had his hands full with McManaman but improved steadily; Chris Solly was his usual cool, resourceful self. And in midfield, Johann Gudmundsson and Joni Buyens began to match the metronomic Latics. Even the worrying loss of Stephen Henderson midway through the second half failed to dent home resolve. His rookie replacement Nick Pope is a good ‘un; this Southern softie wasted little time in ruthlessly -but legally – laying out two tough Northern chaps in an aerial collision.
An earnest tactical duel was meandering into stalemate when Charlton burst into life with a flurry of late chances. Moussa made a mess of converting Solly’s precise cutback, with Gudmundsson’s effort behind him blocked by Andrew Taylor. Quiet but always dangerous, Igor Vetokele slipped Oriol Ramis’ leash, bore down on Carson but was foiled by the advancing keeper’s control of the narrowing angle. The Angolan striker’s miss seemed like a last futile spasm but the ever-optimistic Moussa kept the the faith. And set the stage for Peeters and Rosler to clash like a snake and a mongoose.
Charlton: Henderson (Pope 66), Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins, Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson (Wilson 75), Cousins, Vetokele, Tucudean (Moussa 61). Not used: Morrison, Harriott, Church, Fox.
Wigan: Carson, Perch, Ramis, Kiernan, Taylor, Huws, McArthur, Cowie (Espinoza 78), Fortune (Waghorn 69), Riera (Maloney 46), McManaman. Not used: Al Habsi, Tavernier, Caldwell, Barnett. Booked: Taylor.
Referee: Andy D’Urso. Att: 15,334 (447 visiting).