Charlton 1 (Buyens 3,pen) Watford O.
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
Sticking to a mantra almost as ancient as football itself, Charlton claimed their third consecutive home win in seeing off another pre-season promotion candidate. Win at home, draw away, that’s the well-rehearsed advice being followed to the letter. With all three of their away games finishing level, the Addicks are proceeding neatly and nicely. So far so symmetrically good.
Sturdy defending, helped unapologetically by the occasional stroke of luck, was the key to this important victory. And when that resistance was breached, Stephen Henderson’s excellent goalkeeping did the rest. Several of his saves were outstanding, the sprawling, point-blank block from Lloyd Dyer near the end a matchwinner in its own right. It seems that Bob Peeters’ preference for Henderson’s experience over young Nick Pope’s bright promise was the correct call.
After going ahead through Yoni Buyens’ early spotkick, Charlton protected their lead for 97 frequently nervous minutes as the Hornets (re-branded more glamorously in the programme as the “Golden Boys” by a visiting pressman) pressed anxiously for an equaliser. There were a few close shaves but this was to be a frustrating afternoon for Watford’s debutant manager Oscar Garcia, who raised one or two reasonable beefs later on but didn’t, mercifully, waste time in disputing Charlton’s obvious penalty.
Catching the visitors snoozing complacently, Jordan Cousins won a duel for possession near the centre circle before spotting Igor Vetokele’s typically intelligent run behind a startled defence. In rounding Heurelho Gomes, the alert sharpshooter was unceremoniously chopped down by the panicked goalkeeper. Spared a red card by the proximity of his outmanouevred centre backs, Gomes was sent the wrong way by Buyens, who varied his recent technique and calmly rolled the penalty into the bottom left corner. Some cool character, this Buyens bloke. Not to mention one hell of a player.
Despite the untimely setback, Watford were hardly likely to submit meekly, certainly not with prolific captain Troy Deeney leading their attack. The Addicks were still enjoying their success when a mix-up between Chris Solly and Tal Ben Haim allowed Deeney sight of goal. A deliberately curled effort beat Henderson but clipped the outside of the far post.
A mixture of skill and muscle, Deeney was a restless handful and tested Henderson with a crisp drive after Matej Vydra smartly dummied Almen Abdi’s low centre; as the Addicks struggled to cope, the centre forward eluded Ben Haim, bore down on Henderson but went down under slight contact from the pursuing centre back.
It closely resembled a penalty but we really must trust our officials and referee Andrew Madley saw neither harm nor foul. Be fair, though, Garcia’s post-match gripe had a ring of authenticity to it.
Before the interval, the Hornets (I’ve had a game go but I just can’t get on board this Golden Boys business) stepped up the pressure and a fierce shot from Ikechi Anya produced a plunging save from Henderson. Three bookings within four pre-interval minutes, two of them for deliberate fouls on the unmanageable Vetokele, showed them in a more dubious light even if the Addicks were hardly disciplinary angels themselves.
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Little changed after the break. Watford called the tune although Vetokele might have made more of Solly’s cross than head tamely over the bar. Most of the action took place in front of Henderson’s goal, however, with Lewis McGugan blasting Deeney’s clever knockdown wildy high, then substitute Dyer blazing Daniel Tozser’s cross into the sidenet. With time becoming the visitors’ enemy, Henderson came brilliantly into his own.
The defiant keeper’s diving save to keep out Tozser’s vicious drive was superb enough but the block he made on Dyer stood out as special. As the winger sought to finish a move started by Deeney and continued by Joel Ekstrand’s astute pass, Henderson flew off his line, spread himself and superbly charged down the winger’s goalbound effort. An overdue clean sheet was his -and Charlton’s – reward.
With no fewer than six of Saturday’s starters newcomers this season, Peeters earns considerable credit for blending them into a spirited, organised side, clearly capable of standing up to any of the Championship’s fancied contenders. Largely backfoot operators, they invite pressure, draw their opponents’ lead, then counterpunch impressively. It’s too early to tell how far their “clever southpaw” tactics will take them but it seems there’s something happening here…what it is ain’t exactly clear. For what it’s worth, I intend to hang around to find out. But I tend to hang around anyway.
Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins, Gudmundsson (Wilson 28), Buyens, Jackson (Harriott 77), Cousins, Vetokele, Tucudean (Moussa 55). Not used: Pope, Gomez, Morrison, Church.
Booked: Gudmundsson, Wiggins, Buyens, Cousins.
Watford: Gomes, Hoban (Paredes 46), Ekstrand, Angella, Anya, Abdi, Tozser, McGugan (Ighalo 77), Pudil, Deeney, Vydra (Dyer 61). Not used: Doyley, Cathcart, Fabrini, Bond.
Booked: Gomes, Abdi, Ekstrand, Hoban.
Referee: Andrew Madley. Att: 17,628 (3,199 visiting).