Charlton 1 (Bikey 25) Wolves (Baath 65).
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
Their perfect home record is no more but Charlton remain unbowed after seven league games. Those are the bare facts after a draw was doggedly earned against newly promoted Wolves, who dominated possession, racked up an overwhelming 11-1 corner count and have only themselves -and a glaring lack of punch up front – to blame for returning to the Black Country searching their kitbag for two missing points.
Relaxed, confident and well-drilled, the visitors subjected the Addicks to a stern examination of their unbeaten credentials, struck the woodwork twice but failed to match their cohesive approach play with accurate finishing. On the rare occasions they hit the target, Stephen Henderson answered the call with several fine saves, his excellence generously if ruefully acknowledged by Wolves manager Kenny Jackett.
Having conceded Wanderers’ overall superiority, any suggestion that Charlton were lucky can be dismissed out of hand. They defended with admirable spirit, made chances of their own and showed, not for the first time this season, a bloodyminded refusal to be beaten. Their counterattacking tactics do, ominously, expose them to long periods of pressure and they will come unstuck eventually. But then, so will every other team in an intensely competitive league. In fact, with Nottingham Forest the exception, they already have.
In this tight, absorbing clash, Charlton actually made the better start. Before Wolves had settled, Jordan Cousins’ cross was headed narrowly off target by George Tucudean, who quickly followed by guiding a crosshot from Igor Vetokele’s perceptive pass wastefully wide. Responding immediately, the consistently dangerous James Henry’s resourceful overhead effort and a blistering drive from Bakary Sako were both thwarted by Henderson’s vigilance. Rangy midfielder Lee Evans then went close from 30 yards before the home side, somewhat against the run of play, moved ahead.
A constant threat to his towering markers, Vetokele pursued Johnnie Jackson’s pass and worried a right wing corner from Danny Baath. Cousins’ outswinger was met at the near post by Andre Bikey, who squeezed an expertly controlled volley inside the right post, helped apparently by Tal Ben Haim’s artful block on the scorer’s delegated marker. Eagle-eyed Jackett was distinctly unimpressed by the Israeli’s dastardly conduct and said as much -with feeling. Leave off, Ken, the penalty area’s a morass of mutual fouls when a corner’s on its way. Ben Haim did his job. Your defender clearly didn’t do his. Move on, mate. Nothing to see here.
Match Report Sponsored By Grant Saw Wealth Management
A minute after the goal, Tucudean had another chance to double the lead. Slipped through by the mercurial Vetokele, he again shot wide. But it was, by now, the Midlanders who were calling the tune, with Leon Best getting the better of Ben Haim to set up an unmarked George Saville’s low drive from 20 yards. Sprawling to his left, Henderson’s fingertips brilliantly diverted the ball on to his left hand post and, via his entire goalline, back to safety.
The second half largely belonged to Wolves, with the Addicks unapologetically hanging on at times. As the pressure mounted, Sako’s shot was saved by Henderson; Best turned sharply to shave a post; then selfishly shot into the sidenet with Nouha Dicko better placed to his right. Just past the hour, Henderson rescued his side again with a splendid save from Sako but the resultant right wing corner finally brought Charlton’s downfall.
Kevin McDonald’s near post delivery was met by Baath, whose forceful header broke even Henderson’s heroic resistance. All of Baath’s colleagues had, it goes without Jackett saying, behaved with scrupulous fairness in the six-yard box chaos. Of course they did.
There was only one winner now and it wasn’t Charlton. Or, rather more surprisingly, Wolves. Henry did his best to decide the issue but crashed an angled cannonball against a post before Jackson, on the business end of a deftly headed pass from Vetokele, closed in on Carl Ikeme, drew a bead but dragged his crosshot lamely wide of the far post.
A more pressing concern for a relieved Bob Peeters will be the painful arm injury sustained by Vetokele as he disputed Jackson’s through pass with Ikeme in the last minute. The irrepressible Angolan hasn’t scored in the last two home fixtures but his work elsewhere has been priceless. One man doesn’t make a team but this one has made himself almost indispensable to Charlton.
And, by the way, Andre – lovely little somersault after scoring, hugely impressive and all that. But, er, maybe better knocked on the head in case you end up, er, knocked on the head. In the meantime, get plenty of practice. Just in case.
Charlton: Henderson, Gomez, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins, Wilson (Bulot 74), Buyens, Jackson, Cousins, Vetokele, Tucudean (Moussa 61). Not used: Pope, Morrison, Harriott, Church, Fox.
Booked: Tucudean.
Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Stearman, Baath, Golbourne, Henry (Jacobs 87), Saville (Dicko 46), McDonald, Evans,Sako, Clarke (Edwards 81). Not used: McCarey, Rowe, Val La Parra, Ricketts.
Referee: P. Miller. Att: 15,973 (1,644 visiting).