Kevin Nolan’s Match Report: Charlton v Bristol City (06/02/2016)

Charlton 0 Bristol City 1 (Tomlin 21,pen).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

There have been quite a few dark, desperate days at The Valley down the years. D-Days you might call them, disasters fraught with despair, disillusionment and disappointment. There’s no need to rehearse them here but it’s enough to say that this drab February afternoon takes its rightful place among them. It was about as dire as it gets, coming as it did on the heels of Charlton’s most encouraging display of this dismal season.

That ruthless demolition of Rotherham United quickly faded into already distant memory as the events- or rather non-events- of this dreadful game unfolded. With everything to play for against fellow-strugglers Bristol City, the Addicks managed one shot on target and that a risible effort from Zakaraya Bergdich, which trickled almost apologetically into Richard O’Donnell’s hands early in the second half. That’s all, folks!

Except to report that Bristol City were only marginally less awful than their toothless hosts. Given something to defend after referee Mike Jones’ disputed but correct decision that Lee Tomlin had been needlessly shoved in the back by Johann Berg Gudmundsson as he pursued Bobby Reid’s deflected shot inside the penalty area, they protected their advantage with embarrassing ease. In fact, had it not been for Stephen Henderson’s defiant goalkeeping, they might have strolled home with something to spare.

Rumoured to be on his way to join Charlton during the transfer window, Tomlin was the difference between the sides. Not that he played particularly well but he both earned and converted the matchwinning penalty before being substituted on the hour. Jose Riga’s accusation that the Bournemouth loanee dived under Gudmundsson’s gentle but significant pressure was merely the cry-wolf reaction of a frustrated manager and as such should be ignored.

Riga might more profitably enquire how playmaker Tomlin eluded him during the transfer window. It seems that Charlton have a novel take on the loan system. While Tomlin was rushed into City’s line-up as a quick fix that worked and which is the point of the loan system, we have to assume that Ya Ya Sanogo and Rod Fanni were dubiously added with an increasingly uncertain future in mind. Neither of them so much as made the bench on Saturday which implies that they had been recruited without Riga’s enthusiastic approval. Unless, of course, they weren’t match fit. Almost overlooked that point. You don’t set foot in Sparrows Lane without proof that you lack match fitness. After all, we didn’t get where we are today by being fit and we certainly don’t need any eager beavers with a point to prove. Like Lee Tomlin.

Anyway, without being too hard on the new boss, it’s tempting to conclude that any potential Riga-bounce has fizzled out all too soon. So cocky and confident in South Yorkshire a week previously, the Addicks froze in front of their own fans as usual. Their last victory at The Valley was the surprise defeat of Sheffield Wednesday on November 7th, since when it’s been an almost unrelieved tale of frustration.

There was never any suggestion that the three-months wait would be ended at Bristol City’s expense. The Westcountrymen’s arrival co-incided with the news that Lee Johnson had been prised from Barnsley to fill the managerial space left by Steve Cotterill’s dismissal. Though Johnson watched this game from the VIP seating, the sense was that Charlton were the first victims of the Robins’ new manager bounce.

The Robins’ incoming gaffer will regard this result as a welcome bonus before buckling down to duty. His new charges moved in front on 21 minutes after Tomlin made the most of Gudmundsson’s clumsy indiscretion, dusted himself off (as the cliche routinely has it) and forced an unconvincing spotkick under the unlucky Henderson’s right elbow. He will have noted how easily they defended their lead and will be forgiven for concluding that avoiding relegation will be a piece of cake if the rest of City’s rivals turn out to be as feckless as Charlton.

A little unfortunate with the penalty, Henderson singlehandedly maintained his side’s notional interest in this game as a contest. Soon after they fell behind, he performed an amazing juggling act to first parry, then paw to safety Reid’s wickedly deflected drive. Nearer the end, he backpedalled frantically to touch Luke Freeman’s cheeky long-distance lob over the bar before responding athletically to turn the same player’s fierce drive away at full length.

Henderson’s heroics were to go unrewarded while the Addicks, a shadow of the fast-breaking, pacy outfit which blew Rotherham away a week earlier, pottered about without purpose or, more to the point, hope. Sent plunging to the bottom of the league, they are exactly where they belong and where they will stay until the lugubrious M. Duchatlelet grasps what the club’s despised fans already know. The managerial not-so-merry-go-round of foreign network managers (three already this season) and inconsequential crust-earning players is farcical and is turning Charlton into the punchline of a huge joke.

The presence of Lee Tomlin in the visiting ranks on Saturday makes the point perfectly. With the addition of his talent and Lee Johnson’s Anglo-Saxon phlegm, Bristol City have already taken a huge stride towards safety. They say it’s never too late to learn. So, RD, look, listen and learn. You might find you’re wrong.

Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Teixeira, Lennon, Fox (Harriott 78), Gudmundsson, Cousins, Jackson (Ba 85), Bergdich, Makienok, Lookman (Ghoochannejhad 63). Not used: Pope, Sarr, Johnson, Poyet.

Booked: Jackson, Ba.

Bristol City: O’Donnell. Little, Flint, Baker, Smith, Tomlin (Wilbraham 61), Golbourne, Reid (Wagstaff 66), Freeman. Pack, Kodjia (Agard 79). Not used: Fielding, Williams, Pearce, Burns.

Booked: Smith, Pack.

Referee: Mike Jones.

14,342 (2,208 visiting).
N.B. On the subject of D-Day, there was a large hole at The Valley on Saturday when Normandy veteran Donald Hunt, now in his advanced 90s, was forced to miss his first game for ages. Donald was taken ill and admitted to Lewisham Hospital but is confidently expected to recover. The former Kings Own Scottish Borderer was extremely peeved by his enforced absence but might be back next Saturday. We’ll be looking out for you, Don. Be well. Kev and Haze.