Charlton 1 (Sarr 80) Brighton 1 (Gross 47).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Stepping up in class as the new season looms large, spirited Charlton went toe-to-toe with Premier League visitors Brighton and emerged with an honourable draw as reward for their unstinting effort. Clearly the satisfying result, as much as their energetic performance, mattered greatly to Lee Bowyer’s men.

A discouraging 1-0 loss seemed on the cards until, with ten minutes remaining, huge centre back Naby Sarr decided to take matters into his own hands. A ball-playing defender very much in the modern mould, Sarr controlled a clearance inside his own half before setting out for Albion’s distant goal with mayhem in mind. Improvised one-twos with Nicky Ajose and Simon Dawkins carried him on like an impetuous Light Brigade cavalryman at Balaclava. As the whites of Hugo Keto’s eyes came into sight, the run of the ball favoured the by-now irresistible Sarr in placing a precise, sidefooted shot inside the keeper’s right hand post. Some goal it was too, a singular effort unlikely to be bettered during the season proper but one Bowyer will hope to see duplicated more than once by an unpredictable player who answers a different drum.

Quite apart from Sarr’s unorthodoxy, there was plenty to encourage the manager in a feisty clash with visitors whose ascension to the Premier League coincided with Charlton’s fall from grace. As recently as the 2015-16 campaign, the Seagulls and Addicks were squaring off in the Championship, with the former’s 3-2 victory at the Amex Stadium on December 5th 2015 propelling them to the top of the table. Meanwhile, of course, Charlton were heading in a disastrously different direction.

In charge of Brighton back then was Chris Hughton, still bringing his calm influence to bear at The Valley on Tuesday evening. Matching “wits” with him less than three years ago was one Karel Fraeye, the latest in a pathetic parade of easy-come, soon-to-be-gone losers who ensured Charlton’s steady decline. In Hughton, Albion had -and still have- rock-solid leadership which they ranged behind in thinner times. Fraeye was gone just a month after the December 2015 defeat, as the bodies continued to pile up. Don’t hold your breath until Bowyer is confirmed in the job. After all, this sorry saga began with the treacherous backstabbing of another Valley legend.

Further evidence of the contrasting fortunes of these fine clubs was provided by ex-Addick Dale Stephens, whose effortless range of passing now earns him a Premiership crust on the South Coast. He wasted little time in showcasing his ability with a gorgeous, defence-splitting delivery which Pascal Gross squandered by shooting against the advancing legs of Dillon Phillips. Prolific scorer Glenn Murray was even more wasteful when firing inexplicably wide from point-blank range after being set up by Lewis Dunk’s pass and Gross’ clever flick. At the other end, David Button was untroubled by the rising effort driven over the bar by promising Albie Morgan.

Bowyer has reason to be pleased with the tireless contributions of his interval substitutions. But before they were heard from, Charlton fell behind. James Tilley’s right wing cross was headed back across Phillips by Murray and seemed bound for the opposite corner until the keeper’s straining fingertips kept it out. Unhindered by the right post, Gross was left with a simple tap-in.

Down but clearly far from out, the Addicks responded with youthful irreverence. Tenacious left full back Jamie Mascoll was an aggressive fireball, whose uninhibited tackling caused Hughton, a similarly committed left back during his distinguished playing career, to wince on more than one occasion. Equally committed George Lapslie popped up on both flanks to put himself about, as a shaken Arrun Connelly would confirm, pausing briefly to apologise before hustling back for the free kick. Midfield bite at Charlton – remind you of anyone?

Charlton were beginning to run out of time when Keto withstood a rat-a-tat three-shot salvo from Josh Magennis, saving each of them with commendable defiance, which Phillips matched with two fine saves from close range efforts from Solly March and Connolly. Then Sarr stepped up to defy logic, destroy tactics and deliver a draw which mattered. Really mattered.

Charlton: Phillips, Marshall (Yao 46), Ward, Sarr, Page (Mascoll 46), Forster-Caskey (Maloney 46), Pratley (Ince 46), Dawkins, Morgan (Lapslie 46), Ajose, Magennis.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Att: 2256 (458 visiting).

Shrewsbury Town 1 (Carlton Morris 58) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Montgomery Waters’ greenhouse.

Well, it’s over for another few months. Bloody good job too, many of us felt as Charlton’s chaotic 2017-18 season – disjointed, disappointing, depressing, take your pick – was pepper-sprayed into an ugly conclusion on Sunday. Few of their supporters, certainly none of the 1,568 tetchy loyalists who gathered here for the last rites, will regret its passing. It ended in two feeble whimpers and no audible bang as Shrewsbury easily won both legs of this play-off semi-final 1-0 to book their place at Wembley later this month.

As the post-mortems begin, the main item on most agendas will be the immediate fate of caretaker boss Lee Bowyer. And the conclusion will be, it’s to be hoped, that little blame for Charlton’s burn-out is his to shoulder. He inherited a team in freefall, with the grisly 0-1 debacle at Blackpool as recently as March 13th, and a miserable 0-0 home draw against Fleetwood four days later, rival nadirs which persuaded Karl Robinson to jump ship before he was pushed overboard. The Mersey Mouth duly sidled off to Oxford, where he switched his affections with all the ersatz sincerity of the smooth philanderer. Wherever he lays his hat, that’s Karl’s home.

Buckling down immediately, Bowyer restored equilibrium with three consecutive victories, boosted by a surprising 9-1 goal difference, over all-comers. Results inevitably flattened out but their titanic win over Blackburn propelled the Addicks into the play-offs, an achievement regarded by most fans as nothing short of miraculous given the unholy mess the caretaker faced when he took over. His managerial future now lies in the hands of Roland Duchatelet, a Belgian hologram whose word is as scattergunned as it is final. Bowyer would be unwise to move his belongings in yet.

This failure in Shropshire, meanwhile, followed almost regimental lines of predictability and order. The Addicks enjoyed (or, more probably, were allowed) a deceptive 54%-46% advantage in possession, contributing their usual neat approach play but rarely threatening to break through to where it mattered. They buzzed impressively up to the home penalty area where they encountered the rugged Salopians, who closed ranks and physically bashed them up. Paul Hurst’s hard men racked up a 14-5 foul count before the interval, which they increased to 23-8 before the final whistle. They also survived a confident penalty appeal when rock-hard skipper Mat Sadler blatantly handled Joe Aribo’s dangerous cross. Ruthless Town manipulated the rules, brushed aside their frail opposition and ran out comfortable winners.

The security given them by Jon Nolan’s wonder strike at The Valley three days previously bolstered Shrewsbury. Charlton struggle to score once, much less twice, in any single game; yet again, their lack of a natural finisher saw them complete this vital game without seriously testing Dean Henderson. It also goes without saying that not a single cross was provided for Josh Magennis, a more than useful header of a ball but one regularly starved of even average service from the flanks.

At the other end, Ben Amos was the visitors’ best performer, his pair of first half saves from Alex Rodman, the first low at his near post, the second in one-on-one confrontation with the winger a minute before the interval, prolonging Charlton’s academic interest in the tie. The marvellous stop he made from Stefan Payne in second half added time meant little in the bigger picture but confirmed Amos’ consistent excellence, which made nonsense of his absence from the top three nominations as Player-of-the-Season recently.

As this second leg chugged along in a mirror-image of the first, tough guy Carlton Morris scored Town’s matchwinner at almost precisely the same stage as Nolan had so memorably struck at The Valley. Moving alertly into position as the outstanding Shaun Whalley burst through to the right byline, the Norwich City loanee took a steadying touch before fizzing the attacking midfielder’s perfect cutback past Amos into the bottom right corner. It wasn’t as spectacular as Nolan’s howitzer but was even more effective in settling Charlton’s hash.

The Addicks’ meagre chances are easily recounted. Magennis turned sharply in the penalty area but blasted Jake Forster-Caskey’s free kick over the bar; Aribo’s devastating break should have resulted in a penalty when Sadler handled; Nicky Ajose was denied by Aristote Nsiala’s fine recovery tackle as he bore down on Henderson; Forster-Caskey’s fierce drive brought Henderson plunging to his left to save. For a team that simply had to score, it was hardly the constant softening-up bombardment prepatory to getting back on terms. But in reality, Charlton were as good as beaten as soon as Nolan scored at The Valley. The bookies could have settled then.

Ah well, here’s Elkie Brooks to sing us out again. “Fool if you think it’s over…” er, you can give it a rest now, Elkie, wrong choice to be brutally honest. Thing is, it’s as over as over gets for now. But thanks for trying. Come back in August. You’re always welcome.

Shrewsbury: Henderson, Godfrey, Sadler, Beckles, Whalley (Riley 89), Carlton Morris (Payne 69), Bolton, Bryn Morris, Nolan (Jon-Lewis 90), Nsiala, Rodman. Not used: MacGillivray, Lowe, Jones, Eisa. Booked: Bryn Morris, Nolan.

Att: 9,026 (1,568 visiting).

Charlton 0 Shrewsbury Town 1 (Nolan 80).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

If Charlton make it to the League One play-off final at Wembley on Sunday May 27th, they will have gone about it the hard way. They made a disastrous start by conceding this first leg semi-final to streetwise Shrewsbury, falling victims to a stunning late strike from Scouse-Irishman Jon Nolan which placed into brutal context their own lack of cutting edge.

A goalless draw -far from the worst result to take with them to Shropshire on Sunday- seemed fair reward for their earnest endeavours until Nolan astutely judged a dropping ball, nodded to him by Stefan Payne on the edge of the penalty area, adjusted his body shape, then detonated a superb, dipping volley which brushed the underside of the bar before nestling sweetly behind the blameless Ben Amos. It was a fine goal worthy of deciding a game at any level and was scored by the best player on view.

After surviving an early battering by their on-fire hosts, Shrews settled into their task. They were compact, disciplined and when the occasion demanded, capable of cold-eyed ruthlessness. The first half assaults by brick outhouse Carlton Morris on Patrick Bauer, from which he escaped without censure, then later on Jason Pearce, which earned him a yellow, rather than the red card he deserved, were clear messages of intent. Cynical trips on Konsa and Tariqe Fosu after the interval, the second of them earning Alex Rodman a caution, further displayed Shrews’ grasp of the darker arts.

The visitors also made an art form of timewasting, more kindly referred to these days as game management, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson already artfully slowing the pace in the torrid early going as he mulled over the correct positioning of his goalkicks. It pays off too as a paltry total of five added minutes over both halves proved. The visitors accounted for most of that derisory allowance while wildly celebrating Nolan’s matchwinner.

The Addicks’ sickening defeat, however, had its roots in more painfully familiar ground, namely their chronic inability to finish what they so often attractively start. During a blistering opening, Stephy Mavididi’s hard, low cross eluded Josh Magennis, was returned by Konsa from the opposite flank but headed lamely wide by Magennis. Jake Forster-Caskey was more accurate with the low drive which forced Henderson into a full length save and Nicky Ajose came close with a volley that sent Magennis’ lay-off whistling over the bar. An instinctive finisher might have converted at least one of the blur of early chances. But an instinctive finisher is conspicuous by his absence. As it is, the Addicks regularly bring cap pistols to a gunfight.

Until Nolan broke local hearts, Charlton had coped comfortably against a useful side which clearly regarded a draw as a positive result. Pearce, Bauer and sitting tenant Ahmed Kashi were their usual, solid selves while behind them Amos was impeccable. Jay Dasilva was a more progressive full back than a newly responsible Konsa and stayed alive to the problems caused by Mavididi’s blind alley running and irritating losses of possession. The unfairly maligned Ben Reeves, whose last second intervention prevented Nolan from scoring earlier than he did, worked fruitlessly, as did Forster-Caskey. Up front, Magennis battled gamely alongside Ajose and with Fosu expected to replace Mavididi at Shrewsbury, might thrive on better service. Lee Bowyer’s men did their best but were narrowly beatenby a better side.

With nothing to lose, Charlton might be a different proposition in the second leg against hosts who finished 16 points ahead of them during the regular season. Hardbitten interim boss Bowyer, no doubt aware that Thursday’s crowd included an interested Australian prospector, was measured in his reaction to this disappointing defeat, claiming that his side deserved at least a share of the first-leg spoils but warning that the tie remains far from settled. Winners at Montgomery Waters Meadow less than a month ago by precisely the 2-0 scoreline required on Sunday, the Addicks are not yet a spent force.

The last words will be left to the incomparable Elkie Brooks, a soulful thrush from an age when singers kept their clothes on while singing. “Fool if you think it’s over,” crooned Elkie …”it’s just begun”. Er, not entirely accurate, Elkie, actually it’s half over. But nice one, girl, we catch your drift. Hope we can live up to it.

Charlton: Amos, Konsa, Bauer, Pearce, Dasilva, Kashi, Reeves (Aribo 76), Forster-Caskey, Mavididi (Fosu 62), Ajose (Zyro 90), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Marshall, Sarr, Dijksteel.

Att: 14,367 (777 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Pearce 19) Blackburn Rovers 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

A League One play-off shot lies within Charlton’s grasp following this victory for bloody-minded determination and sheer stubbornness. There were times during Blackburn’s second half assault on Ben Amos’ goal when the visitors seemed certain to equalise Jason Pearce’s outrageously flukey opener. But bodies were thrown on the line, heroic tackles made and when the chips were down, Amos was superb. There were one or two favours from fortune, quite apart from Pearce’s inadvertent intervention, but if you can’t be good, at least be lucky. Lee Bowyer cheerfully admitted that his side was lucky but correctly pointed out that they were also pretty good.

In the away dug-out, Rovers’ manager Tony Mowbray generously made himself a hostage to the said fortune by making six changes from the team which clinched promotion in midweek at Doncaster. Among those left out were veteran goalscorer Danny Graham and, more significantly, ex-Charlton academy youngster Bradley Dack, recently named as League One’s Player of the Season. Striker Graham and attacking midfielder Dack are responsible between them for 30 of Blackburn’s 80 league goals this season and it’s safe to say that their absence was a break for Bowyer’s men. Charlton had their hands full with Mowbray’s second stringers but this was definitely the ideal day to face Rovers.

Nothing in a routine first half alerted the Addicks to the ordeal they faced after the break. Ben Reeves and Jake Forster-Caskey, reassured by Ahmed Kashi’s steadiness behind them, dominated a visiting midfield clearly lacking Dack’s dynamic input. Tarique Fosu’s individual impact was missed up front but there was enough to suggest that a relatively comfortable afternoon awaited the hosts. On 19 minutes, their prospects were further boosted by the streakiest of goals.

An inswinging corner delivered by Forster-Caskey from the right flank was headed away to Ezri Konsa, whose cross was cleared to Kashi, lying in wait outside the penalty area. The Algerian’s first time shot found the bottom left corner via the most helpful of deflections off Pearce as Jayson Leutwiler moved in the wrong direction. Reportedly re-routed by one of Pearce’s buttocks, it was a cheeky way to score but no more than the skipper deserved for his titanic contribution at the heart of Charlton’s second half defiance.

With their main priority realised earlier in the week, the Ewood men offered little until Amos was forced to backpedal desperately in clawing Charlie Mulgrew’s treacherously dipping corner to safety. But shortly before the interval, local hearts skipped a beat as Dominic Samuel, sent through by Richie Smallwood, appeared to be tripped by the pursuing Konsa on the 18-yard line. No penalty – not even a free kick – ruled well-positioned Merseyside referee Robert Jones as The Valley exhaled in relief. Luck had clearly resolved to be ladylike to Charlton and there was more largesse on the way during a harrowing second session.

It began badly for the Addicks’ snakebitten left back Lewis  Page, who picked up a yellow card for a wild lunge on Leutwiler, then sustained a bad gash above his knee in combining bravely with Amos to thwart a close range effort from Samuel.

With Rovers responding to their sold-out end, Amos spread himself brilliantly to smother Smallwood’s attempt to crown an irresistible solo run, then saved twice from Jack Payne. Charlton’s inspired keeper deserved the luck (still another timely contribution from the notoriously fickle lady) he received when Samuel headed Mulgrew’s corner against the underside of the bar. In one of numerous, hair-raising goalmouth scrambles, Pearce’s emergency block on Graham stood out while, alongside the captain, Patrick Bauer was calmly efficient and Mark Marshall rubberstamped his inclusion at Joe Aribo’s expense, with a feverishly hardworking box-to-box stint on alternating wings. Aribo eventually replaced an exhausted Reeves, who had more than done his bit. Even the cruel but justified addition of seven minutes was comfortably negotiated before an appreciative Valley rose to salute their gutsy heroes.

They’re not there yet but Bowyer and an affectionately greeted Johnnie Jackson are on the brink of masterminding a play-off opportunity for a squad on the verge of collapse before they took charge. It will soon be time for bashful owner Roland Duchatelet, with talk of a take-over fading fast, to decide who leads Charlton into the 2018-19 season. Promotion to the Championship would force his hand in favour of the Bowyer-Jackson ticket but they should be given the responsibility anyway whatever the upcoming weeks hold in store. There’s wild gossip, meanwhile, that Yves Ordure-LaTrine of FC Brussels Sprouts (no-one likes us, we don’t care) is available after leading FCBS into the Belgian sixth tier but hopefully that’s no more than a rumour. For almost but not quite the last time this season the cry gathers volume – Bowyer In! Jackson In! Come on Roland, you know it makes sense. You already lost much-coveted Joey Barton to Fleetwood due to excessive dithering.

Charlton: Amos, Konsa, Bauer, Pearce, Page (Dasilva 50), Kashi, Reeves (Aribo 86), Forster-Caskey, Marshall, Ajose (Mavididi 80), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Lennon, Zyro. Booked: Page, Forster-Caskey.

Blackburn: Leutwiler, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Downing, Caddis (Travis 63), Bell, Smallwood, Evans (Whittingham 75), Armstrong, Samuel, Payne (Graham 63). Booked: Lenihan, Downing, Smallwood, Payne.  Not used: Fisher, Antonsson, Tomlinson, Nuttall.

Referee: Robert Jones. Att: 17,310 (3,110 visiting)

Portsmouth 0 Charlton 1 (Ajose 40).

Kevin Nolan reports from Fratton Park.

In Fratton Park’s famous cauldron-like atmosphere, transformed by this result into a requiem for Portsmouth’s promotion hopes, a stirring, one-for-all, all-for-one performance thrust Charlton into strong contention for the sixth-and last- play-off slot. This was a victory to which every player manfully contributed, none more so than outstanding goalkeeper Ben Amos.

A handful of fine saves, the pick of which was his quite astounding mid-air adjustment to conjure Brett Pitman’s treacherously deflected 85th minute free kick over the bar, keynoted Charlton’s defensive defiance but was greeted almost matter-of-factly by his colleagues. Inspired by the example of ultra-competitive skipper Jason Pearce, Amos had been protected by a resolute wall and was clearly expected to plug the holes on the rare occasions it was breached. In the heat of battle, emotional outbursts belong in the dressing room where it’s safe to assume he was saluted more enthusiastically later.

There will be those among a raucous away following which silenced the local tribunes, who will find it impossible to relate this tight, purposeful side to the rabble which were bullied at Wimbledon and outsmarted four days later at home to Scunthorpe. With the Pompey Chimes degenerating into a poignant dirge, Portsmouth were ultimately broken. There was, admittedly, the odd uncomfortable moment for their visitors before the deed was done.

Clearly sent out by Lee Bowyer to take on the South Coasters, the Addicks dominated the first half, did largely as they pleased but retired for the break ominously only one goal to the good. Frankly dreadful for 45 minutes, the Blues should have been staring down the barrel of comprehensive defeat. Unable to pick out an accurate pass, second to every ball, overpowered and outclassed, Kenny Jackett’s men struggled to survive. But survive they did and the second half became a backs-to-the-wall test of Charlton’s character. It’s a pleasure to report that they passed with flying all-red colours.

Provided stability by the insatiable workrate of Jake Forster-Caskey and Ben Reeve, the Londoners enjoyed effortless superiority without, as the interval approaching, threatening to score. Forster-Caskey came closest when he cut in from the right, beat Luke McGee with a low, left-footed drive but was foiled by Nathan Thompson’s goalline clearance. Other than Tarique Fosu’s sharply taken shot on the turn, which grazed a post, Pompey seemed likely to escape unscathed until Nicky Ajose’s first goal of the season lowered the boom on them with five minutes first half minutes remaining.

An old-school exchange of goalkeeping clearances saw Amos collect McGee’s free kick before returning it downfield with interest. An awkward handful throughout, Josh Magennis got the aerial better of Matt Clarke and nodded down for Ajose to spin into space before slotting past the advancing McGee. The goal was a nightmare for the tactical purists but it proved that the long ball still has a useful part to play in any team’s arsenal.

Stirred out of their apathy, Portsmouth almost equalised immediately after Ahmed Kashi, returning from injury in time for the last surge, fouled Gareth Evans. His victim’s free kick was headed goalwards by Clarke but smartly smothered by the first of Amos’ crucial saves.

Prolific scorer Pitman (22 league goals this season) had been spending his time in Pearce’s pocket, emerging from time to time to discuss referee Mark Heywood’s officiating. He was always dangerous, though, and should have made more of another of Evans’ free kicks than to head it lamely over the bar.

After Reeves volleyed narrowly wide, Amos preserved the lead by getting down smartly to save substitute Connor Ronan’s raking low drive.

Charlton’s compulsion to concede needless but dangerous free kicks was continued by Mark Marshall’s thoughtless foul on Stuart O’Keefe in the juiciest of positions for Pitman to try his luck from 25 central yards. The veteran’s effort was helped on its way to the top left corner by a wicked deflection until Amos twisted mid-dive to waft it over the bar. If it’s true that catches win matches, the same can be said for saves of this exemplary quality.

Worrying injuries to hotshot Fosu and the steadily improving Lewis Page marred the Addicks’ heartening performance, with Kashi’s timely return offsetting the damage. The near top (Blackburn) and near bottom (Rochdale) of League One now stand in the way of their play-off ambitions, tricky Red Rose county opponents with differing agendas. Bring ’em on one at a time because Charlton have cast aside the crippling self-doubt that hampered most of this exhausting campaign. If they don’t make it, they’ll go down fighting.

Portsmouth: McGee, Thompson (O’Keefe 46), Clarke, Whatmough (Burgess 46), Haunstrup (Ronan 66), Close, Lowe, Evans, Donohue, Naismith, Pitman. Not used: Hawkins, Kennedy, Chaplin, Bass.

Charlton: Amos, Konsa, Bauer, Pearce, Page (Marshall 62), Reeves, Kashi, Forster-Caskey, Fosu (Dasilva 57), Ajose (Kaikai 90), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Aibo, Lennon, Zyro

Referee: Mark Heywood. Att: 19,210 (2,448 visiting).

Charlton 0 Scunthorpe 1 (Toney 31).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

It ain’t mathematically so. Not yet it ain’t. But it’s liable to be. Because in every other way, it’s becoming obvious. Charlton will be competing again in League One next season. They belong there. When push comes to shove, they’re just not good enough even to make the play-offs.

Back-to-back 1-0 defeats by Wimbledon and Scunthorpe thrust the tiresome campaign into sharp relief. The performance near Norbiton was ghastly and for those unfortunate wretches who suffered it, then loyally turned up at The Valley four days later, some sort of therapy might be in order. Nobody should be asked to endure twin nightmares like those traumatic ordeals. Not to mention having to pay for the bitter experience.

The tactical explanations for Charlton’s prolonged demise are many and varied. Some experts advocate the diamond, some pundits prefer a more lozenge-shaped set-up, others argue for three at the back, still more big up 4-4-2. Then you’ve got your wingbacks, hole players, false number 9s, midfield sitters. To press or not to press, play out from the back or get it up front asap.

It’s all so technical that it’s likely Stephen Hawking would have failed his coaching exams miserably. On the other hand, he might have concluded that football is a simple practice unnecessarily complicated by theory. Its primary aim is to stick the ball in the net more times than your opponents and, in that regard, both Wimbledon and Scunthorpe had the edge over the Addicks.

Charlton’s deceptive total of 54 league goals was swelled recently by the surprising 9-goal burst during the false dawn of Lee Bowyer’s first three games in charge. Their lack of a proven goalscorer has cost them dearly in otherwise seemingly winnable games. At Wimbledon, blond-thatched Lyle Taylor seized on Patrick Bauer’s disastrous slip and coolly poached the game’s only goal. Taylor scored again at Walsall on Saturday and his crucial strikes will almost certainly keep modestly-budgeted Wimbledon in League One. The Dons should have been made an offer they couldn’t refuse when his availability became an issue earlier this year. But imagination isn’t among Roland Duchatelet’s characteristics. He keeps his pragmatism close to his chest, which is where you will also come across his chequebook.

Scunthorpe’s matchwinner was claimed by Ivan Toney, currently on loan from Newcastle United. His 1-yard tap-in owed more to the work of its creators Jordan Clarke and Hakeeb Adelakun but was celebrated with religious fervour. Giving thanks to a loftier presence, Ivan crossed himself, knelt in prayer, dedicated his achievement to world peace and generally carried on as if he’d scored the world’s first-ever goal . He was just a little over the top which muddies the point that he was also an outstanding leader of the Iron’s attack. If his magnificently struck second half volley had not been equally magnificently tipped over the bar by Ben Amos, though, the visitors might have had to collect him at an A1 service station on the way back.

Featuring on loan for Charlton in Saturday’s glorious sunshine were Sullay Kaikai and Michal Zyro, neither of whom made much of a contribution. Kaikai is highly rated by Bowyer, which comes as a surprise to fans who see a trier with little else to recommend him. The Addicks improved markedly when he was replaced by feisty Tarique Fosu. Slow and clumsy, meanwhile, Zyro suffered in contrast to Toney’s excellence while a third loanee, Stephy Mavididi, who replaced Joe Aribo, was again hugely disappointing.

Apart from Fosu, Amos was the only full-time Addick to emerge with credit. His early one-on-one block with his feet after Adelakun was sent clear by Duane Holmes was the first of three great saves by the defiant keeper. His instinctive, flying tip-over spoiled Toney’s bid for Goal-of-the-Season and was followed by another electric reaction to beat clear Adelakun’s venomous drive. No blame could be attached to Charlton’s stand-alone keeper for Toney’s goal.

Sprinting through a square defence on to Duane Holmes’s through pass, Adelakun was offside by a whisker, wisely paused for thought, then delivered a firm, low cross which left Toney the easy task of converting from a yard out.

Toney’s goal – and Taylor’s before it – has probably condemned Charlton to another season in the doldrums of League One. The muffled drums are beating slowly, the fifes are playing lowly, the band is rehearsing the last post and chorus. It’ll be time soon for Charlton’s promotion hopes to be lowered down and for the massed pipers to lament their death with “Flowers of the Forest.”

Unless, of course, they win at Shrewsbury while Portsmouth lose at Bradford, in which case… well, you can never tell with football, bloody football, do you?

Charlton: Amos, Dijksteel, Bauer, Pearce, Dasilva, Aribo (Mavididi 76), Forster-Caskey, Zyro (Magennis 53), Reeves, Kaikai (Fosu 54), Ajose. Not used: Phillips, Kashi, Lennon, Konsa. Booked: Kaikai.

Scunthorpe: Gilks, Clarke, Wallace, McArdle, Townsend, Yates, Holmes (McGeehan 76), Ojo, Moris, Toney (Novak 69), Adelakun (Vermijl 84). Not used: Watson, Bishop, Hopper, Burgess.
Referee: Graham Salisbury.

Att: 11,877 (586 visiting).

AFC Wimbledon 1 (Taylor 45) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Cherry Red Records Stadium.

When the dust settled following this painfully inevitable defeat, Charlton were left hanging on by a fast fraying thread to sixth place in League One. By gamely limiting fifth from bottom Wimbledon to a single-goal win, they defiantly held off doggedly pursuing Portsmouth with two precious goals to spare. The play-offs are still in their grasp. That’s the good news.

The not-so-good news is that Charlton were outplayed, out-hustled and outfought by a gritty side who were willing to go an extra yard in their efforts to stave off relegation. The Dons won every 50-50 challenge; were first to every second ball; maintained their intensity from whistle to whistle. Their visitors, as the saying goes, failed to show up.

When lively Lyle Taylor capitalised on Patrick Bauer’s ghastly error to score the game’s only goal, he did so in the last minute of the first half. Though there were a total of 49 second half minutes available to find an equaliser, the Addicks were already a beaten side. Only the formalities were left to observe. So they huffed, they puffed, then went back and huffed some more. And they were blown away by more determined, resolute opponents.

At Bristol Rovers three days previously, the home side had been gifted the lead by Jason Pearce’s woefully underpowered header intended for Ben Amos, on which Ryan Bennett pounced to prod Gas into the lead. Ben Reeves levelled before the break which, to some extent at least, got Pearce off the hook. There was no such luck here for his centre back partner.

In unchallenged possession outside his penalty area, Bauer disdained the option to launch the long ball, as Deji Oshilaja and Jon Meades, at the other end, did unapologetically all evening, but instead turned back with the obvious intention of routinely passing back to Amos. Inexplicably, his feet disappeared from under him, leaving Taylor to keep calm, carry on and coolly slot the up-for-grabs ball past the desperately advancing Amos. Playing out from the back is admirable, of course, but it shares similar perils with Russian Roulette. From time to time, there’s a self-destructive bullet in the breech.

Chances before Taylor’s strike were few but the Dons enjoyed what there was of them. As early as the second minute, Amos bravely left his line to save at Harry Forrester’s feet, with Ezri Konsa reacting alertly in blocking Taylor’s attempt to convert the rebound. As the home side continued to press, Will Nightingale headed Dean Parrett’s free kick narrowly over the bar.

It’s difficult to recall a shot on target from the Addicks, though there has been vague mention of one from Saturday’s saviour Reeves. Doesn’t ring a bell but there were three wildly wasted free kicks from Sullay KaiKai (2) and Jake Forster-Caskey, which brought with them a whiff of nostalgia for Ricky Holmes, twice Wimbledon’s tormentor from setpieces. It’s true that Pearce headed a Forster-Caskey corner against George Long’s right hand post but he seemed unaware of his achievement and it might have been accidental. With most of the final ten minutes spent in undignified scuffling in the far left corner, as far from Long’s goal as it was possible to get, Charlton’s latest humiliation at the hands of pesky, troublesome Wimbledon petered out tamely.

But they’re still a live entry in the struggle to nail down the final play-off spot. Upcoming games at home to Scunthorpe on Saturday and away to Shrewsbury Town and Portsmouth next week line up like murderers’ row. If they emerge from that little lot still with a pulse, who knows?

AFC Wimbledon: Long, Fuller, Meades, Oshilaja, Nightingale (Charles 34), Parrett, Soares, Trotter, Forrester (Francomb 82), Taylor, Pigott (Barcham 71). Not used: McDonnell, Abdou, Kaja, Kennedy. Booked: Taylor.

Att: 4,457 (745 visiting).

Northampton Town 0 Charlton 4 (Reeves 14, Fosu 19, 51, Magennis 79.

Kevin Nolan reports from Sixfields.

With this second impressive victory since taking over temporarily from Karl Robinson, Lee Bowyer improved his chances of landing a permanent job -at least as permanent as it gets at The Valley- as Charlton’s new manager.

With the wise counsel of Johnnie Jackson at his elbow, Bowyer’s combative attitude has already rubbed off on an increasingly rudderless team. Newly focused, spirited and tenacious, they’re being made over to reflect their new boss’ unquenchable commitment as a player, not to mention the considerable skill he brought with him in a successful career, which began as a junior Addick and ranged far and wide at the top level of English football.

After the winning start he made by seeing off in-form Plymouth Argyle, Bowyer followed up with this tape-to-tape drubbing of relegation haunted Northampton, currently managed by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, an ex-teammate at Leed United in the late 90s. Ironically, his main rival for the Charlton job is Harry Kewell, a third member of Leeds’ Premiership side which trounced the Addicks 4-1 at Elland Road in November 1998. If the club, as has been rumoured, passes into Australian hands, fellow-antipodean Kewell would be favoured to take over. That would, almost certainly, be a mistake to rival the treacherous sacking of Chris Powell in 2014. And be honest, a Valley-full of sobbing, breast-beating Aussies would be difficult for us whingeing Poms to stomach.

Confident and assured, Charlton had this important win wrapped up in little over a quarter of an hour, the time it took them to move effortlessly into a two-goal lead they were never in danger of relinquishing. Smooth and fluent, they carved their way through the Cobblers’ right flank, with Lewis Page played clear by Joe Aribo’s weighted pass. The left back’s perfectly flighted cross was met by Ben Reeves, who beat Shaun McWilliams to the ball before directing his header off Richard O’Donnell’s left hand and in off a post. If, as Reeves later confessed, it was his first-ever headed goal, it was taken with surprising ease.

After Matt Grimes skimmed the bar from 25 yards, the visitors responded by doubling their lead with a splendid goal. Breaking over the halfway line, commanding centre back Patrick Bauer zipped a raking diagonal ball to Nicky Ajose’s feet, over which the lively forward instinctively dummied. With the bedazzled home defenders heading in the wrong direction like so many Keystone Kops, Fosu weaved sinuously between them, defied Shay Facey’s earnest effort to chop him down and created an angle for a low, right-footed drive which homed in on the bottom left corner.

So used to seeing their side falter when in the lead, a healthy contingent of travelling Londoners were unusually relaxed about their immediate future. Clearly the Cobblers’ superiors, Charlton had no intention of resting on their laurels and Jason Pearce’s header from Jake Forster-Caskey’s corner was hacked off the goalline by Grimes. There was no sign of the nerves which so often unmanned them when in front during this exasperating season and resulted in so many disastrously conceded late goals. Calmer on the touchline than he was on the pitch, Bowyer always had a healthy distaste for losing. His new charges have inherited his hardnosed attitude. Like dogs and their owners, football teams and their managers get to resemble each other. Charlton have adopted their new gaffer’s terrier-like tenacity.

Game but limited, meanwhile, Hasselbaink’s men fell further behind six minutes after the interval, through another beauty from Fosu. Supplied by the quietly effective Michal Zyro, the rejuvenated wide midfielder jinked past a posse of defenders, drew a bead from 25 yards and left O’Donnell sprawling helplessly with another low shot into the bottom left corner.

Having played his full part in a team effort, Zyro was replaced by Josh Magennis, who promptly rubbed salt in Town’s wounds. Picked out by Reeves’ cleverly chipped cross at the far post, the selfless target man nodded in a fourth goal to round off a soggy but satisfying Good Friday afternoon in the rain.

It might prove to be too little too late but Bowyer has breathed life into Charlton’s promotion ambitions. It seemed as good as over just two short weeks ago. Now they dare to hope again. Bowyer in!

Northampton: O’Donnell, Moloney (Ariyibi 41), Taylor, Buchanan, McWilliams (Bunney 52), Long, Crooks, Van Veen (Mathis 68), Facey, Grimes, Turnbull.

Att: 6,416 (1,208 visiting).

Charlton 2 (Page 3, Zyro 17) Plymouth Argyle 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Emboldened by their four-month unbeaten run and roared on by over 3,000 of Paul Whitehouse’s cocky Green Army, Plymouth Argyle pulled into The Valley clearly expecting to leave a few hours later with all three points.

Argyle’s brimming confidence, to be fair, was justified. They were visiting a football club which has become the butt of a joke with the longest punch line in history. Every time you think the last laugh has been wrung from Charlton’s antics, they come up with another zinger to keep the mirth alive. Off the field, they’ve been a toe-curling embarrassment; on the park recently -don’t go there, just don’t go there. Unless, of course, you want to discuss Saturday’s game.

During the week preceding the Pilgrims’ arrival, even the departure of Karl Robinson descended into knockabout farce. His resignation was tendered to a slimline board which had been reduced from three members to two since Katrien Meire took it on her toes in January. Its chairman is a lugubrious old Belgian badger, who has prudently stayed out of England since the government declared war on his secretive species. Meanwhile, poor Richard Murray has carried the can alone and has found it lonely at the top.

Already lined up with a job at Oxford, Robinson’s resignation became a mini-saga. He found it difficult to find someone qualified to accept it although a tea lady gamely volunteered to forward it. His first effort was eventually rejected, apparently on a split 1-1 vote, so he sought a re-count. This time he was successful and got his way 1-0 with one abstention. Off he trundled to the shires and Plymouth’s fate, though far from obvious at the time, was sealed.

Lying in wait for the tearaway Westcountrymen were caretaker manager Lee Bowyer and his right-hand man Johnnie Jackson, both of them boasting solid Charlton pedigrees and each with a point to prove. They had prepared a revitalised side in a re-jigged 4-4-2 formation and unleashed them on unsuspecting Argyle. The visitors were taken by the scruff of their necks and handed a comprehensive hiding in comfortably the Addicks’ best performance of an otherwise wretched season. They were never in with a chance.

Bowyer’s men announced their aggressive intentions as early as the first minute when Remi Matthews bravely whisked Nicky Ajose’s clever flick off Michal Zyro’s toes. Plymouth’s relief was short-lived as the outstanding Anfernee Dijksteel’s cross from the right was inconclusively headed clear by Oscar Threlkeld to Lewis Page, unmarked over 30 yards from goal. A cushioned chest touch set up Page’s left-footed volley which screamed beyond Matthews’ despairing grasp on its way into the top right corner. Charlton had been given the perfect start on which to build and made a masterclass of it.

Largely untroubled as his side called the tune, Ben Amos promptly did his bit with a key contribution to keep out Argyle’s best chance. Plunging low to his left as Ryan Taylor met Gary Sawyer’s cutback from the byline, Amos fingertipped the low shot on to the post and safety. The importance of his save increased when the Addicks almost immediately doubled their lead. A sharp interchange of passes after Ben Reeves shrewdly switched play from right to left culminated in Ajose’s cross which eluded a packed penalty area but was retrieved by Joe Aribo wide of the far post. The midfielder shifted the ball to his left foot before providing a perfect delivery which Zyro powered past Matthews.

Required to protect their lead for over 70 minutes, Charlton coped almost effortlessly. Centre backs Patrick Bauer and Jason Pearce were ruthless stoppers, unbeatable in the air and never reluctant to put a foot through the ball when necessary. Dijksteel compensated for the odd positional misjudgement with blistering speed and muted the threat offered by playmaker Graham Carey; on the opposite flank, left back Page followed his wonder strike with a sound, sensible performance.

Reeves was a busy, constructive influence in midfield alongside Jake Forster-Caskey’s man-of-the match display, Aribo continued his impressive improvement, Tarique Fosu’s pace and trickery frequently tied Argyle in knots. Up front, the skilful Ajose deserved a goal while, in Zyro, Bowyer has a centre forward capable of protecting the ball, passing it accurately and clearly with a goal in his repertoire.

“They were all men today,” summarised a pleased but down-to-earth Bowyer, “I have no doubt we’ll make the play-offs.” Plymouth’s reaction to rare defeat was slightly more puzzling. “Argyle continued to be the side who dictated the pace of the game” is a typical comment lifted from the club website’s relentlessly optimistic match report. And with history duly re-written, the visitors probably enjoyed their long journey home. They were laughing when they arrived. And still managing faint smiles as they left. They might fade, though, when the truth kicks in.

Charlton: Amos, Dijksteel, Bauer, Pearce, Page (Sarr 88), Aribo, Reeves (Maloney 90), Forster-Caskey, Fosu, Ajose (Marshall 82), Zyro. Not used: Phillips, Kaikai, Lennon, Umerah. Booked: Bauer, Forster-Caskey.

Att: 13,989 (3,034 visiting).

Charlton 0 Fleetwood Town 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

As losing contributors to the ghastliest game of football any of its traumatised witnesses will wish to recall, Charlton quickly followed up their midweek horror show at Blackpool with another performance of soul-destroying incompetence. With the unapologetically negative co-operation of point-seeking Fleetwood Town, they came nightmarishly close to re-running the Bloomfield Road shambles for the benefit of their home fans. But they fell short. That standard is all but impossible to duplicate.

For one thing, the Addicks held Fleetwood to a draw. That’s an improvement in itself. And for another, they also recorded a rare clean sheet and even went so far as surviving three added minutes without collapsing into rubber-legged defeat. Not only that, the stand-off helped them maintain their 13-point advantage over the Cod Army, who currently sit fifth from bottom in League One. It’s time to relax, Charlton are safe from relegation. Well, safeish.

There was little else to comfort beleaguered boss Karl Robinson, who watched his side dominate possession, while peppering the visitors with 17 shots, only 2 of which were actually on target. “That’s the story of our season”, he groaned, “there was only one team in it…it was as simple as that. It’s two points dropped today.” It’s hardly helpful to point out that those two dropped points might well have swelled to three, had Town made more of the two clearcut second half chances they created on the end of lightning counter-attacks.

The first of them saw Ben Amos’ outstretched right boot foil Ashley Hunter in one-on-one confrontation after the dangerous winger was sent clear by Kyle Dempsey; but Charlton should have been punished for Jason Pearce’s catastrophic error when Paddy Madden broke away to set up a shooting opportunity which substitute Conor McAleny, Oxford United’s matchwinner here last season, screwed wastefully wide.

At the other end, Alex Cairns was relatively untroubled. Charlton’s 17 shots were mostly comically feeble efforts, the last minute aberration skied by Naby Sarr into a derisive North Stand painfully typical of their boss-eyed marksmanship. It’s frankly hard to recall the pair of attempts alleged to have arrived on target but it’s safe to claim that neither of them unduly inconvenienced Cairns.

Weaving their usual tippy-tapping patterns around the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, the Addicks were toothless where it counted. Their early chances fell to Ben Reeves whose free kick, after Tarique Fosu was chopped down by Madden, rebounded to him off the wall and was volleyed well wide. Reeves then charged down Gethin Jones’ clearance, darted clear but fired a low drive across goal and wide of the far post. For Fleetwood, Madden met Wes Burns’ cutback from close range only to drive his shot against Patrick Bauer. Hunter was their main man and after depositing Ezri Konsa on his posterior, his left-wing cross whizzed to safety through a congested six-yard box. And that, stand on me, does justice to the first half “action.”

Things didn’t exactly take off in the second period, either, to be honest. The Addicks buzzed around in possession of a ball they passed to each other like a hot potato. It became a bit bewildering at times as the Cod Army formed up stoically and channelled them into meaningless cul-de-sacs. The occasional shot sailed harmlessly high or wide, unlike those beauties we wistfully watch on Channel Five every Saturday evening, being skilfully bent, chipped or blasted home for the likes of Accrington Stanley or Lincoln City by blokes we’ve never heard of. And all expertly analysed for us by a writhing, gurning, lip-licking Clinton Morrison, who also assures us that some manager or other “is doing a great job.” Clinton’s savvy is invaluable because he has turned out for almost every club from the Championship down to League Two.

So it’s farewell, meanwhile, to Blackpool and Fleetwood, next door neighbours whose back to-back partnership exploded Charlton’s last lingering fantasy of play-offs qualification. But hold on a minute. Plymouth Argyle are up next, only five points ahead of the Addicks, who have a game in hand. What if we beat Argyle? That would put Charlton only two points behind the Pilgrims, still with that game in hand. Hold up…tell that fat lady to stick around but not to actually start singing yet…

Charlton: Amos, Konsa, Bauer, Pearce, Sarr, Aribo, Forster-Caskey, Marshall (Kaikai 66), Reeves (Ajose 60), Fosu, Magennis (Zyro 60). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Jackson, Lennon, Dijksteel. Booked: Kaikai.

Referee: Mark Heywood. Att: 9,865 (105 visiting).