Charlton 2 (Forster-Caskey 35,61) Rochdale 1 (Gillam 13).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

It was scruffy. It was ugly at times. And it was undeniably blessed with one enormous stroke of luck. But this untidy game, littered with fouls committed by their unscrupulous visitors, provided the victory so urgently required by Charlton after the bitter disappointment they suffered three days previously. They will look back on this result, though not their untidy performance, with satisfaction.

Let’s deal with the stroke of luck first. Nervous and disjointed, the Addicks were already trailing to full debutant Matthew Gillam’s first goal for the Lancastrians when Calvin Andrew outmuscled Ezri Konsa under a high ball and flicked on for Matthew Done, isolated in a mismatch with Jay Dasilva. Shaking off the diminutive left back, Done made space for a low drive which beat Ben Amos, hit the inside of the left upright and made its way along the goalline, seeming certain to end up in the net until it improbably veered to safety. Victims themselves of a similarly bad break against MK Dons, Charlton were hardly likely to feel guilt for their good fortune. The thing was to make good use of it and, after much huffing and not a little puffing, that’s exactly what they did.

Had Done’s effort found the net, Charlton might have found their task beyond them. Their brittle defending was exposed as early as the 13th minute when young Gillam fired Dale into the lead. The combined efforts of Ben Reeves and Chris Solly were unable to prevent left back Joseph Bunney, sent away by Harrison McGahey’s pass, from crossing low into the box. Moving intelligently to the near post, Gillam flicked a clever shot across Ben Amos, whose straining fingertips succeeded only in diverting the ball into the far corner.

Having operated on the right flank so far this season, Andrew had been switched to the middle by wily old codger Keith Hill in a bid to unsettle Konsa and Naby Sarr, Charlton’s novice centre backs. Backing in artfully, while using methods both fair and foul to bother his youthful adversaries, Dale’s experienced No. 9 was a a prickly handful. He should have scored when picked out by Donervon Daniels’ inswinging corner but headed wastefully over the bar. Having drawn the short straw of marking him, Konsa stuck gamely to his job and, to his credit, gradually solved the problem. It was an education for the aspiring youngster.

The visitors, meanwhile, continued their policy of committing regular, niggling offences to break up the game. Which made their indignation when Oliver Rathbone was booked for clearly tripping Reeves just a little absurd. They paid for their cynicism as Ricky Holmes’ short free kick freed Dasilva to centre from the left. Sarr’s inadvertent touch helped the alert Jake Forster-Caskey to slot the equaliser past Joshua Lillis from four yards.

Relieved and slightly lucky to reach half-time on even terms, Charlton resumed in more determined mood. Five minutes after resumption, Ahmed Kashi’s whiplash drive cannoned off the right-hand post at such pace that Holmes proved unable to control the rebound. The Addicks were poised to take over but were instead indebted to Amos for a pair of truly outstanding saves which kept Dale at bay.

Struggling to cope with Andrews’ physicality, Dasilva’s despairing foul on the bustling forward conceded a free kick which Callum Camps tapped to Daniels on the left. The midfielder’s deep cross was met by Ian Henderson’s head and, at point blank range, seemed destined for the net until Amos reacted instinctively to waft it over the bar. If his first save was unbelievable, then the pretzel-shaped contortions which the brilliant keeper produced to keep out substitute Bradden Inman’s equally close range effort matched it. He’s a polished diamond but could use a little help with his kicking.

By the time Amos performed his second miracle, Karl Robinson’s men were in front, thanks to a second flash of opportunism from Forster-Caskey. Pouncing on the loose ball after Lillis had spilled Mark Marshall’s crisp but scarcely lethal drive, the attacking midfielder swivelled and shovelled the winner past the stricken keeper.

Undignified and at times downright embarrassing in hanging on so grimly against such modest opposition, the Addicks might have been spared their inevitable nerves had Karlan Ahearne-Grant sandwiched an overdue goal between Amos’ heroics. Rising to meet Josh Magennis’ cross with the entire net at his mercy, the substitute headed lamely into Lillis’ hands. His second half stint in relief of hamstring-tweaking Reeves had been hugely encouraging but, as Karl Robinson remarked, Ahearne-Grant really needs to score. As the Addicks begin to feel the strain and injuries multiply, further chances will come. He may yet turn out to be Charlton’s ace-in-the-hole.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Konsa, Sarr, Dasilva (Bauer 83), Kashi, Holmes, Forster-Caskey, Reeves (Ahearne-Grant 46), Marshall (Aribo 90), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Dodoo, Hackett-Fairchild.

Rochdale: Lillis, McNulty, McGahey, Camps (Cannon 69), Rathbone, Done (Inman 74), Daniels, Gillam (Davies 54), Bunney, Henderson, Andrew. Not used: Moore, Ntlhe, Kitching. Booked: Andrew, Rathbone, Henderson.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.  Att: 8,801 (146 visiting).

Charlton 0 Portsmouth 1 (Main 18).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Already qualified for the knock-out stages of the Checkatrade Trophy, a surprisingly strong Charlton selection failed to secure even the draw which would have guaranteed them, as group winners, a home tie in the next round. Instead they face the possibility of an inconvenient away trip which, despite regionalisation still being a factor, might see them travel to the western tip of the island.

A far less experienced Portsmouth side scored early, played neat, composed football and won this final group game without undue difficulty. Though the Addicks beavered away earnestly in search of an equaliser and missed the proverbial hatful of chances, Pompey keeper Luke McGee remained relatively untroubled in the eye of a storm which menaced but amounted to nothing.

Charlton’s finishing was deplorable, as nutshelled by the clumsy mess Naby Sarr made of converting an exquisite delivery struck deliciously with the outside of Ricky Holmes’ right foot in added time. Pushed forward in a last throw of Karl Robinson’s dice, Sarr was admittedly under defensive pressure at the far post but lacked conviction and commitment in meeting the cross.

Sarr’s missed opportunity neatly bookended a catalogue of near things begun after 30 seconds by Karlan Ahearne-Grant. Picked out in an identical position by Tarique Fosu’s deep centre from the left, Ahearne-Grant was unable to make telling contact and shovelled wide. Even his sternest critic must feel a pang of compassion for a player so clearly struggling to realise his potential.

Fosu’s contribution was his first and last flourish, as he departed after just nine minutes to be replaced by Ben Reeves. Shortly after he limped off, the visitors grabbed their matchwinner. Milan Lalkovic’s cross from the left was returned from the far post by Kai Naismith and tapped home by Curtis Main.

Up front for the Addicks, Joe Dodoo’s feeble efforts spotlighted Robinson’s glaring lack of support for Josh Magennis. The Northern Irishman toils selflessly but could hardly be described as a prolific scorer. Neither the Academy nor the loan system has produced a natural predator, a succession of candidates emerging with impressive scoring credentials at junior level but appearing to freeze in front of the grown-ups’ goal before seeking sanctuary on the wing.. Ahearne-Grant and Dodoo fit this bill, while late substitute Reeco Hackett-Fairchild tried his best without suggesting he was equipped to buck the trend. Others, including Brandon Hanlan, Mikhail Kennedy and Josh Umerah, have been farmed out on loan. Charlton are in dire need of a finishing school.

Sixteen of Charlton’s 23 league goals, meanwhile, have been distributed among their talented midfield with Magennis (4) and Dodoo (1) scoring the only goals by a recognised striker. Centre back Patrick Bauer’s early season pair accounts for the balance. In fairness, they’ve made a little go a long way.

Enough said then about a virtually meaningless setback in a correspondingly meaningless competition. I’m only sorry I brought it up. Move on.

Charlton: Phillips, Dijksteel, Sarr, Bauer, Mascoll, Kashi, Aribo, Fosu (Reeves 9), Clarke, Dodoo (Hackett-Fairchild 58), Ahearne-Grant (Holmes 70). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Marshall, Forster-Caskey, Barnes.
Referee: Nicholas Kinseley. Att: 1307 (206 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Holmes 78) AFC Wimbledon 0

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

When Wimbledon goalkeeper George Long was booked for making a laborious, time-consuming meal of placing the ball for a free kick just ten minutes into the second half, he was reinforcing the line his side had metaphorically drawn in the sand at the start of this bitterly disputed local derby. The Dons had headed eastward along the Thames in pursuit of a point and they didn’t much care who knew it or how they achieved it. In their parlous position just above League One’s relegation basement, their dogged attitude was understandable. It was also dangerously provocative to hosts with a score to settle.

Memories of the SW Londoners’ smash-and-grab win at The Valley in September 2016 and the last minute equaliser in Kingston earlier this year, which mocked Charlton’s hunger for revenge, were still raw in S.E.7. On Saturday, they came within 12 minutes of sucking up a further dose of frustration. Until, that is, another booking led directly to the visitors’ downfall.

Hardnosed and competitive, Dons’ skipper Barry Fuller is a doughty opponent. Already limping painfully from a knock sustained early in the second half, the gutsy ex-Charlton academy graduate was left to struggle on though substitutes were still available. Clearly targeted by speedster Ricky Holmes, manager Neal Ardley’s reluctance to replace his handicapped talisman was to cost him a sorely needed point.

Left hopelessly trailing Holmes as the flying winger turned towards the penalty area, all of Fuller’s experience was brought to bear in tripping his tormentor carefully computed inches the safe side of the 18-yard line. Perfectly placed referee Ben Toner’s correct decision to award a free kick rather than a penalty appeared to vindicate Fuller’s cynicism but Holmes had other ideas. From an awkward angle close to the left byline, his breathtaking setpiece, cleared the wall, soared over the desperately backtracking Long’s head and nestled sweetly inside the far post. There were still one or two awkward moments for Charlton to negotiate but the game was already up for Ardley’s stubborn but unambitious troops.

Winners by 1-0 three times in their last four games, meanwhile, during which they have managed the same number of goals, Karl Robinson’s resourceful team have learned to make a little go a long way. Their defending, exemplified by the excellence of centre backs Patrick Bauer and Ezri Konsa, has provided a bedrock. Behind them, Ben Amos has been faultless and in front of them a human shield has been erected by Ahmed Kashi.

Diminutive full backs Chris Solly and Jay Dasilva are encouraged to spend as much time in the opposition’s half as they do in their own. A perceived lack of support for lone striker Josh Magennis has been ameliorated, at least temporarily, by the important goals recently contributed by a hard-grafting midfield.

The first half of this uninspiring game was frankly dreadful and, for that, Charlton were as much at fault as their well organised visitors. For the record, Jake Forster-Caskey sent a free kick, awarded for Tom Soares’ foul on Tarique Fosu, limply over the bar and Fosu himself drove embarrassing yards wide from distance. For the Dons, Lyle Taylor was set up by Liam Trotter and Andy Barcham but blazed hopelessly wide of his target. If memory serves, those were the only attempts at goal and have been mentioned solely to pad out an otherwise alarmingly flimsy report.

Following the break, the exchanges improved, though still falling far short of excitement. Making space along the left flank, nippy Dasilva left Nadjim Abdou awash in his slipstream before delivering a telling cross. met on the volley by Fosu wide of the far post but crucially blocked by Darius Charles. In reply, substitute Callum Kennedy’s free kick ricocheted off brick-in-the-wall Foster-Caskey to swerve perilously behind for a right wing corner. From George Francombe’s ensuing flagkick, impressive centre back Deji Oshilaja spun on an inconclusive clearance but, from the penalty spot, blazed Wimbledon’s best chance of the game over the bar.

Hustling, harassing and harrying the out-of-sorts Addicks, the Dons were within touching distance of their goal when the normally astute Ardley’s curious decision not to relieve a clearly struggling Fuller caught up with them. The crippled right back’s percentage foul on Holmes backfired badly, leaving his victim, scorer of an even better free kick during the 1-1 draw at Kingsmeadow last February, to be Wimbledon’s deadball nemesis yet again.

Without Tom Elliott to provide a last minute equaliser, as he did in that toxic stand-off, AFC nevertheless came within a whisker of repeating their dramatic escape. Local hearts were in local mouths as Solly’s misguided header sent Francombe’s ballooning cross skittering to safety off Amos’ crossbar. Behind the goal, 1357 travellers subsided into helpless frustration before re-doubling their foul-mouthed assault on Robinson. It’s a crying shame. They’ll break the poor man one day.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Bauer, Konsa, Dasilva (Sarr 86), Kashi, Holmes, Forster-Caskey, Clarke (Marshall 70), Fosu (Reeves 86), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Aribo, Dodoo. Booked: Bauer, Kashi (artful dodger).

Referee: Ben Toner. Att: 12,575 (1357 visiting).

Oxford United 1 (Ribeiro 35) Charlton 1 (Fosu 17).

Kevin Nolan reports from Kassam Stadium.

An entertaining game, which Charlton had enough about them to win but might so easily have lost, instead finished level – a result uncommonly popular elsewhere in League One, where the status quo was maintained by seven other draws, six of them also ending 1-1. Among the promotion contenders, only unbeaten leaders Shrewsbury Town exploited the mutual ceasefire by demolishing Bristol Rovers 4-0.

The argument that Charlton squandered an opportunity to leave the shires with three valuable points is based on their domination of the opening half hour. Again fired into an early lead by current hotshot Tarique Fosu, they failed to press home their advantage over struggling opposition and were made to pay before half-time. Their lack of ruthlessness has become a familiar theme.

Starting brightly, the visitors might have been in front before Fosu scored but Naby Sarr, though possibly offside, headed Ricky Holmes’ free kick off target from five yards. Preferred to Ezri Konsa at centre back, Sarr responded with an impressive, if sometimes eccentric, performance. Not averse to risk-taking, he frequently extricated himself from awkward situations of his own making with a repertoire of tricks and flicks guaranteed to turn Karl Robinson’s blond thatch prematurely grey. His accurate passing, meanwhile, consistently transformed defence into counter-attack. This ballplaying defender often looks like an accident waiting to happen but will no doubt be encouraged to favour brain over brawn. Stand by for occasional heart murmurs on the sideline.

After Josh Ruffels shot wide for the hosts and Holmes made a mess of an opening fashioned by Chris Solly’s perceptive pass and Josh Magennis’ hard-driven cross, Fosu’s opportunism punished United. Nipping in as Curtis Nelson’s underweight return pass sold Simon Eastwood short, the slim sharpshooter was aided by a hint of backspin in beating the goalkeeper to the loose ball, toed it round him and finished emphatically into an empty net despite the desperate recovery efforts of Ryan Ledson to intervene.

Eager to capitalise on their success, the Addicks should have doubled the lead but Holmes volleyed wide at the far post after Jay Dasilva and Fosu combined to create the chance. As they continued on top, a second goal seemed on the cards. It came as a rude shock to the visitors that it was Oxford who scored it.

Brushing in front of Wes Thomas to deal with James Henry’s dangerous cross from the right, Solly managed a firm header which cleared the immediate peril but dropped perfectly outside the penalty area for Christian Ribeiro to expertly cushion a sidefooted volley past Ben Amos into the bottom left corner.

Ribeiro’s spectacular equaliser rocked Charlton. As they wilted, Oxford scented blood and Thomas outwitted an offside trap to set up Ruffels who blasted an inviting chance off target. Before the interval, a ferocious volley from Ricardinho (so good his mum forgot to name him twice) was brilliantly cleared off the line by Jake Forster-Caskey. The break arrived none too soon for the embattled Londoners.

Scorer of what should have been a matchwinner at Walsall recently, Holmes launched the second half with another similarly struck volley which dipped over Eastwood but also cleared the bar by inches. At the other end, Thomas made firm contact with Ribeiro’s centre but Amos tipped his header over the top. The lively exchanges continued with Magennis tamely nodding Dasilva’s cross wide, then Fosu cutting in on Holmes’ pass before shooting wildly over both woodwork and boundary fence. By then, a subdued Ben Reeves had been replaced by Billy Clarke, who duly earned Charlton’s first corner with a ferocious drive, which a startled Eastwood gratefully shovelled behind.

Before the final dust settled, both sides had one last chance to break the deadlock. Make that two chances in United’s case. First, ex-Addick Jon Obika made space for a crisp low shot which Amos saved competently. And with practically their last throw of the dice, Ricardinho ( his mum was, so they say, a fanatical fan of Little Richard), broke clear to drive agonising inches over Amos’ crossbar, as Robinson and his equally careworn assistant Lee Bowyer reached for the smelling salts.

Sandwiched between Oxford’s late efforts, Holmes set up Karlan Ahearne-Grant to be the Addicks’ dramatic matchwinner but the late substitute squandered the chance by sending a disastrous curler closer to a distant touchline than the far corner where it was intended to settle. Unwittingly his miss serves as a metaphor for the faulty finishing which continues to blight Charlton’s otherwise promising start to the season. They urgently need reinforcements up front.

Oxford: Eastwood, Ribeiro, Nelson, Ledson, Payne, Ruffels, Henry, Ricardinho, Mowatt (Fernandez 77), Mousinho, Thomas (Obika 79). Not used: Shearer, Williamson, Martin, Roberts, Carroll. Booked: Ledson, Henry.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Bauer, Sarr, Dasilva, Kashi, Holmes, Reeves (Clarke 66), Forster-Caskey, Fosu (Ahearne-Grant 87), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Konsa, Aribo, Dodoo. Booked: Kashi.

Referee: Charles Breakspear. Attendance: 7,070 (689 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Magennis 39) Bury 1 (Beckford 9).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Already mired in trouble near the bottom of League One, Bury optimistically headed south on Saturday. The six points they earned from Charlton last season effectively saved the Shakers from relegation and kindness like that encourages hope.

From Charlton’s point of view, those defeats by Bury stand out as twin nadirs in a miserable campaign. Their disdainful 2-0 dismissal at Gigg Lane on opening day set the bar low for the shambles which followed. By the time Lee Clark’s perennial strugglers showed up at The Valley last February and completed the double with a 1-0 win, their ragged-trousered hosts were themselves languishing perilously in 14th place but still in selflessly philanthropic mood.

Only two survivors from Charlton’s February starters (Patrick Bauer and Jake Forster-Caskey) were on duty again on Saturday. That number would have swelled to three but Ricky Holmes had removed himself from the equation by making Bury the beneficiaries of his one-game suspension. The waspish winger was missed, though not, it’s safe to say, by the appreciative visitors.

Early possession errors by Ahmed Kashi and Billy Clarke hardly inspired confidence that the Addicks were about their business and only Jay DaSilva’s alertness in blocking Michael Smith’s close range effort kept them briefly level. But after nine nervous minutes, they duly fell behind.

Up front for Bury, itinerant veteran Jermaine Beckford has been extending a prolific career by scoring regularly wherever he lays his hat. Already responsible for four of Bury’s eight goals this season, he made it five with an absolute gem. Picking up a loose ball in the inside left channel, he made room for himself by stepping inside on to his right foot and before being closed down, bent an unstoppable beauty into the far top corner. Forget tedious defensive inquisitions – Beckford produced this goal from nothing, leaving Charlton the latest victims of a quickthinking striker whose ability the years have yet to dull. Before the interval, their own estimable No.9 responded in kind. We’ll get to him soon.

Ben Amos had been left helpless by Beckford’s bombshell but fared better in diving full length to his left to spectacularly divert a similar effort from Chris Maguire. From Maguire’s resultant corner, Tom Aldred’s looping effort was comfortably cleared off the line by Chris Solly.

Disjointed and out of sorts, meanwhile, the Addicks suddenly clicked five minutes before the break. A bout of intricate passing, involving some five players, left the Shakers bewildered and created space on the left for Forster-Caskey to cross precisely. Rising majestically, Josh Magennis planted a clever downward header past Joe Murphy. Not quite as stunning as Beckford’s contribution but that’s four this season – all headers – for the honest-to-goodness target man. He could use a little support from a mobile foil alongside him but that’s hardly likely to happen in the short term. The academy continues to produce everything for the first team but a reliable goalscorer, a shortfall temporarily disguised by Charlton’s deceptive record of 14 league goals, eight of which were scored in two games.

Magennis’ timely equaliser appeared to set the stage for the home side to swamp their visitors in the second half. At times they swarmed all over them but in Murphy, ran into a defiant goalkeeper who belied his 36 years with three fine saves which confounded them. Murphy’s backpedalling response to Clarke’s wickedly deflected shot began his display of excellence; the outstanding reflexes which enabled him to waft Forster-Caskey’s bulleted header over the bar were breathtaking; his scrambling heroics which denied Magennis an added time winner from Solly’s perfect cross became almost routine by comparison.

Amos showed his own sharpness in tipping Beckford’s dipping volley over the bar but it was largely one-way traffic after the interval. Guilty at times of over-elaboration, with Fosu regularly dribbling into self-made cul-de-sacs and Karlan Ahearne-Grant a willing but ineffective replacement for the sorely missed Holmes, the Addicks toiled earnestly without reward. Which will probably be their fate until a penalty area predator is unearthed, someone to finish the attractive football they serve up. It’s a business, we’re told, which pays off in results, not performances. The trick is to marry them up.

For their part, Bury. for whom left wingback Greg Leigh stood out, deserved a valuable point for the grit they showed. In fact, it was the least they expected from such usually dependable benefactors. They’ll be looking forward with keen anticipation to Charlton’s visit in January. And that’s a bit embarrassing.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Dasilva, Kashi, Clarke (Dodoo 78), Forster-Caskey, Fosu. Ahearne-Grant (Konsa 64), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Aribo, Sarr, Hackett-Fairchild. Booked: Konsa.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.
Att: 9895 (346 visiting).

Charlton 0 Wigan Athletic 3 (Massey 44, 70, Morsy 87).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Three consecutive home wins, all against moderate opposition, had deluded Charlton supporters into believing that The Valley had been turned into one of those “fortresses” we hear bandied about. Whereupon promotion-tipped Wigan turned up, played the Addicks off their rain-sodden turf and manipulated time to hand their hosts a chastening lesson in some of the game’s darker arts.

The second half, during which Karl Robinson’s troops were expected to besiege the Latics’ goal in search of an equaliser, instead dwindled into a series of bad-tempered, tit-for-tat clashes, frequent stoppages while stricken visitors were nursed back to health and various cute ploys designed to eat up a remorseless clock. The addition of only four minutes at the end was a triumph for Wigan’s artful game-management. By then, of course, they were 3-0 in front and their work was done.

Criticism of the Lancastrians’ frequently nefarious tactics in no way diminishes their skilled deconstruction of in-form Charlton. Whipped on by indefatigable midfielder Michael Jacobs and provided width by the aggressive running of Nathan Byrne and Reece James, they wasted little time in showing their superiority. As early as the first minute, unmarked Gavin Massey was picked out at the far post by Jacobs’ precise cross but headed tamely wide. His miss was promptly followed by the off-target header from Nick Powell which wasted Byrne’s equally accurate delivery. Charlton had been served notice that the Latics were hunting all three points.

An even first period, during which Tariqe Fosu’s fierce drive forced a fine save from Jamie Jones and an industrious Jake Forster-Caskey rattled the crossbar, ended in disaster. With equality at half-time clearly key to their chances, the Addicks abruptly capitulated. Jacobs’ heads-up pass dovetailed with James’ clever movement on the left flank. Turning sharply in space, the wingback drilled a low cross, which left Massey a simple tap-in at the far post.

Opening the second period positively, the visitors were twice foiled by Ben Amos. First the defiant goalkeeper beat away Powell’s crisp strike, then he smothered Jacobs at close range as Wigan’s engine room organiser made dangerous progress along the right byline.

Charlton, meanwhile, struggled to rise above the spoiling tactics introduced by their street-savvy rivals. Ricky Holmes had been identified as his side’s danger man and was regularly- often illegally – closed down by two or three defenders. Pugnacious skipper Sam Morsy persistently led the posse but the irritated winger did himself few favours by a retaliatory hack on Byrne, which earned him a fourth caution of the season. An almost inevitable ban in the near future will hardly endear him to Robinson.

Elsewhere, the Addicks coughed and spluttered. A tiring Ahmed Kashi had been uncharacteristically giving the ball away and was replaced, on 68 minutes, by Ezri Konsa. Defensive spanners had been thrown into Charlton’s usually efficient midfield, with Billy Clarke marginalised and Holmes sucked into ill-advised vendettas. Forster-Caskey laboured willingly, as had Fosu until substituted, alongside Kashi, by an anonymous Karlan Ahearne-Grant. But the customary workrate and gang-tackling were conspicuously absent. A solitary bright spot was provided by Clarke’s resourceful flick, which sent Holmes’ low free kick narrowly wide. It hardly needs mentioning -but let’s mention it anyway – that the free kick resulted from a crude foul on Holmes, for which Alex Bruce was booked.

With their repertoire of time-devouring antics wearing thin, the Latics returned sensibly to the matter at hand. A second goal by Massey, struck firmly past Amos following a lightning one-two with Byrne, put the issue beyond doubt with 20 increasingly tetchy minutes still remaining. Then a late coup-de-grace was applied by Morsy, lucky to be still around after orchestrating his side’s distractions and picking up a booking for tripping Konsa. Crime does occasionally pay.

Well beaten and brought firmly down to earth, Charlton must pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start all over again, commencing with the suddenly fraught-with-danger trip to Gillingham on Saturday. How they react to this humbling experience could shape their season. An occasional setback -even one as sobering as this -was to be expected. So it’s onwards and hopefully not downwards.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Dasilva, Kashi (Konsa 68), Holmes, Clarke (Dodoo 74), Forster-Caskey, Fosu (Ahearne-Grant 68), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Aribo, Sarr. Booked: Holmes, Forster-Caskey, Solly.

Wigan: Jones, Byrne, Burn, Bruce, James, Morsy, Evans, Massey, Jacobs, Powell (Toney 74), Grigg (Power 78). Not used: Sarkic, Elder, Perkins, Roberts, Thomas. Booked: Bruce, Morsy.

Rotherham United 0 Charlton 2 (Bauer 16, Magennis 66).

Kevin Nolan reporting from ASSEAL New York Stadium.

When the immediate glow of this important victory has faded into quiet satisfaction, one nagging worry may linger to furrow Karl Robinson’s brow. He will realise upon reflection – because he’s an honest man – that this game might well have been beyond Charlton’s reach before Patrick Bauer headed them into a 16th minute lead. Only Rotherham’s hopeless finishing kept the scores level before Bauer struck. But it was his own side’s indifferent defending before they eventually settled down which might cause him disquiet.

Only eight minutes had elapsed when Ahmed Kashi carelessly surrendered possession to Kieffer Moore, who made tracks into the penalty area before exchanging passes with Jamie Proctor, unmarked in front of a gaping goal. Walking the ball over the line seemed an easy option but Proctor’s sluggish reactions allowed Jake Forster-Caskey to make up ground and launch a nothing-to-lose challenge. A distracted Proctor prodded inexplicably wide.

Shortly after the escape, both Chris Solly and Bauer were bamboozled by Moore’s turn on the proverbial sixpence. From 20 unencumbered yards, the Millers’ recent hat-trick hero shot weakly at Ben Amos. This time the visitors celebrated their good fortune by taking the lead.

In his usual lone role up front, Josh Magennis was a rare handful for United’s tree-trunk tall defenders. Turning sharply near the left byline, he hustled a corner off ex-Addick Semi Ajayi. Forster-Caskey’s outswinger pinpointed Bauer beyond the far post and Ajayi was overpowered as the big German headed back across goal into the bottom left corner. A defender on the line might have dealt with the danger but that tactic is so archaic these days, you don’t even bother to point out its tried-and-true virtues.

Relieved to be in front, Charlton should have promptly lost their advantage but rode their luck again when Ajayi was unhindered as he rose to meet Joe Newell’s left wing corner. His woefully off-target header was in tune with United’s cockeyed marksmanship.

And that was almost as good as it was to get for the Millers. With Kashi their reassuring linchpin, the midfield grip applied by Forster-Caskey and his grafting partner Billy Clarke gave Ricky Holmes all the space he needed to run Rotherham ragged on the flanks. Moving on to Jay Dasilva’s square pass, Holmes curled a superb shot, which was heading for the far top corner until Richard O’Donnell flung himself full-length to save.

A final lapse into lax defending almost brought Charlton’s downfall soon after the break. Moore was allowed to close in on Amos’ goal but with Proctor on hand to his left, perhaps understandably chose to shoot instead of pass. His tame effort hardly troubled the steadily improving keeper, who added a fine parry from Ajayi’s venomous volley to his clean handling and powerful punching.

Midway through the half, a second goal considered vital but frequently elusive, put the result beyond reasonable doubt. Clashing in mid-air with Proctor and despite giving away height and weight advantages to his hulking opponent, Solly survived the collision and, with Proctor prone, alertly kept the ball alive for Kashi to feed Holmes. Twisting Newell pretzel-shaped, the irrepressible winger stood up a teasing cross which drifted beyond O’Donnell’s straining grasp and left Magennis the simple task of nodding home from no more than a yard.

With Jason Pearce staunchly reliable at Bauer’s side and Solly delivering another of those unsung performances so easily taken for granted, what remained was routine although it took Kashi’s heroic goalline clearance of Newell’s soaring centre to make sure there were no late nerves. Solidly organised and bloody-minded when it mattered, the Addicks were in no mood to suffer a repeat of the frustrating setback at Plymouth.

There’s something happening here…what it is ain’t exactly unclear (to take an unauthorised liberty with Stephen Stills’ lyric). And what it is appears to be the coming together of a more than useful side under an increasingly confident manager. Might be time to cut him and his team some slack.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Dasilva, Kashi, Holmes (Konsa 89),  Clarke (Novak 85), Forster-Caskey, Fosu (Ahearne-Grant 85), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Crofts, Sarr. Booked: Magennis, Holmes.

Rotherham: O’Donnell, Emmanuel (Vaulks 55), Mattock, Ajayi, Frecklington, Proctor (Clarke-Harris 70), Potter, Ihiekwe, Newell, Williams (Taylor 46), Moore. Not used: Bilboe, Forde, Purrington, Cummings. Booked: Vaulks, Mattock, Ihiekwe.    

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Att: 7,776 (520 visiting).

Charlton 4 (Magennis 2, Holmes 61, Forster-Caskey 90, 90), Northampton Town 1 (Richards 79).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

The quality of a football team should be judged not on their results but on their performances. It’s an interesting theory advanced by no less an expert than Alan Curbishley but with due deference to the great man, it simply doesn’t hold water. In fact there are those of us, for whom the word “cobblers” is the only sensible response.

Last weekend, for instance, a large contingent of pilgrims trekked miserably back from Plymouth, enduring a one-and-a-half hour motorway stoppage among other inconveniences on their tortuous journey. According to Curbishley’s mantra, they should have been celebrating a dominant performance, particularly during an one-sided first half, which nearly blew Argyle away; instead they chewed mournfully over Charlton’s almost inexplicable 2-0 defeat by a patently inferior side. It’s safe to say they’d have chosen scruffy result over silken performance any day of the week and twice last Saturday. We’re talking hardnosed football here, not a trip to an art gallery.

There was no such dilemma at The Valley on Saturday. To a man, which included outstanding contributions from substitutes Karlan Ahearne-Grant and Ezri Konsa, Charlton were a pleasure to watch. Their uninhibited, fluent performance more than justified the emphatic 4-1 result. They did, of course, thoughtlessly inflict a late outbreak of nail-biting on their long-suffering fans, who squirmed as the added-time board showed that the visitors had five more potentially excruciating minutes to rectify their 2-1 deficit. No sweat as it turned out with Jake Forster-Caskey adding two overtime flourishes to the scoreline.

The Addicks’ almost perfect afternoon began promptly. Less than two minutes after kick-off, Ricky Holmes staggered through David Buchanan’s challenge, righted himself and crossed perfectly on the run. Stealing a step on marker Aaron Pierre, Josh Magennis planted a text-book centre forward’s header beyond David Cornell’s right hand.

Holmes was a restless menace to his former employers, his crisp low drive forcing Cornell to dive low at his left post. But it was Ben Amos in the home goal who was actually the busier keeper before the interval. After Marc Richards eluded Jason Pearce, Amos turned aside the big forward’s fierce cross-shot at full length. He then alertly charged down Ash Taylor’s close range effort before adding a brave save at Billy Waters’ feet. At the other end, Holmes and Billy Clarke combined in setting up Tariqe Fosu to shoot across Cornell but narrowly wide of the far post.

A rollicking second half almost started disastrously for Charlton as early substitute Brendan Moloney came within decisive inches of reaching Waters’ soaring cross. In response, Magennis should have eased the tension when Cornell palmed Fosu’s curling drive into his stride but from ten yards, the big target man blazed wildly over the bar. Magennis was an otherwise impeccable target man, the first-time volleyed pass an impressive part of his wide repertoire. That’s not to say he couldn’t use a finisher alongside him up front.

With the insatiably industrious Ahmed Kashi anchoring them, midfielders Forster-Caskey, man-of-the-match Clarke and Holmes were steadily sapping the Cobblers’ resistance. Just past the hour mark, their bout of precise passing tore open a hole through which Holmes stepped to wrongfoot Waters and finish viciously inside the left-hand post.

The second goal should have sealed the deal but, needless to say, Charlton wavered. With ten minutes left, Matt Crooks crossed from the right, Daniel Powell overpowered a physically outmatched Chris Solly at the far post to head down and Richards reduced the arrears from five yards.

The 83rd minute replacement of Holmes by Konsa was a shrewd counter by Karl Robinson. While Ahearne-Grant pinned the visitors back with his pace and power, Konsa briefly ran riot. Brought down clumsily by Cornell, he was denied a penalty but remained unruffled. Alertly retrieving possession on the right byline, the supremely talented youngster cut back a pass which Forster-Caskey awkwardly scuffed past Cornell on the bounce. And the fourth goal was possibly the pick of the bunch as Forster-Caskey hustled out to the right touchline to pick up a loose ball, turned back infield and almost casually bent a superb left- footed drive into the far top corner. His skill crowned a great performance and an even greater result. It’s joy when they come together as Alan Curbishley undoubtedly meant to say. So we’ll say it for him.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Dasilva, Kashi, Holmes (Konsa 83), Foster-Caskey, Clarke (Jackson 90), Fosu (Ahearne-Grant 73), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Aribo, Sarr, Hackett-Fairchild. Booked: Forster-Caskey, Pearce.

Northampton: Cornell, Buchanan, Kasim (Grimes 57), Barnett, Taylor, Waters, Revell, Pierre (Powell 74), Phillips (Moloney 13), Richards, Crooks. Not used: Coddington, McWilliams, Poole. Booked: Pierre, Crooks.

Att: 11,289 (881 visiting).

Charlton u-23s 3 (Hanlan 105, Ahearne-Grant 105, Charles-Cook 109), Hull City u-23s 3 ( Bowen 93, Ter Horst 102, Edwards 120). Hull won 5-4 on penalties.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Tacked on to 90 doggedly contested but generally undistinguished minutes, extra-time in this League 2 u-23 North-South semi-final erupted uproariously into a wildly fluctuating slugfest, during which all six goals were scored. The advantage swung decisively one way, then the other, then back again, with Charlton spectacularly overhauling a two-goal deficit to take a 3-2 lead into the final 30 seconds of a by then pulsating tie. Local hearts were broken when Jonathan Edwards headed home a last gasp equaliser from Greg Olley’s soaring cross to set up what pundits have deemed the penalty shoot-out lottery.

Over regulation time, the Addicks were the more accomplished side and might have spared themselves their 12-yard ordeal had they taken even one of numerous chances. Chief culprit was Karlan Ahearne-Grant who twice failed to beat Tigers’ goalkeeper Charlie Andrew in one-on-one confrontations. But it was Ahearne-Grant, whose pace and power alongside that of Brandan Hanlan, terrorised Hull’s rearguard. Behind them, Anfernee Dijksteel’s foot-on-the-ball class and George Lapslie’s possession-winning tenacity made sure they were constantly at Hull’s throat. Chance after chance was squandered which made even more impressive the sheer quality of Charlton’s extra-time strikes.

Spirited City were hardly passive victims, as evidenced by the naming of home keeper Dimitar Mitov as indisputable man-of-the-match. The 20 year-old Bulgarian was outstanding, his saves from Will Annan’s point-blank effort and Max Clark’s volley the pick of a string of first half contributions. After riding his luck when Jarrod Bowen’s ferocious drive almost splintered the bar, his amazing 90th minute instinctive reaction in keeping out an apparently sure thing from Johan Ter Horst ensured extra-time.

Mitov began his overtime shift with an elastic response to turn aside a clever overhead attempt from Edwards. From the resultant corner, unfortunately, his resistance was finally broken, with an unmarked Bowen making easy work of heading Daniel Batty’s right wing delivery past him. And when Ter Horst dived to nod home Greg Olley’s precise cross, Hull’s all-Yorkshire final with Sheffield Wednesday seemed guaranteed. Until, that is, Charlton hit an irresistible purple patch.

Hanlan began the revival by cutting in from the left to thump a gloriously uninhibited right-footed drive inside the far post. With the deficit reduced and the scent of Tigers’ blood in their nostrils, the Addicks drew level before the break. A crossfield driving run by substitute Alfie Doughty shredded Hull’s resistance, with the talented stripling’s perfectly judged pass sending Ahearne-Grant sprinting clear of Josh Clackstone to shoot across Andrew into the bottom right corner.

It was suddenly rousing stuff, which deliriously improved four minutes into the second period. A 68th minute replacement for Matt Carter, Regan Charles-Cook responded by unleashing an unstoppable, swerving strike from over 25 yards, which left Andrew helpless on its way into the top right corner.

Jason Euell’s kids had apparently done enough to make the final but failed to seal the deal. Pressing forward in an enthusiastic but ultimately unwise effort to finish off their stunned opponents, they also offered them a way back into the contest. Sure enough, the gritty Humbersiders exploited their hosts’ invitation to mix it by equalising with 30 seconds remaining of two added minutes. Olley produced another telling centre and Edwards, a daunting physical challenge for the more willowy Dan Bowry, gleefully made the most of it by heading effortlessly past a hopelessly exposed Mitov.

The penalty shoot-out was a crushing anti-climax, which proceeded routinely. Nine spotkicks were efficiently converted. To Charlton’s chagrin, the first of them had already been tamely rolled into Andrews’ hands by Charles-Cook, so lethal from twice the distance mere minutes earlier. Defeat for the young Addicks was a bitter pill but they swallowed it with enormous credit. There’s a wealth of talent anxious to step up; Dijksteel and Lapslie, to name but two of them, could well be strutting their stuff in the first team next season. There are others, of course, not least that rubber ball in goal. It ain’t all doom and gloom at The Valley. Because you’ve just gotta love these kids.

Charlton: Mitov, Barnes, Bowry, Cummings, Edwards, Dijksteel, Carter (Charles-Cook 68), Lapslie, Yamfam (Doughty 69), Ahearne-Grant (Maloney 120), Hanlan. Not used: Beeney, Hackett-Fairchild. Booked: Bowry, Lapslie, Ahearne-Grant.

Hull: Andrew, Lenihan (Clackstone 91), Rodgers, McKenzie, Tymon, Batty, Annan, Clark (Ter Horst 86), Leur (Edwards 77), Olley, Bowen. Not used: Croudson, Fleming.

Referee: Paul Kelly.

Charlton 3 (Magennis 14, Forster-Caskey 43, Holmes 66) Swindon Town 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

In circumstances which fluctuated between sullen resentment and occasional eruptions of pent-up bile, Charlton’s laborious season crawled over the finishing line at High Noon on Sunday. Their easy victory over already relegated Swindon extended their unbeaten run to five games and completed their rise to respectable if stodgy mid-table respectability. A greater distortion of reality would be hard to imagine.

The 2016-17 campaign has, for Charlton, actually been a strength-sapping, full- kit route march  across an endless, mud-churned No Mans Land. From its opening day when they rolled over meekly at Bury, on through sundry home humiliations by the modest likes of Wimbledon, Rochdale and Peterborough among too many others, their progress has been painful. Even the odd bright spot like Ricky Holmes’ outstanding hat-trick at Shrewsbury was devalued by defeat.

Sunday’s visitors Swindon were themselves responsible for a demoralising 3-0 rout in November while the only thing needed to complete the soul-destroying 1-0 surrender at Oldham three months later was the running-up of a white flag. The lower orders practically formed a queue to beat the Addicks while the depressing mood was hardly lightened by the dithering of Keith Stroud, whose craven refereeing robbed them of their first triumph over Millwall in two centuries. There were precious few peaks but too many troughs. Until, that is, they found the resolve to pull themselves together recently. Because it’s only fair to acknowledge Charlton’s belatedly positive reaction to the growing threat of relegation.

Both Southend and Gillingham arrived confidently at The Valley, needing victory for different reasons. Both were sent packing before a win and a draw on the road -in both cases against doomed opposition but there you go, you beat what’s in front of you – dispelled lingering fears of demotion. When the chips were down, Karl Robinson’s men delivered. The alternative was unthinkable.

On the end of foulmouthed abuse from pockets of detractors whose white-hot hatred in many cases seems based on nothing more than his broad Scouse accent, Robinson weathered the storm, clearly retained the dressing room and lived to fight another day. Unless he is betrayed by the club’s singularly maladroit owner, as so many have been before him, he earned the time and space he needs to recruit and re-build a title-seeking side in the summer. It might be as wise as it is undoubtedly fair to give him a chance to sink or swim on his record after a full pre-season preparation. Unless it makes more sense to mock him behind a cloak of anonymity.

There was, meanwhile, the formaility of Swindon’s wake to conduct on a pleasant Sabbath afternoon at The Valley, where Robinson named a side capable of settling a 3-0 score with the relegated Westcountrymen. Prominent among them was jaunty Player-of-the-Year Ricky Holmes, tipped to re-join his former Northampton boss Chris Wilder in the Championship at newly promoted Sheffield United but still a hard-grafting Addick for the time being. Persistently burrowing into the visitors’ defence with customary determination, Holmes increased his goal total to thirteen with an instinctive second half finish applied to Nathan Byrne’s short pass. His quickthinking shot caught Will Henry by surprise and nestled sweetly inside the right post before the flatfooted keeper could re-act.

Holmes’ clever strike added to fine first half goals from Josh Magennis and Jake Forster-Caskey. Before the quarter hour, Magennis met Jay Dasilva’s precise cross with an equally precise header beyond Henry’s right hand. Two minutes before the interval, Forster-Caskey stabbed home a low cross from Dasilva, his second in successive games a timely response to his manager’s call for more goals from the gifted midfielder.

The bitter memory of a freezing November day spent suffering in Wiltshire wasn’t totally eclipsed in this funereal pre-May Day atmosphere but revenge is sweet, served cold or hot. Maybe next season the record will be similarly set straight with Bury, Rochdale and Peterborough, who yielded Charlton one point between them. Not exactly soaring ambitions admittedly but, trust me, you really had to be at all of those six games to understand where I’m coming from. It’s not so much a mission as a grudge.

Charlton: Rudd, Solly (Barnes 86), Bauer, Pearce, Dasilva, Byrne (Aribo 82), Crofts, Jackson (Ahearne-Grant 73), Forster-Caskey, Holmes, Magennis. Not used: phillips, Botaka, Ulvestad, Novak. Booked: Bauer.

Swindon: Henry, Thomas, Brophy, Iandolo (Obika 68), Feruz (Twine 68), Colkett, Dabo, Rodgers, Starkey (Goddard 68), Conroy, Norris. Not used: Vigouroux, Gladwin, Barry. Booked: Starkey.

Referee: John Brooks.

Att: 11,932 (578 visiting).

This report is dedicated to the memory of Dean Milner, a Nolan family friend and Charlton season ticket-holder, who died suddenly last Friday in his early fifities. “Gone alas… like our youth too soon”.