Charlton 2 (Magennis 30, Ajose 44) Port Vale 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Stopping off at managerless Charlton to collect three presumably effortless points, play-off contenders Port Vale were instead ambushed by remarkably spirited hosts who rose above the latest chaos at TheValley and recorded a fine if unexpected victory.

The ruthless and equally senseless midweek sacking of Russell Slade had turned this otherwise routine fixture into yet another crisis for the Addicks. Slade hadn’t exactly pulled up trees but had lost only four of sixteen league games. Yet he was shown the door either by Roland Duchatelet, regally remote in his Brussels bunker, or just as likely by his CEO Katrien Meire (“everyone knows she’s the brains behind Pa”). Panic is seldom a sound basis for decision-making but it’s impossible to reach any other conclusion. Panic it is.

So a fine old football club lurches from disaster to self-induced disaster. Since the pre-ordained assassination of Chris Powell, six more hapless managers (Jose Riga twice) have been thrown overboard, with the eighth unfortunate wretch expected to walk the plank, at the present rate of departure, this side of Easter. Charlton are currently as seaworthy as a sieve -but not yet on the pitch as it turned out.

Doubly encouraged to discover that caretaker gaffer Kevin Nugent had been further handicapped by the loss of Chris Solly and Ricky Holmes, Vale were racing certainties. Or so it seemed during an opening quarter hour they spent encamped in the home half. Neat, tidy but ominously toothless, they dominated possession but did little to trouble Declan Rudd. And when the penny dropped that their visitors flattered to deceive, Charlton emerged from their defensive shell and began to boss them about.

A target for contempt among too many fans but possessed of a dignity most of them would struggle even to spell, outstanding left back Morgan Fox was the catalyst for the dramatic reversal of fortunes. His first attacking contribution was a deep cross which Ademola Lookman chest-controlled superbly at the far post before unleashing a venomous drive. Jak Alnwick saved superbly at the cost of a right wing corner, swung out by Lookman and headed against the bar by Jason Pearce. Vale had been warned but failed to react appropriately.

After Nicky Ajose’s accurate centre was nodded narrowly wide by Josh Magennis, the Valiants’ weakness on their right flank was again exploited by the marauding Fox. His soaring cross was met by Magennis again at the far post and this time re-directed deliberately over Alnwick into the far corner.

Rudd was called into meaningful action just twice during the first half, with a diving save from top scorer Alex Jones’ crisp low snapshot his best moment. A minute before the break, Charlton responded with an opportunistic second goal, again the result of Fox’s head-up anticipation and execution. Alertly intercepting a pass intended for Sam Kelly, his lancing through ball sent Ajose sprinting through a square defence to confront Alnwick. The diminutive striker gave Charlton supporters an overdue glimpse of the cool finishing responsible for 25 of Swindon’s goals last season by opening his body before slotting efficiently across Alnwick into the bottom right corner.

Fox’s fullback partner Kevin Foley, meanwhile, had been deputising capably for Solly. Another butt of unqualified criticism, he wisely denied dangerous ex-Addick Jerome Thomas the left touchline, instead directing him infield on to a less favoured right foot, with which he achieved nothing. Inside Foley, Andrew Crofts waded through a mountain of nuts-and-bolts work, frequently stepping in to cover talented Lookman’s flashy dribbling too close to his own goal. With centre backs Patrick Bauer and Pearce in commanding form, Vale struggled forlornly before being packed off chastened and pointless to the Potteries. Jones did manage another low effort to test Rudd again before the interval and Nathan Smith’s near post flick whizzed inches wide in added time but the visitors were well beaten by an emerging side which Slade should have been given more time to develop. Paid off with over two years of a three-year contract outstanding, he should worry. But as an honest bloke, he probably does. As do many of us without lucrative contracts to console us.

Charlton: Rudd, Foley, Bauer, Pearce, Fox, Lookman (Konsa 90), Crofts, Ulvestad, Jackson (Botaka 63), Ajose, Magennis (Hanlan 75). Not used: Phillips, Lennon, Novak, Texeira. Booked: Lookman, Ulvestad.

Port Vale: Alnwick, Taylor, Streete, Smith, Knops, Thomas (Pereira 63), Tavares, Amoros (Paterson 46), De Freitas, Kelly (Forester 77), Jones. Not used: Santos, MacIntosh, Cicilia, Kiko.

Referee: Richard Clark. Att: 8,992 (423 visiting).

Charlton 3 (Lookman 34,83, Jackson 40) Scunthorpe United 1 (Hopper 52).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

An appreciative though tiny crowd, augmented by an impressive contingent from North Lincolnshire, was rewarded for its tenacity by a riproaring, full-blooded Cup tie which restored faith in a sadly devalued competition. At the end of a pulsating tie, it was, to local surprise and delight, Charlton who forwarded their name for inclusion in Monday’s Second Round draw.

In what Russell Slade correctly identified as “a great advertisement for League One”, both sides, each of them almost full-strength, delivered entertainment which warmed the cockles on a dank, chilly afternoon. And if Connor Townsend took “full-blooded” a shade too literally with a spiteful challenge on Ricky Holmes, which caused the speedster’s withdrawal with a cut foot after just 27 minutes, that was the only blot on an otherwise beguiling landscape. With his squad already depleted at Swindon next week by the international commitments of Josh Magennis, Ademola Lookman and Jordan Botaka, Slade can ill-afford to lose Holmes. Fortunately, the prognosis is encouraging.

United’s control of the opening exchanges was launched by Morgan Fox’s crucial intervention to deny Paddy Madden an easy tap-in of Josh Morris’ low cross, which was quickly followed by the first of several key saves by Declan Rudd from Kevin Van Veen. The Dutchman should then have fired his side into the lead but tamely scooped Scott Wiseman’s perfect cutback over the bar from 10 yards.

With Holmes’ limping departure before the half hour, the Irons seemed poised to exploit their early edge but substitute Ademola Lookman typically had other ideas. The explosive teenager pounced on a loose ball outside the penalty area, took a steadying touch and detonated an uninhibited drive into the top left corner. No fuss, no hesitation, no doubt it was netbound as the ball left his foot. Only recently turned 19, this kid is going places. Probably as early as January’s transfer window, unhappily.

A glancing header from Magennis sent Nicky Ajose’s fine cross narrowly wide but the Addicks were kept waiting only briefly before increasing their lead. The enterprise of Fox and Lookman on the left set up a blocked opportunity for Johnnie Jackson, who crisply returned the rebound through a thicket of legs into the bottom right corner. Before the break, Rudd’s capable save from Townsend’s low bullet protected the lead.

Rudd was in fine form and alertly foiled Tom Hopper after the substitute was played in by Van Veen soon after resumption, then parried magnificently at his near post as the Dutch danger man shot venomously from a tight angle. The visitors continued to turn the screw and deservedly reduced their deficit almost immediately. A short corner routine involving Duane Holmes and Morris on the left improved the angle for the latter to swing in an accurate cross, which was neatly headed home by Hopper.

The bit now firmly between their teeth, the Iron urgently hunted an equaliser. They came dangerously close when Holmes deflected snapshot cannoned off a post, Van Veen’s rebound was superbly saved by Rudd and the victimised Van Veen screwed a third despairing effort wide.

It wasn’t completely one-way traffic and Magennis seized on an errant backpass but was squeezed out by an alert Luke Daniels. At the other end, the lively Morris curled narrowly wide before Jackson’s heroic block thwarted Luke Williams. With a clinching goal by now vital, Lookman duly delivered.

A quietly efficient contribution from Andrew Crofts was capped by his sturdy retrieval of possession in the centre circle and the short pass which sent Fredrik Ulvestad sprinting directly at the heart of Scunthorpe’s retreating defence. Ignoring the option of Kevin Foley to his right, the brilliant Danish playmaker chose instead the perfect time to release Lookman to his left. The youngster’s shot on the run found the net off the advancing Daniels’ right hand and Charlton had claimed their place as the No. 37 ball in Monday’s draw. It must be remembered, of course, that they are still one round short of last season’s accomplishment in reaching Round Three. And they could yet wind up being eliminated from the FA Cup twice in the same calendar year. Perspective must be maintained.

Beaten but far from disgraced, Scunthorpe are now free to consolidate their position on top of League One.Their conquerors, meanwhile, are entitled, to savour a rousing, fully committed performance, to which every player contributed. Rudd was magnificent; Chris Solly’s deputy Foley survived one daft backpass to do his bit; rocklike centre back Patrick Bauer was on hand to support the occasional lapses of promising young partner Ezri Konsa; Fox and Crofts silenced a few more of their noisy detractors; the unsinkable Jackson, with yet another key goal, did likewise; Ulvestad was unknown locally before he arrived on loan from Burnley, which is hardly the case now; Holmes was beginning to torment the visitors before Townsend thoughtfully eliminated his influence, while Lookman mercilessly stepped up to punish the indiscretion; up front, Magennis was his usual tireless, selfless influence, while Ajose is beginning to show signs of finding that elusive goal touch. The parts are falling into place; the whole, based on Saturday’s exhilarating display, could be an awkward proposition for all-comers in League One.

Charlton: Rudd, Foley, Bauer, Konsa, Fox, Holmes (Lookman 27), Crofts, Ulvestad, Jackson (Botaka 89), Magennis, Ajose (Novak 73). Not used: Phillips, Chicksen, Lennon, Texeira. Booked: Bauer.

Scunthorpe: Daniels, Wiseman, Wallace, Dawson, Goode, Morris, Smallwood (Mantom 77), Townsend, Van Veen, Holmes (Williams 67), Madden (Hopper 42). Not used: Anyon, Mirfin, Adelakun, Clarke. Booked: Townsend, Van Veen, Williams.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson. Att: 4123 (682 visiting).

Gillingham 1 (Dack 41) Charlton 1 (Ajose 90,pen).

Kevin Nolan reports from Priestfield Stadium.

A tale of two penalties at a rocking Priestfield Stadium was resolved in the last minute by coolhanded Nicky Ajose, who stared down substitute goalkeeper Stuart Nelson’s blatant gamesmanship and nervelessly dispatched Charlton’s second spotkick into the bottom right corner. While Nelson was booked for his fruitless histrionics, Ajose secured a point for the visitors which even their most devoted fan scarcely saw coming.

For the most part outclassed, out-muscled and outmanouevred by the Gills, the Addicks were left grateful for two eagle-eyed (or boss-eyed, depending upon your allegiance) interventions by referee Mark Haywood. Clearly no “homer”, Haywood spotted infractions committed by the unaccountably panicky blue-clad defenders as they struggled to deal with a salvo of corners launched into their six-yard area by Ademola Lookman.

The ballsy official’s first award punished an all-in wrestling hold applied by Ryan Jackson on Fredrik Ulvestad as they clashed on Gillingham’s goalline. Skipper Johnnie Jackson, who had missed Charlton’s last penalty in a 1-0 defeat by Rochdale, was perhaps mercifully unavailable after being withdrawn by Russell Slade at half-time. Up stepped Ricky Holmes instead to place his effort at a convenient height for Nelson to save smartly at full length to his right.

Having replaced the injured Jonathan Bond on 31 minutes, Nelson had performed heroically but finally ran out of luck in the final minute of normal time. Haywood was again well positioned to witness the senseless handball by Chris Herd, under moderate pressure from Jason Pearce, which illegally dealt with another of Lookman’s setpieces. Ajose’s confident equaliser duly secured Charlton’s 8th draw of the season, six of them by this well-used 1-1 scoreline.

While taking into account two fine reaction saves by Nelson to deny first Josh Magennis’ textbook header from Lookman’s precise cross, then Ezri Konsa’s improvised volley which cleverly re-directed Pearce’s knockdown, Gillingham enjoyed almost total control. Which made it manager Justin Edinburgh’s turn to experience the “absolutely sick” feeling suffered by Slade at Port Vale during the week. His side’s failure to consolidate their superiority with a second goal was to cost them from the penalty spot as dearly as it had Charlton in the Potteries.

Stabilised by the midfield generalship of Bradley Dack and, inspired on the right flank by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ trickery, Gillingham cruised through a first half of complete domination. Not above mixing the physical with the cerebral (a habit which brought about their late downfall), they made all the early chances, the most notable of which was created for Dack by Emmanuel-Thomas’ skilful run through feeble challenges from Lookman and Morgan Fox. Sent clear by the winger’s adroit pass, an overlapping Dack was unable to beat the advancing Declan Rudd. The long-haired busybody was also set up by Frank Nouble but blasted wide from a promising position.

A dominant but potentially frustrating first half was winding down when Gills finally broke through, thanks to the combined efforts of two former Addicks. Veteran Paul Konchesky, now a youthful-looking 35, had been quietly effective in nullifying dangerman Ricky Holmes before, four minutes from the break, turning the tables on his opponent. Cutting inside Holmes near the left touchline, he produced a peach of a cross with his less favoured right foot to which Dack, in space created by his clever movement, did justice by looping a deliberate header over Rudd’s straining right hand.

Slade’s interval replacement of a worryingly anonymous Jackson by the out-of-favour Ajose and an adjustment of Charlton’s amorphous shape (it seemed like 4-4-1-1, 4-5-1, at times even 4-3-3 to your tactically illiterate reporter) to that good old standby 4-4-2, brought steady improvement. Too lightweight to play strictly alongside Magennis up front, Ajose, with a point he was eager to prove, began to forage to good effect, Holmes came alive and Ulvestad’s quality surfaced. And there was always Lookman, a mixture of exuberant self-indulgence and raw talent, to be kept quiet. Though not exactly desperate, Edinburgh’s men were not quite the cocksure outfit that had bossed the opening period. Their lead – one they might have doubled had referee Haywood agreed that an escaping Cody McDonald was chopped down inside the penalty area by the hotly pursuing Konsa – was temporarily protected by the magnificently defiant Nelson until ill-discipline eventually undermined them. They were made to pay by Ajose, who headed straight for the boss to stake a public claim for selection. He made a justifiable point. And so did Charlton – with a helpful dollop of good fortune.

Gillingham: Bond (Nelson 31), Jackson (Osadebe 84), Herd, Ehmer, Konchesky, Emmanuel-Thomas, Dack, Hessenthaler, Knott, Nouble, McDonald. Not used: Donnelly, Pask, Oldaker, List, Byrne. Booked: Dack, Jackson, Hessenthaler, Nouble.

Charlton: Rudd, Solly, Konsa, Pearce, Fox, Jackson (Ajose 46), Holmes, Crofts, Ulvestad, Lookman, Magennis (Novak 78). Not used: Phillips, Foley, Lennon, Hanlan, Texeira. Booked: Magennis, Solly.

Referee: Mark Haywood.

Att: 8,670 (3,360 visiting).

Charlton 3 (Holmes 32, Lookman 78, Magennis 88) Coventry City 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Soaring majestically through an overcast sky, pigs definitely flew in Charlton today – several hundred of them, all pink, perky and plump. They were launched on to the pitch seconds after referee Darren Deadman signalled the start of this clash between teams with tarnished pedigrees and caused a five minute delay while order was restored. Shame really because Charlton were well on top at the time.

The porcine interruption was part of a protest mutually organised by dissenters dissatisfied with the regimes at The Valley and Ricoh Arena. Their opinions were expressed legally and succinctly, a point graciously conceded by Russell Slade during his post-game musings. Referencing the General Strike of 1926, the miners’ strike and obliquely at least many another act of civil disobedience, he stoutly defended the people’s bitterly earned right to peacefully protest. In the touching spirit of his comments, he was readily excused for placing the General Strike in 1928. You wouldn’t get this enlightened attitude from the likes of Harry Redknapp. Unless, of course, he was on an earner for his customary insight.

Destined to be merely a backdrop for bigger issues, the Addicks and Sky Blues buckled down to a round up of the pigs, then turned their attention to serving up a mildly entertaining encounter, the outcome of which could prove crucial to the futures of both these venerable clubs. At the end of their joust, the hosts were left breathing a little easier while the Midlanders were even more firmly mired at the bottom of League One.

A mutual need for victory was reflected in the lively post-porker opening. From a corner won by the hustling Josh Magennis, Ademola Lookman’s flagkick was headed, via a deflection, against a post by Patrick Bauer. In reply, Ruben Lameiras surged through to set up a shooting chance for Jamie Sterry who drove into the sidenet as the visitors found their feet. Great blocks by the ever-reliable Chris Solly and Jason Pearce on Ben Stevenson and Andre Wright respectively kept the scores level though Charlton rode their luck when Lameiras’ sharp left-footed drive beat Declan Rudd but rebounded harmlessly off the base of the keeper’s left-hand post.

Neat in their approach play but disastrously lightweight up front, as evidenced by a return of only eight goals from twelve league games, Coventry leave themselves vulnerable to the concession of an opening goal. Just past the half hour, their prospects duly took a body blow when Ricky Holmes’ third goal of the season punished their lax defending of another Lookman’s setpiece. Their immediate difficulty seemed solved by Jordan Willis’ scuffed clearance but was intensified as Fredrik Ulvestad’s speculatively lofted hit-and-hope return over the top of a ball-watching defence left an onside Holmes in space to control superbly and finish neatly past Lee Burge.

Making his usual busy, determined contribution, Holmes followed his goal by expertly threading a low centre through City’s spreadeagled rearguard but Magennis, at full sliding stretch, was unable to make telling contact. Behind Burge’s goal, meanwhile, nearly 1,500 Midland accents called for the ousting of Roland Duchatelet, while, at the other end, there was a strong Cockney clamour for the head of someone called Sisu. Such solidarity between brothers – it all smacked of socialism.

Shortly after the break, Rudd more than earned his corn with a double save of rare quality. Flying sideways to parry a ripsnorter from Chris McCann, he regained his feet to touch aside a potential own goal as the rebound bounced treacherously goalward off Pearce. Burge responded with a superb save of his own to keep out Magennis’ header from Holmes’ free kick. But the keeper’s heroics delayed Charlton’s critical second goal for only four more minutes.

Tussling with Turnbull near the the right byline, Magennis pilfered possession from the hapless centre back, before cutting in to set up an easy tap-in for Lookman. Mere minutes later, the same cast of characters combined for an identical third goal but this time Lookman blasted the chance over the bar.

Fittingly, Magennis’ restless, unselfish performance received the reward it deserved before the end. Winning the argument with Sam Ricketts for control of Ulvestad’s deliciously flighted delivery from the right, he shook off the defender and lifted the ball over the advancing Burge.

Having already witnessed bacon on the wing, Charlton fans are now surprised by nothing. Next week, working class hero Russell Slade is expected to conduct twin seminars about the Peterloo Massacre and the Tolpuddle Martyrs. A full house is anticipated.

Charlton: Rudd, Solly, Pearce, Bauer, Fox, Holmes (Hanlan 86), Crofts, Ulvestad, Lookman, Novak (Jackson 77), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Chicksen, Ajose, Konsa, Lennon. Bookings: Holmes.

Coventry: Burge, Willis (Reid 65), Turnbull, Bigirimana, Page (Ricketts 24), Lameiras, McCann, Wright (Jones 65), Sterry, Stevenson, Sordell. Not used: Charles-Cook, Agyei, Gadzhev, Tudgay. Bookings: McCan

Referee: Darren Deadman. Att: 11,406 (1387 visiting)

Charlton 1 (Magennis 22) Oldham Athletic 1 (Clarke 83).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

A pair of decent performances on the road against in-form opposition had provided a solid platform from which Charlton were poised to launch a determined bid to join League One’s promotion pace-setters. Three upcoming visits from teams in the division’s lower reaches were exactly what was needed. That was the theory anyway and it attracted a dwindling base of over 8,500 cockeyed optimists to The Valley on Tuesday to witness the first stage in its development.

What unfolded instead on a balmy September evening had a depressingly familiar ring to it. For the second successive home game, Charlton reached the last few minutes holding a single goal lead. Again they buckled under modest pressure, on this occasion at least emerging with the small consolation of a point. They seem incapable of winning 1-0, their failure to score a second goal causing infectious nervousness if not temporary paralysis. Shakespeare as usual had something to say about the phenomenon: “Striving to do better, oft we mar what’s well.” What the all-knowing bard meant was – learn to hang on to your bloody lead!

Not that the Addicks are justified in feeling they were robbed. Oldham arrived third from bottom but were the better side. They kept the ball down, passed to feet and never lost faith in themselves or their methods. Lightweight up front, however, they were up against it when Josh Magennis fired the Addicks in front midway through the first half.

So it stayed until the 85th minute turning point, when Morgan Fox bundled roughly into Lee Erwin inside the home half. The irresponsibly conceded free kick was flighted into the six-yard area by Paul Green, where old warhorse Peter Clarke found space to glance a header past Declan Rudd and send The Valley into speechless anger. Not one of the mourners was even remotely surprised by the latest setback. It comes with the territory for Charlton fans.

There was still time for substitute Ademola Lookman to frighten the lives out of the jubilant Latics. Taking matters into his own hands, the talented teenager made a lateral solo run from left to right before unleashing a fierce drive which rebounded off the woodwork as far as the18-yard line. Quite why Lookman didn’t start is hard to fathom. He wasn’t at his best here but still managed to terrorise the visitors, an earlier burst and low cross forcing left back Jamie Reckford into an emergency clearance. A hum of anticipation accompanies his every touch, not something you could honestly say about many of his teammates.

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Magennis’ goal was, in the context of Charlton’s dull display, remarkable. A patient build-up featuring over 20 passes was given sudden impetus by the lancing ball played forward by Andrew Crofts to Ricky Holmes, who jinked away from two opponents to find Magennis. From a diminishing angle near the right byline, the Northern Irish target man bulleted a low shot across Connor Ripley into the far corner.

Chris Solly’s customary alertness was required to protect the lead when Green’s deflected centre from the right left Freddie Lapado the apparent formality of smashing home an equaliser from four yards. Despite falling backward on the goalline, Solly contrived to block the striker’s shot, with Rudd pouncing gratefully on the loose ball.

That troublesome second goal – the one which causes the Addicks so much heartache – eluded Magennis in the opening minute of the second period. Set up by Lee Novak, he was unable to squeeze an angled finish past Ripley. He came closer later but after sidestepping Clarke, his curling effort passed harmlessly over the angle of post and bar. At the other end, Ladapo scuffed a good chance wide and Bauer’s magnificent tackle denied Erwin the room to convert Billy McKay’s low cross.

Time ticked by but the equaliser became inevitable, with the growing panic disabling the Addicks by now palpable. Clearances were kicked anywhere, possession was surrendered tamely, all sense of shape or discipline became a dim memory. Which is where “character”, that buzzword managers are fond of using when it’s their turn to celebrate late salvation, comes into the equation: no doubt relieved Steve Robinson, Oldham’s manager, employed in praising his side’s tenacity. Turning to Russell Slade, on the other hand, is it fair to describe his team’s chronic inability to see out a game with a one-goal lead as a corresponding “lack of character”? He has a problem on his hands.

With six draws – four of them 1-1 – from their ten league games, Charlton risk losing touch with the top six. The bottom three will become their focus if they continue to show this kind of vulnerability. On the crest of a recent wave, Rochdale, yet another lowly side, are due at The Valley on Saturday, probing for weaknesses. It might be a good idea to change the practice of kicking into the away end in the first half. Hasn’t anyone noticed that’s where all the late sickeners occur? The home end is more comfortable to defend under pressure. And while we’re at it, could be a bad idea for the Addicks to take the lead!

Charlton: Rudd, Solly, Bauer, Konsa, Fox, Crofts (Foley 63), Jackson (Lookman 63), Ulvestad, Holmes, Novak (Ajose 86), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Chicksen, Johnson, Botaka.

Oldham: Ripley, Dummigan, Burgess, Clarke, Flynn (Krok 87), Reckford. Fane, McLaughlin (Osei 73), Green, McKay, Ladapo (Erwin 64). Not used: Kettings, Law, Banks, Dunne.

Referee: Nicholas Kinseley.

Att: 8745 (185 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Lookman 7) AFC Wimbledon 2 (Poleon 76, Barnett 83)

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley

If you’re a believer in the philosophy of might-makes-right, you’ll regard this spirited local derby as the inaugural meeting of these South London neighbours. Technically you’d be correct but it might be time to re-calibrate your moral compass. You’ll find it’s out to lunch.

There is, of course, no point in denying that Saturday’s clash was the first time that Charlton had faced “AFC” Wimbledon but there is -and always has been – far more to it than an enforced change of name. Truth is the soon-to-be incumbents of SW19 are the direct descendants of the spiky upstarts who rubber-stamped their meteoric climb to the top by terrorising Liverpool to win the 1988 FA Cup. Since then the outrageous efforts of those ersatz cuckoos in Milton Keynes to hi-jack Wimbledon’s imperishable history have been laughed out of the people’s court. With a proposed return to Merton Borough in the offing, it might also be time to re-instate Wimbledon’s rightful nickname. Be fair, MK Dons?! MK Carpetbaggers, more like it! Works for some of us.

Only fools, anyway, will question that it was the rightful heirs of the rumbustious -and frankly, not entirely likeable – Crazy Gang who arrived at an overcast Valley to join battle with Charlton in League One. Like their forbears, their progress has been irresistible since they re-formed in 2002 and they duly rolled back the years by proving an awkward handful for their hosts. Just as the unpleasant likes of Dennis Wise, John Fashanu and (let’s agree not to mention) Vinnie Jones, were often a pain in the posterior, so too were their 2016-17 heirs. Except that they earned a fully deserved away win by operating within the law and without leaving bad blood behind them. They even spotted the Addicks an early lead but plugged away before dispatching them with two late replies of their own.

It had looked so promising for Charlton when Ademola Lookman struck after just seven minutes with a goal he might soon think about patenting as his own. Cutting in purposefully from left to right, there was only one thing on his mind as he dropped a shoulder to fool two trailing defenders. Satisfied that a promising angle had been achieved, he beat James Shea with a crisp drive into the bottom left corner.

Their bright opening encouraged the home side to believe that an uncomplicated win was there for the taking. Nicky Ajose should have doubled the lead after charging down Darius Charles’ clearance but lacked Lookman’s accuracy in dragging his shot lamely wide. Ajose was quickly handed a chance to make amends when Fredrik Ulvestan’s precise cross was nodded down to him by Josh Magennis, only to volley wildly over the bar. Lookman’s trickery created another opening and his right-footed shot was heading inside the left-hand post until Shea, at full length and with the first of several outstanding saves, tipped it to safety.

Preoccupied with defending, little was seen of the Southwest Londoners before the interval. Their best -in fact, only – chance fell to Jake Reeves, who pounced on an error by the otherwise faultless Andrew Crofts but emulated Ajose in pulling his right-footed effort weakly wide. But with Charlton unable to capitalise on their superiority, they stayed in the game and bided their time.

Soon after the break, Shea again excelled himself by turning away a meaty volley from Ricky Holmes before riding his luck as Paul Robinson hacked Magennis’ dangerous cross against the flummoxed keeper’s legs. Substitute Tom Elliott, his shirt firmly gripped by Jason Pearce, managed an off-balance scuff into the sidenet but still the Addicks seemed likelier to score. As Magennis should have done on 68 minutes from Chris Solly’s perfectly measured centre. Possibly distracted by Lee Novak’s challenge, the burly target man headed wastefully over the bar.

A wonderfully brave block by Ezri Konsa defied Dominic Poleon but the persistent winger was not to be denied much longer. With just over a quarter hour remaining, the former Leed United youth graduate took on both Solly and Lookman to the left of goal, skilfully squeezed between them into the penalty area and poked a cleverly improvised equaliser past Declan Rudd into the near corner.

Charlton’s failure to finish off their visitors had clearly cost them but the bill wasn’t fully totted up yet. They were still licking their wounds as Poleon fed skipper Barry Fuller, whose peach of a cross from the right touchline was bulleted under the bar by inspired substitute Tyrone Barnett’s unstoppable header. That’s Wimbledon for you, you make ’em welcome, then they spit on the floor and call the cat a mangy bleeder.

Charlton: Rudd, Solly, Konsa, Pearce. Fox, Holmes, Crofts, Ulvestad, Lookman, Ajose (Novak 68), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Foley, Jackson, Bauer, Botaka, Lennon.

Referee: Oliver Langford. Att: 11,927 (1714 visiting)

Charlton 0 Southampton U-23 0. Charlton win 5-4 on penalties.

Kevin Nolan reports belatedly from The Valley.

Having slept on it three times, I’m now ready to tackle the first round of the EFL Checkatrade Trophy and report my findings to you. And the first thing I have to say is that WC Fields was only barely right when he claimed that the best cure for insomnia was to get plenty of sleep. Getting stuck in front of a chill pill like this runs it close. It’s taken me three days and, as WC recommended, plenty of sleep to get over it. Nah, I’m only kidding… it wasn’t that bad.

Let’s kick off with a word about the competition’s format, which isn’t nearly as complicated as some of its detractors have made out. It pits lowly teams like Charlton in mini-leagues against other teams like lowly Crawley and just as lowly Colchester. Then it tarts things up by including Premier sides like Southampton, except that they have to play their U-23s, unless they’re over 23. Like Saints’ goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. Or a 28 year-old French bloke who took a liberty with a hat-trick for Norwich against put-upon Peterborough.

So here’s how it worked out at an eerily deserted Valley. Charlton’s goalkeeper Dillon Phillips was actually five years younger than Southampton’s 26 year-old U-23 goalkeeper McCarthy, who screwed up the decisive spotkick in the penalty shoot-out which followed this dismal 0-0 snoozefest. Earlier on, 18 year-old mickey-takers Ezri Konsa and Karlan Ahearne-Grant coolly slotted their spotkicks past senior citizen McCarthy as did 19 year-old greybeard Brandon Hanlan, who showed no more respect to his elders than the other kids.

Penalty shoot-out? Right, almost forgot to explain. So listen up. Here’s how it works. If teams draw after 90 minutes, they take part in a penalty shoot-out, the winner of which gets an extra point. There’s a way of fiddling the system, it seems to me, but let’s not go into that right now. I get fed up being world weary.

With Charlton 5-4 in front, McCarthy carelessly smashed Southampton’s sixth penalty against Phillips’ crossbar and was promptly called up by Sam Allardyce into England’s senior squad to face Slovakia. Which, in a nutshell, is what the Checkatrade is all about. It provides England’s stars of tomorrow with useful experience against older but less accomplished opposition. Yet I sense your confusion. Three teenagers and another goalkeeper five years his junior make a mug of a veteran and he gets promoted to the World Cup.

Before 1300 rudely awakened onlookers thrilled to the shoot-out, the keepers had been the pick of the performers. McCarthy was largely untroubled apart from Morgan Fox’s early daisycutter, which he tipped alertly to safety but Phillips made a series of excellent saves in both halves. A sign of things to come was provided in the first half by Saints’ skipper Harrison Reed, who stepped up to take a penalty awarded for Andrew Crofts’ foul on Jack Stephens but fired it miserably wide. And that was basically that. Try to get hold of a tape… you’ll say goodnight to insomnia.

Charlton: Phillips, Konsa, Johnson, Lennon, Fox, Foley, Solly, Crofts, Ahearne-Grant, Ajose, Hanlan. Subs used: Chicksen, Charles-Cook, Umerah. Not used: Rudd, Bauer, Pearce, Muldoon.

Charlton 3 (Holmes 22,31 Jackson 24) Shrewsbury Town 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from the Valley

In front of an apprehensive, still mutinous Valley last Saturday, it was the inimitable Johnnie Jackson who planted a tiny seed of hope with a timely equaliser for Charlton against Northampton. Three days later, a marvellous opening goal from Ricky Holmes accelerated the process of steady growth  against Shrewsbury Town.

Holmes’ stunning strike galvanised The Valley and began the first half demolition of the visitors from Shropshire. Within nine more minutes, two more goals put the result beyond doubt and, suddenly, that opening day debacle at Bury seemed to belong in a different season. It’s probably unwise to read too much into improved performances against two of League One’s more moderate sides but Charlton’s success-starved fans are hardly in the mood for caution.

Direct, speedy and determined, Holmes seems certain to prove popular in SE7. His early candidate for Goal of the Season will certainly endear him to his new public.

Picking up a loose ball inside Town’s half, there was only one thing on the midfielder’s mind as moved purposefully forward. Using Morgan Fox’s supporting run to his left as a useful decoy, he stepped inside and, from over 20 yards, detonated a superb, bending drive beyond the reach of Jayson Leutwiler into the far top corner. It was a goal of rare majesty which brought the sparsely populated house down.

While the visitors were still reeling from the shock, they found themselves almost immediately two behind. And it was entirely predictable that Jackson’s name was added to the scoresheet again. After Chris Solly’s excellent cross was battered against Leutwiler by the luckless Nicky Ajose, the skipper bludgeoned the rebound home from six yards. It wasn’t the most elegant of the 52 goals he has now scored for the Addicks but provided yet another example of his instinctive knack for being in the right place at precisely the right time. Not bad going for a veteran whose legs are shot.

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On 31 minutes, the Shrews’ goose was well and truly cooked. A drive from the steadily improving Andrew Crofts, whose unselfish contribution won’t have gone unnoticed by Russell Slade, was deflected for a left wing corner. Setpiece specialist Holmes whipped over a wickedly swerving inswinger which eluded everyone, including bemused keeper Leutwiler, on its irresistible way into the far top corner. A measure of luck was involved, of course, but the delivery itself was lethal.

Ajose’s search for his first Charlton goal, meanwhile, continued without success. He won’t welcome a reminder of the hash he made near the end of converting an apparently simple rebound after Leutwiler parried a long range rocket from lively substitute Ademola Lookman. The bounce was awkward if negotiable. But it shouldn’t be long before this sharp-turning forward strikes.

Alongside Ajose, brawny Josh Magennis was a powerful nightmare for Town’s centre backs. A tireless, quintessential centre forward, he backed in, flicked on, chased down and made a regular nuisance of himself. Magennis the Menace in fact. Shame he couldn’t add a first goal to his wholehearted performance but he missed his best chance before Holmes opened the scoring. Bursting through as Ajose distracted Town’s defenders, he showed impressive pace in holding off Ryan McGivern but failed to beat Leutwiler as the keeper narrowed the angle.

Neat and tidy in their approach play, Shrewsbury only rarely threatened to make things interesting. Centre forward Ivan Toney was a spiky presence up front, earning one of his side’s three bookings for a spiteful foul on the imperturbable Solly, but met his match in young Ezri Konsa, whose occasional lapses were compensated by impressive coolness and poise. Toney managed to provide Shrews’ best first half effort after Junior Brown’s clever set-up but Declan Rudd was equal to the low shot on the turn. During the second period, the combative Toney jabbed Louis Dodds’ cross off target before Dodds himself came closest to reducing the arrears, his dipping effort, following clever combination between Toney and Ian Black, grazing the bar. There was little else to trouble Rudd.

A low-key second half performance was patiently tolerated by a crowd completely unused to watching their team toy with the opposition. There will be, without doubt, tougher assignments in front of them but the seed planted by Jackson shows promising signs of flowering. So before we put the mockers on it, we’ll make that the last word on the subject for the time being.

Charlton: Rudd, Solly, Konsa, Pearce, Fox, Holmes (Botaka 87), Jackson (Lookman 69), Crofts, Foley, Magennis (Novak 75), Ajose. Not used: Phillips, Bauer, Johnson, Holmes-Dennis.

Shrewsbury: Leutwiler, Riley, McGivern, El-Abd, Lancashire (Waring 60), Black, Dodds (Choulay 68), O’Brien (Whaley 68), Brown, Deegan, Toney. Not used: Halstead, Ogogo, Sarcevic, Mangan.

Booked: Deegan, El-Abd, Toney.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Att: 9174.

Cheltenham Town 1 (Pell 17), Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Whaddon Road.

Deep among the leafy lanes of Gloucestershire – in posh territory they had never previously visited – Charlton got stuck straight into their annual early-season task of lightening the fixture load. Their prompt departure from the EFL Cup was as predictable as it was inevitable. They won’t find it as easy to exit the EFL Trophy (nee Johnstone’s Paint Trophy) with its irritating mini-league format but where there’s a will, the Addicks will always come up with a way.

Charlton’s latest custodians of a club tradition which regards early elimination from cup competitions as almost an article of faith, gave best to a 17th minute goal from Harry Pell, a towering midfielder who spent the 2009-10 season in their youth ranks. Pell bashed a loose ball past Declan Rudd after Danny Whitehead helped on Daniel O’Shaughnessy’s huge throw from the right. Beaten at Bury three days previously by goals conceded from a corner and a penalty, the Addicks look set to continue last season’s chronic vulnerability to setpieces.

Before Pell scored, both sides had seen “goals” ruled out for offside, with the visitors the more aggrieved victims of the fatal flag. Nicky Ajose seemed at least level with Brandon Hanlan as the strongly built 19 year-old debutant ran on to Ricky Holmes’ pass and crossed low for Ajose to turn home from two yards. Two minutes later, Rudd parried Pell’s deflected drive to Danny Wright, who netted from a more obviously offside position.

The burst of early excitement soon abated, though the abject depths plumbed at Gigg Lane were never emulated. This game looked positively jaunty alongside Saturday’s tedium.

Also making his debut in the beautiful Cotswolds was 18 year-old Ezri Konsa, with both teenagers acquitting themselves well. Assured on the ball and positionally sound, Konsa oozes promise. A comparative veteran, meanwhile, though still two months short of his 19th birthday, Ademola Lookman ran through his impressive box of tricks in his restless efforts to haul his side back into contention. Occasionally overdoing his individualism but not above tackling back where needed, Lookman’s a bright spark in danger of being extinguished by the dampness around him.

With 73 minutes available to find an equaliser after falling behind, Russell Slade’s men rarely threatened to cut the mustard. Shortly after Pell’s opener, Roger Johnson’s sidefooted shot was blocked on the line but Russell Griffiths should have been given no chance by Ajose, who scuffed weakly wide from Hanlan’s knockdown. Otherwise impressive before limping painfully off, Holmes blasted a half chance over the bar before Ajose was a toe-end away from meaningful contact with Holmes’ hard low centre. None of Charlton’s efforts, however, matched the quality of Wright’s venomously struck volley shortly before the break, which dipped over the crossbar by mere inches.

A livelier second period was largely controlled by the city slickers but the country bumpkins, bless ’em, stayed solid and rode out the occasional bump in the road. Charlton’s best chances fell to willing worker Hanlan, who twice screwed wide on the turn, then saw a shot blocked at close range. Cheltenham actually came closer to scoring again but O’Shaughnessy spooned wildly over the bar after Rudd spilled Whitehead’s free kick. The new keeper then kept the issue alive by saving smartly from Wright.

An ominous reminder that in the event of a draw, extra-time and potentially penalties would apply, concentrated minds wonderfully but that grisly prospect was avoided as Charlton ran out of ideas. Which is exactly what has happened to your reporter under the strain of padding out a full report. So that’s all she, or in this case he, wrote.

Charlton: Rudd, Foley, Konsa, Johnson, Fox, Holmes (Ahearne-Grant 68), Crofts, Jackson, Lookman, Hanlan (Holmes-Dennis 80), Ajose. Not used: Phillips, Pearce, Solly, Muldoon, Thomas.

Booked: Foley, Johnson, Crofts, Fox.

Cheltenham: Griffiths, Parslow, Suliman, Holman, Cranston (Jennings 90), Waters (Barthram 89), Pell, Morgan-Smith (Rowe 89), Whitehead, Holman, Wright. Not used: Kitscha, Lymn, Bower, Thomas.

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Charlton 0 Ipswich Town 0

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Not an effort on goal during 90 toothless minutes, not even a corner to relieve the monotony. Those were the stark statistics behind Charlton’s third successive goalless draw, a deceptively encouraging result against generous opposition who appeared determined at times not to add a goal to their obvious superiority.

If it all sounds familiar, especially the first part, that’s possibly because this uncomfortable experience jars unpleasant memories of last season, a campaign which, to borrow from President Roosevelt’s reaction to Pearl Harbour “will live long in infamy”, not to mention the bruised minds of Charlton supporters.

There was no shame in playing second fiddle to Mick McCarthy’s sharp, mobile Ipswich and there was undeniable merit in the dogged resistance which kept the scoresheet blank. Admittedly, the visitors did their best to help by hitting the woodwork twice, missing several other chances, the most glaring of which was headed wide by skipper Luke Chambers when scoring seemed easier than missing, and otherwise letting their outclassed hosts off the hook. It’s unlikely though that Charlton’s upcoming League One opponents will be as accommodating.

There was little else to dispel the big, black cloud which has gathered over The Valley and became bigger and blacker as the Tractor Boys strutted their stuff. Second half substitutions lent the line-up the appearance of an U-21 side and highlighted the thinness of Russell Slade’s squad. To be fair, the Addicks’ best performer throughout an awkward evening was imposing 18 year-old centre back Ezri Konsa, a tower block of a kid who has clearly been eating his greens and added an heroic goalline clearance to his excellent contribution.

Also impressive was goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, who has stepped up with a string of clean sheets to fill the void created by the departures of Stephen Henderson and Nick Pope. The shambolic circumstances, under which Henderson and Pope left, typify the recent chaos at Charlton, with the latter’s loss the more keenly felt.

“Burnley came in with a huge offer for Nick,” Slade explained, ” which we had to consider in the end.” Since all transfers in SE7 are for undisclosed fees, we’ll have to take the manager’s word for the hugeness of Burnley’s offer but there was always an alternative to accepting it. Sean Dyche could have been invited to “do one” and young Pope’s agent reminded that his client’s contract, for which he was so grateful when agreed, was not only legal but a matter of mutual honour. Or do such sentiments belong in a different century? That question is, by the way, rhetorical.

On a pleasant Tuesday evening in an atmosphere more suited to a mausoleum than a football stadium, the visitors made all the running and all the chances. As early as the 10th minute, Christophe Berra and Jonas Knudsen tore Charlton open down the left but Brett Pitman’s expertly cushioned shot rebounded unluckily off the crossbar. Before the half hour, David McGoldrick’s Robson-Kanu-inspired turn caused chaos in the Addicks’ penalty area but was let down by a careless shot over the bar. The veteran’s wild effort from distance was even further off target.

With nothing to report from the other end, the second half provided more of the same. Substitute Teddy Bishop’s shot was smartly saved by Phillips, with Konsa’s alertness clearing up an unseemly mess on the line. Pitman was unlucky again when his precise header sent Freddie Sears’ precise cross against the bar before Chambers contrived to miss the target after Cameron Stewart’s perfect centre set him up with a sitter from all of three yards. Town’s skipper was more accurate in the dying minutes from another outstanding cross by Stewart but was foiled by Phillips’ fingertips.

Hanging on with commendable pluck, meanwhile, the Addicks provided little to suggest that this season will be any improvement on the last. Watched in funereal silence by less than 2,000 partisans, they at least were unstinting in their effort. Any day now, though, that aforementioned cloud is likely to burst and leave poor Slade, armed only with a colander, to bale out a steadily sinking ship. Nobody will blame him if he dives overboard.

Charlton: Phillips, Solly (Hanlan 61), Konsa, Johnson, Fox, Foley (Thomas 85), Crofts, Holmes (Lookman 71), Jackson (Muldoon 66), Harriott (Ahearne-Grant 76), Ajose (Ba 61). Not used: Beeney, Holmes-Dennis.

Att: 2308 (333 away).