Crewe Alexandra 0 Charlton 2 (Doughty 24, Washington 43).

Kevin Nolan reports from a comfortable armchair far south of Crewe.

Two expertly spaced first half goals -the first of them Alfie Doughty's ruthless strike on the break - saw off not so solid Crewe and provided Charlton with an encouraging start to life in League One.

Rumoured to be a target for Celtic among others, Doughty finished off a lightning counter attack set in motion by Alex Gilbey's interception of a wayward pass near the halfway line. Cutting inside from the right, the 20 year-old speedster controlled Gilbey's defence-splitting pass on the run, outpaced left back Ryan Wintle and left Will Jaaskelainen helpless with a sizzling left-footed drive into the far corner. The next call inquiring into Doughty's availability may include an offer Charlton can't refuse. That's the downside to running one of English football's most prolific academies.

A summer signing from MK Dons, Gilbey keynoted the Addicks' effortless domination of a first half which effectively decided the eventual outcome of a lively game. His range of passing, alert interventions and willingness to put a foot in softened the impact of losing the outstanding Josh Cullen, with his arrival promising to remove one of the furrows creasing Lee Bowyer's brow.

Compact and relaxed, the visitors settled down quickly, survived an early scare when Alex's captain Perrie Ng shaved the bar from long range and eased into a pleasing rhythm. There was another awkward moment  provided by Ng who blasted a point blank chance wildly off target but their superiority was obvious and was cemented by a second goal two minutes before the break.

Signed from Hearts during lockdown, Conor Washington had been quiet but patient on his league debut for Charlton. His alertness was rewarded as Dele Oshilaja's brave header reached him unmarked to the left of Crewe's goal and though the right footed volley which beat Jaaskelainen wasn't entirely convincing, it had enough mustard on it to find the left corner of the Finnish keeper's goal. Back in Grove Park, initial celebrations were muted until confirmation was received that the goal stood. There's something eerie about locked-in football, something unreal and remote. It'll be good to get back to bad language and one-eyed partisanship. Not that I'm ever guilty of either, I hardly need point out.

Unsurprisingly, the second half of this all-CAFC contest was a different proposition, with the Addicks required to hold their nerve on a couple of occasions, most notably when Ben Amos reacted superbly to keep out the surefire header from Mikael Madron which seemed momentarily to have passed him on its way under the bar. No disrespect for backup keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer is intended in concluding thatthe retention of experienced campaigner Amos is an occasion for huge relief at The Valley. As the door behind the popular Dillon Phillips disappointingly closes, another one opens to admit the reassuring presence of Amos.

Had the deflected effort from Jake Forster-Caskey early in the second half squeezed into the bottom left corner, Charlton's progress to three useful points might have been smoother. As it was, Laaskelainen's sprawling save to shovel the ball wide of his right post provided his side with the impetus they needed to stage a recovery of sorts. As they applied modest pressure, however, they encountered Bowyer's newly constructed rearguard organised by the unflappable Darren Pratley, with feisty Oshilaja and the precocious Charlie Barker lending stout support down the middle.

Rejoicing in a name which belongs in the days of brylcreemed centre partings, cigarette cards and two points for a win, the 17 year-old Barker is in fact as modern as they come. Sturdy and sensible, Charlie promises to be The Valley's newest darling until, of course, the word gets round and the predators begin to circle.

An Alexandra goal, meanwhile, might have made matters uncomfortable and Madron came within inches of coming up with one but was unlucky to see his fierce drive rebound from Amos' bar. There was none of that old familiar panic within the visiting ranks, though, with Amos relatively secure behind an efficient defensive cordon. It was still a relief, don't get me wrong, to hear the final whistle, but there was little cause for alarm.

Charlton won this one in a gentle canter to begin what, hopefully, will be a journey out of this nightmarish division and back to where it's safe to say they belong -in the Championship. Those final few minutes of last season will continue to haunt until that becomes mission completed.

Let the nerds explore the quaintness of League One, with its quirky grounds and obscure postcodes. Give me the big cities and famous grounds. I'd rather step in a puddle than a cowpat.

Crewe: Laaskelainen, Ng, Beckles, Offord, Pickering, Murphy (Ainley 62), Wintle, Finney (Lundstram 75), Dale (Zanzala 75), Mandron, Kirk. Not used: Richards, Lancashire, Sass-Davies, Johnson.

Charlton: Amos, Lapslie (Williams 61), Pratley, Oshilaja, Barker, Purrington, Forster-Caskey, Gilbey, Doughty (Morgan 90), Bonne, Washington (Aneke 76). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Oztumer, Levitt, Vennings. Booked: Amos, Doughty.

Referee: Graham Salisbury.

a.k.a The Post Mortem

We always suspected that Charlton's turbulent season would come to a disastrous end in added time on the last day. And so it did. Not at Elland Road, where they were clobbered by Leeds but at Griffin Park where Barnsley saved themselves at Charlton's expense with a 93rd minute winner over Brentford. Having already beaten Nottingham Forest in similar style three days previously, the Tykes grabbed another overtime lifesaver to sink the Bees -and more painfully to the point, the Addicks.

Charlton suffered more than most over the last eleven months from goals scored during "the game within a game". They even, once or twice, managed to concede after the allotted overtime expired, an arbitrary period nutshelled as "added time added to added time". Last gasp defeats at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday were particularly sickening but there were one or two other worthy candidates. Their vulnerability during a game's postscript became common knowledge through the league, while their own desperate equalisers at WBA and QPR failed to offset the late goals they consistently leaked.

Despite stiff competition, the two added time points squandered at Birmingham in their seventh post-lockdown game, might be regarded, in hindsight, as the culprits which sent Charlton down. Macauley Bonne prolonged the agony by similarly equalising against equally beleaguered Wigan three days later but Birmingham's scruffy goal had already done the damage.

Confident and composed, Bowyer's boys were leading a poor side at St. Andrews  through a fine team goal by Bonne when Jude Bellingham joined the action midway through the second half. City's 17 year-old prodigy made an initially subdued impact and the visitors seemed to have seen off puny pressure until he picked up a loose ball and soloed purposefully into the penalty area. One low cross, blocked shot and prodded rebound later, it was 1-1. Two points which would have spared Charlton the drop had been cruelly snatched from their grasp.

Two games later, Bellingham had discharged his responsibility to his hometown club and was on his way to fame and fortune with Borussia Dortmund. He left through the front door with his honour and reputation intact. No doubt he also departed with a lifetime welcome at St. Andrews and a place in the club's history alongside Trevor Francis, another 17 year-old whizkid still revered on the blue side of Birmingham.

Bellingham's mature conduct throws into unflattering relief the self-absorbed behaviour of Lyle Taylor, who trashed his contract and refused to help his club out of the jam they were in. Last seen training with local Sunday side SE Dons, Taylor, so we hear, is on his way to Glasgow Rangers, where he will presumably replace Alfredo Morales, the toast of Ibrox Park (and, come to that, Celtic Park). A like-for-like swap of pantomime villains in many ways, Taylor's defenders -and there are, it's true, a fair few of them - insist that anybody would do exactly the same as he did in similar circumstances. It's a short career, we're reminded, with the nagging possibility of injury making it potentially shorter. Why shouldn't he cash in with one last, lucrative move to the bigger time? "What would you do?" they enquire and smugly rest their case as if the question is rhetorical. 

But there is an alternative answer. Taylor, like Bellingham, should have been man enough to stick around, put his shoulder to the relegation wheel and help out his club, mates and supporters. Simple as that really, unless money really does mean everything. His selfishness destroyed the enormous goodwill he had earned by his efforts in cancer fundraising and the touching kindness he offered Betty Hutchins during her last days with us. Charismatic, personable and prolific, his on-field presence alongside the unfairly maligned Bonne, would almost certainly have made the important difference between survival and relegation.

It's all ifs and ands now anyway with Charlton failing, by one infuriating point, to avoid the cut. Eleven months of struggle, during which they endured a catastrophic injury list, the loss of Conor Gallagher's growing influence, not to mention the civil war between wrong'uns in the boardroom, eventually sapped them. They fought hard, never gave up and almost made it. But they were not quite good enough and Taylor's defection was one blow too many.

So we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start all over again. On September 12th in League One. The prospect might make you shudder but, face it, what  alternative is there?

Birmingham 1 (Jutkiewicz 90+3 Charlton 1 (Bonne 58).

By Kevin Nolan off Valley Pass.

Though dealt another sickening body blow by Lukas Jutkiewicz's added time equaliser, Charlton are not done for yet. This relegation scrap is far from over. Before it's resolved, there will be more than one twist, more than one turn, until the music stops and the final scramble for chairs begins.
Charlton are being quoted as warm favourites to go down despite sitting two points (not to mention an unassailable goal difference) above the drop zone with only two games to play. Daunting assignments against surprise packets Wigan Athletic and champions-elect Leeds United account for the negativity which followed this latest setback. Wigan are hotter than pistols right now while Leeds, far from easing up as fervently hoped, will be seeking to use Charlton as the cherry on their title-winning cake. On paper, the Addicks are clearly not expected to add to their current points total of 47; on honest-to-goodness grass, they stand a chance.

A newly determined Charlton did enough -on reflection perhaps not quite enough - to win this crucial game. As usual, sturdy defending, with goalkeeper Dillon Phillips adding a brilliant penalty save to his customary excellence, underpinned their performance, while there were several chances to consolidate the 58th minute lead provided by Macauley Bonne's 10th goal of the season. The scorer himself squandered opportunities to double the lead and Aiden McGeady, continuing the encouraging improvement in his form, hit a post with a cleverly aimed snapshot. But the coup-de-grace proved elusive and the visitors paid a costly price for their chronic failure to seal the deal. As the minutes ticked by, protecting their lead became the pressing priority; bitter experience hardly inspired confidence in their ability to do so. As world weary Lee Bowyer commented "we can't see a game out, we don't manage it well."

Legs were becoming heavy and concentration faltered as 17 year-old prodigy Jude Bellingham accelerated into Charlton's penalty area and crossed on the run from the left. At the near post, Phillips kept out Gary Gardner's low shot but Jutkiewicz poked home a cruel equaliser off the woodwork. The sucker punch briefly knocked the stuffing out of the Addicks and they were indebted to Phillips for clawing clear a deceptively drifting cross in the final minute. This was a desperately disappointing draw but the point might yet keep them up when the calculators are put to use next Wednesday.

Far from defensive in their approach, at least until City's desperation drove them back to their 18-yard line, Charlton played some nice stuff, never more so than when Bonne completed a scintillating move to give them the lead just before the hour mark. Jonny Williams, as usual the target for a series of cynical fouls, timed a delicious pass inside right back Maxime Colin to send Alfie Doughty surging to the left byline. The speedy wingback's hard-drived centre left Bonne the easy task of tapping past Lee Camp with the Midlanders' defence a spreadeagled mess

Phillips preserved the lead by reacting splendidly to turn aside Ivan Sunjic's volley as it zipped through a thicket of legs. But the outstanding young keeper's first half penalty save from Scott Hogan for so long promised to be the turning point on which this game revolved. Left exposed by Josh Cullen's disastrously underpowered backpass, he clipped Jutkiewicz as they came together for the 50-50 ball and was penalised by referee David Webb. Guessing Hogan's intentions correctly, Phillips plunged to his right to save and deserved the luck he got as Hogan inexplicably shovelled the rebound over the bar from five yards.

Heartened by Bonne's opener, meanwhile, the Addicks sought to double their advantage. Set up by the irrepressible Doughty, McGeady found space for a curling potshot which rebounded harmlessly off Camp's right hand post. Minutes later, belligerent substitute Chuks Aneke disdainfully broke through two overpowered defenders to lay on a point blank chance which Bonne hammered directly at Camp. "Missing clear chances from four yards out in the middle of the goal...you miss things like that, you don't win" was frustrated boss Bowyer's reaction to his side's profligacy.

Quite so... but the decks are cleared for the closing acts of this troubled, marathon season. Having persevered through a crippling injury list, expensive backroom thievery and the treacherous dive overboard of three rats, Bowyer's Boys of Summer deserve credit for taking the battle to survive into the final reckoning. They're fighting their hearts out for our club. Let's not give up on them now.

Birmingham: Camp, Pederson, Roberts, Dean, Colin, Sunjic (Kieftenbeld 73), Gardner, Crowley (Boyd-Munce 90), Bela (Bellingham 59), Hoan (Reid 59), Jutkiewicz. Not used: Trueman, Harding, Gordon, Burke, Fernandez. Booked: Gardner, Crowley.

Charlton: Phillips, Lockyer, Pearce, Doughty (Purrington 77), Field (Pratley 77), Cullen, Williams (Morgan 77), McGeady (Sarr 85), Hemed (Aneke 65), Bonne. Not used: Amos, Oshilaja, Forster-Caskey, Davison. Booked: Phillips.

Referee: David Webb. 

Brentford 2 (Benrahma, 75 pen, Pinnock 85) Charlton 1 (Bonne 8)

By Kevin Nolan...off the telly.

For the second time within four days, Charlton were dealt a sickening late blow -on this occasion two of them inside the last quarter hour -which cost them priceless points in their apparently endless struggle to stay in the Championship. The gutsy resistance they offered to arguably the best side in the division should hopefully give them heart to tackle the four-game run-in which kicks off on Saturday at The Valley against Reading and ends on Wednesday July 22nd at Elland Road, where they face champions-elect Leeds United (a big shout-out by the way for Bielsa's Boys, bless their big hearts, in their gallant bid to beat Stoke City tomorrow).

Charlton's warweary fans, meanwhile, will find it impossible to forget the dramatic climax to this exhausting season, which began so brightly, hit the skids as the injury list mounted and then took several turns for the worse on and off the field. Boardroom knavery dictated the narrative for a while as a loudmouthed gaggle of spivs vied to pick apart a special old club for their own ends. Results inevitably suffered and culminated in the damaging 1-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough which left them two points adrift in the relegation zone before Covid-19 intervened - perhaps an irrelevant silver lining under the grisly circumstances.

With the threat of a horror called PPG hanging over them for several months, the Addicks were instead handed a fighting chance to save themselves over a nine-game mini-season. At which point self-serving striker Lyle Taylor chose his time to lead a mutiny, including in its ranks stalwart defender Chris Solly and an also-ran called David Davis, a trio of recalcitrants who declined to stand alongside their mates as push came to shove. Solly wasn't expected to feature in Lee Bowyer's plans anyway and somewhat needlessly besmirched a fine reputation by his refusal to make himself available. Most Charlton fans would fail to recognise the useless Davis if they bumped into him in the street. Not so Taylor, whose effortless affability and approachability proved to be a hollow sham.

You know the shameful details anyway but repetition of them brings us neatly to the fifth game of the "season" at Griffin Park where the Addicks got off to the perfect start with the best goal of the evening. Jonny Williams's quick dart and measured pass sent Alfie Doughty clear on the left to cross accurately to the far post, where Jake Forster-Caskey outjumped his marker and nodded back across goal. Beating David Raya to the ball, Macauley Bonne headed home his ninth goal of his inaugural campaign, the first by Charlton from post-lockdown open play and the first scored by a recognised strikeIf they were daunted by falling behind, Brentford showed no signs of discouragement. Blessed with an abundance of attacking talent, they mounted drip-drip pressure on their visitors, interrupted briefly by the scare they received soon after Bonne's goal. Josh Cullen's inswinging left-wing corner eluded Raya and bounced off the bar to Jason Pearce, whose improvised volley also clipped the bar on its way to safety. Apart from one or two bits and pieces, that was the end of Charlton as an attacking force. Driven back by the Bees' relentless assault, they fought valiantly to stem the red-and-striped tide masterminded by Said Benrahma and lent important width by the excellent Josh DaSilva and Christian Norsgaard. Brentford's direct efforts on goal were actually few, the best of them drawing sharp saves from Dillon Phillips from Benrahma and DaSilva. With prolific scorer Ollie Watkins kept quiet for the second time this season, the South Londoners remained intact until the clock ticked into a one-sided game's final quarter hour. Even then, the South West Londoners' breakthrough was tainted by controversy.

There appeared to be only fleeting contact as Cullen and Benrahma came together inside the penalty area to dispute DaSilva's cross but the crafty Algerian made the most of what there was and hit the turf dramatically. You've seen 'em given, you've seen 'em not given but Beeskeeping referee John Brooks was more than ready to don his black cap. Benrahma recovered from his awkward tumble and equalised coolly from the spot.
The only issue now was whether Lee Bowyer's band of battlers could hold out for a prized point. Sadly this proved beyond them with five minutes remaining. Under intolerable pressure, they were unable to stop DaSilva's right wing cross at source and equally incapable of preventing Ethan Pinnock from bullying the ball past Phillips. Hearts were temporarily broken for a second time within four days.

Beaten but unbowed, Bowyer's stubborn bunch will continue to give survival their best shot. The manager can do his bit by naming his best team against Reading. Assuming Sam Field, who again limped off, is unfit, Darren Pratley will come back while room must be found again for Williams, Doughty and the inimitable Naby Sarr. With Forster-Caskey expected to be rested, possibly he will partner Bonne with Tomas Hemed (assuming he's fit) with the message to take it to Reading. If we're meant to go down, let's quit the scene with a bang not a whimper. This might be a space worth continuing to watch.

Brentford: Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Norsgaard, Jensen (Mercondes 61), Benrahma, Watkins, DaSilva, Jansson, Mbeumo (Dervisloglu 61), Rasmussen (Dalsgaard 61). Not used: Daniels, Thompson,Valencia, Jeanvier, Fosu, Zemburek. Booked: Dervisloglu.

Charlton: Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Sarr, Doughty (Oshilaja 71), Forster-Caskey (Morgan 71), Cullen, Field (Pratley), Williams (Lapslie 56), Bonne (Aneke 79). Not used: Amos, Purrington, McGeady, Davison. Booked: Cullen

Referee: John Brooks

Charlton 1 (Pratley 12) QPR 0

By a nerve-wracked Kevin Nolan and his equally stressed computer.

A second post-lockdown 1-0 victory boosted Charlton's hopes of avoiding immediate relegation back to League One, from the horrors of which they were delivered a year ago at Wembley. Both performances were similar, each hinging on an early setpiece goal which hindsight, with its usual wise-after-the-event cockiness, assures us was capably defended but during which identically unpleasant, tension-charged second halves reduced sofa-bound fans to gibbering wrecks.

If the Addicks stave off relegation, the depleted squad responsible for reaching the promised land will be remembered with affection and gratitude by their fearful fans. Making light of the defection of a talented top scorer, whose name is now irrelevant, and of lesser importance the disloyalty of Chris Solly and David Davis, they have bonded in the club's interest and have given themselves every chance of making it to safety. There are tough tests still ahead but you'd be wise not to bet against them.
Scorers of Charlton's vital goals were a pair of grizzled veterans who have, as they say, been around the block once or twice and seen a thing or two on the way. The manner in which defender Jason Pearce risked life and limb to bully home Tomas Hemed's backheader at Hull was typical of the skipper's unstinting commitment. Pearce has his detractors but while he continues to put up, they need to shut up.

Defensive midfield stalwart Darren Pratley doesn't score often but his goals tend to be important ones. His quick response to Doncaster Rovers' third goal in last season's semi-final second leg set up the penalty shoot-out which booked the Addicks' place at Wembley. This matchwinner against QPR saw him tower above a posse of hooped defenders and direct a forceful downward header from Josh Cullen's outswinging corner off Liam Kelly's left hand and in off the right-hand post. Like Pearce, Pratley's goal topped off another yeoman personal contribution.

With their 12th minute opener to defend, the home heroes set about the task with impressive discipline and calmness. Alongside Pearce, Tom Lockyer was outstanding, as were coldly efficient full backs in man-of-the match Adam Matthews and Deji Oshilaja. In midfield, Cullen put in his customary all-round shift and Albie Morgan continued his dramatic improvement since the Championship resumed. At wide right midfield, Aidan McGeady provided a useful outlet but was eclipsed by the all-action impact of his 60th minute replacement Alfie Doughty. who may well start at Cardiff on Tuesday. Doughty's timely introduction relieved the modest pressure and might have brought him a welcome clinching goal. This kid's a livewire prospect.

Faced by opponents happy to allow them possession up to a mutually agreed point, then allowing them no further in obdurate ranks of four, Rangers advanced, hesitated, square-passed meaninglessly and petered out. A first half of huffing, puffing and generally aimless pottering about produced only Ebere Eze's perilously curling shot which passed uncomfortably close to Dillon Phillips' right post. Meanwhile, the Addicks threatened to double their lead when Macauley Bonne ran on to Morgan's perceptive pass, shot fiercely from a diminishing angle on the left but was denied by Kelly's alert near post save

A minute after the interval, in creating and squandering their solitary clearcut chance, the visitors caused temperatures to rise collectively in living rooms clear across the Southland. Presented with a point blank "certainty" by Angel Rangel's clever delivery, Jordan Hugill applied the routine finishing touch and was already planning his celebration until Phillips, making astounding ground along his goalline, blocked his shot. Pratley's goal settled this vital game; Phillips' incredible save made sure it did.

Almost inured to last gasp sickeners this season, Charlton's absentee fans still feared the worst but were in good hands. Even the grisly prospect of five added minutes caused barely a ripple of inconvenience inside an eerily resonant Valley where Pearce and his defiant cohorts dispassionately stood their ground. Mark Warburton's vanquished West Londoners had been handed a lesson in thrifty use of meagre resources. Mind you, the security of a second goal wouldn't go unnoticed, if only to increase the life expectancy among the Addicks' played out, locked out, worn out supporter.

Charlton: Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Oshilaja (Purrington76), McGeady (Doughty 60), Cullen, Pratley, Morgan (Field 84), Bonne (Green 84), Hemed (Aneke 60). Not used: Amos, Sarr, Williams, Davison. Booked: Pratley

QPR: Kelly, Manning, Barbet, Masterson, Rangel (Kane 71), Cameron (Amos 71), Ball (Bettache 76), Eze, Chair (Shodipo 60), Osayi-Samuel (Oteh 71), Hugill. Not used: Lumley, Kakay, Gubbins, Clarke

Hull City 0 Charlton 1 (Pearce 18).

By Kevin Nolan off Valley Pass.

The light at the end of the tunnel remains dim but it but glows a little more hopefully after Charlton's vital victory over Hull City at a cavernous KC Stadium. An early setpiece goal scored by pugnacious Jason Pearce was enough to see off Grant McCann's toothless Tigers and catapult the visitors out of the relegation zone, where they'd uncomfortably spent the past four months. Had the Addicks managed to crown their clear superiority with at least one further goal, they might have spared their long suffering fans the inevitable tension that goes with the territory. As it was, the spectre of the last gasp equaliser haunted the laptop faithful until five intolerable minutes of added time amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. More than one housebound zealot spent them crouched behind the sofa. Count me among them.

Charlton's solitary goal was a pleasing combination of pinpoint accuracy and good, old-fashioned physicality. Aidan McGeady's dipping volley from outside the penalty area was initially tipped over his crossbar by George Long but the resultant left wing corner turned out to be the keeper's undoing. Swung inwards by the outstanding Josh Cullen, Tomas Hemed's deft front door flick glanced off Long's groping fingertips before Pearce crashed through the tradesmen's entrance, bullying Tom Eaves and Jon Toral into the net with him as headed irresistibly inside the far post. The skipper's "rough and rowdy ways" were exactly what necessity demanded.

Showing his customary boldness, Lee Bowyer caused more than a few eyebrows to raise with the starting line-up he named for the Humberside crunch clash. Preferring Deji Oshilaja to either Ben Purrington or Naby Sarr at left back, he also chose the enigmatic McGeady on the right of midfield, with young Albie Morgan recalled from obscurity to operate on the left. Meanwhile, Hemed got the nod alongside Macauley Bonne up front, with Andre Green a worrying absentee. A routine 4-4-2 formation vindicated his tactical nous and proceeded to outclass their woebegone hosts.A much improved McGeady and Morgan, with his playmaking  ability to pick the right pass, did their bits until replaced around the hour mark. It was in central midfield, though, where Charlton decided the issue. Cullen hardly put a foot wrong apart from wafting an acceptable chance fashioned by rampaging substitute Chuks Aneke over the bar. His blend of tenacity and skill will be crucial during the coming weeks, his contribution including the risky but precisely timed tackle which whisked the ball off Daniel Batty's toes as the attacking midfielder shaped to shoot inside the penalty area late in the second half.

At Cullen's elbow, Darren Pratley was his usual combative self.. Tackling and covering diligently, he ploughed through his own workload tirelessly and was always available to help elsewhere. Age hasn't wearied the admirable veteran, nor the years condemned. You'd name him as company in a wartime trench.

There were other positives to warm Bowyer's cockles. After a shaky start, Oshilaja settled down and combined with McGeady to create a golden opportunity to double the lead two minutes after Pearce's opener. Sent clear on the left by McGeady's cleverly disguised backheel, his fiercely driven low cross eluded the sliding Macauley Bonne and Hemed as it flashed to safety across Long's goal area.

Bonne was on the end of another chance in the second half but misdirected his header wide after lively substitute Alfie Doughty cut City's right flank open and provided the perfect cross. A second goal continued to elude the Addicks and stirred unpleasant memories that Hull had been one of many late goalscorers to frustrate them earlier in the season.Their unease intensified when Keane Lewis-Potter, scorer of the Tigers' sickening equaliser at The Valley in December, replaced Batty with over a quarter hour left but there was to be no repetition of that disaster.

Dillon Phillips enjoyed a  virtually untroubled afternoon, a routine tip-over of Batty's drive his only meaningful save until Long's huge clearance caused havoc between Pearce and Tom Lockyer in the late stages, allowing Danish substitute Samuelson a rare sight of goal. The youngster's shot on the run was competently fielded by Phillips and the Addicks were home and dry.
With the marathon which we're regularly reminded constitutes a football season now reduced to a nine-game sprint, Charlton have burst impressively from the starting blocks. Their speed is impressive. Now comes a test of their stamina.

Hull: Long, Pennington, McDonald, De Wijs, Elder, Batty (Lewis-Potter 73), Kane, Bowler (Scott 56), Toral (Honeyman 56), Wilks (Samuelson 85), Eaves (Magennis 56. Not used: Tafazolli, Burke, Stewart, Ingram. Booked: Batty.

Charlton: Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Oshilaja (Purrington 71), McGeady (Field 82), Pratley, Cullen, Morgan (Doughty 61), Bonne (Williams 82), Hemed (Aneke 72). Not used: Amos, Sarr, Oztumer, Davoson. Booked: Oshilaja, Pratley, Williams.

Referee: Darren England.

Charlton 0 Middlesbrough 1 (McNair 17).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Another costly error. Another failure to score. Another avoidable defeat, this one plunging Charlton, for the first time this season, into the relegation zone. The search for three teams worse than themselves isn't over but the air of desperation which spread through The Valley on Saturday suggests that self belief is in short supply.

The disastrous mistake which gifted Middlesbrough their winning goal followed the depressing format which has blighted this campaign, its most recent example being the gift presented to Huddersfield's Karlan Grant a week earlier which began a demoralising 4-0 rout. If there's a way of screwing up, Charlton will find one.

On this occasion, a Boro attack had foundered and the ball reached Ben Purrington safely upfield. Anxious to avoid confrontation, he attempted to find George Lapslie in support behind him but carelessly turned over possession to Rudy Gestede who promptly ran at a glacial defence. Gestede's squared pass was efficiently sidefooted past Dillon Phillips by Paddy McNair and the Addicks were already doomed to chase a lost cause.

There were, of course, other options available to Purrington, among them a safety-first approach currently frowned on by the modern game. Had he turned and put his laces through the ball, the moment might have passed unremarked but playing out from the back is now de rigeur. Charlton are nothing if not fashionable, with Phillips following the current trend of initiating pointless passing patterns which usually end up back at his feet and are then kicked long anyway into the heart of a defence given time to prepare.

On those occasions when the keeper sprinted to his 18-yard line to launch quick clearances into the channels, the Teesiders were less secure, with Lyle Taylor a persistent nuisance and Andre Green taking his cue alongside him. Defenders don't relish balls landing over their shoulders. That's not in the coaching manuals but it doesn't make it less true.

Before Boro's 17th minute matchwinner, Green had shown the way by breaking over the halfway line with a train of defenders in his wake. His excellent cross from the right was met by a straining Taylor, who was unable to keep his running volley on target. His "miss" was promptly put into painful context by McNair's cool finish. "It drives me mad after all we work on all week," lamented Lee Bowyer, "and the preparation just goes out the window. We were on top and then we just give them a goal. It's kid's stuff and last week was the same. We need men to stand up and fight."

Bowyer's distress was understandable but there is an alternative. To reduce the potential for defensive error, kybosh the building from the back rigmarole, get the ball through quickly to Taylor and Co. by way of eager midfielders like Josh Cullen and Jonny Williams, and play in the opposition's half as much as possible. There's enough pace and power in his team to trouble moderate sides like Middlesbrough and clearly faltering Hull City next Saturday. Start Taylor, Green and Macauley Bonne up front at KCOM Stadium and go for broke. If we're to go down, do it with a loud bang and not the acquiescent whimper we offer right now.

There were other chances for the Addicks, with Green's goalbound effort alertly blocked by Ryan Shotton and Dejan Stojanovic instictively parrying Green's fiercely struck drive. Deji Oshilaja headed Jonny Williams' cross straight at the debutant goalkeeper. In the second half, lively substitute Bonne's cross set up Darren Pratley to mangle a close range finish, while Bonne himself tamely flicked Taylor's low delivery into the Austrian keeper's hands.

But it was referee Stephen Martin's decision to book Taylor for simulation rather than award him the penalty he deserved for luring Harold Moukoudi into a rash tackle inside the area that rankled. The defender clearly clipped Taylor after being fooled by his sharp turn but Martin added the insult of a yellow card to the injury he inflicted by turning down his justified appeal for a spotkick.

None of which implies that Middlesbrough were anything but reasonably comfortable winners. Phillips contributed fine saves from Marcus Tavernier and Lewis Wing as the Northerners wasted time expertly, managed the second half shrewdly and completed a 1-0 league double over the Addicks. They inflicted a body blow, no getting away from that. But it ain't over, not yet it ain't. With Tom Lockyer back and Naby Sarr hopefully on his way, Charlton still have a shot at safety. It all begins again at Hull. See you there.

Charlton: Phillips, Matthews, Oshilaja, Pearce, Purrington (Hemed 83), Pratley, Green, Cullen, Lapslie (Bonne 46), Williams (Doughty 66), Taylor. Not used: Amos, McGeady, Amith, Davis. Booked: Matthews, Purrington, Taylor.

Boro: Stojanovic, Howson, Shotton, Moukoudi, Johnson, Clayton, McNair (Saville 81), Tavernier (Spence 87), Wing, Coulson, Gestede. Not used: Pears, Assombalonga, Fletcher, Morrison, Nmecha. Booked: Shotton.

Referee: Stephen Martin

Charlton 0 Blackburn Rovers 2 (Buckley 29, Adarabioyo 37).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Like Storm Dennis which offered bluff and bluster but thankfully little carnage locally (so far), Charlton followed their firecracker win over Nottingham Forest with the damp squib of this tame, tepid defeat by cool Blackburn Rovers. Tony Mowbray's promotion outsiders handed the Addicks a lesson in calm, unemotional game management.

Never reluctant to tinker with a winning team, Lee Bowyer made just one, somewhat controversial change to the side which illuminated the City Ground. Despite playing his part manfully in midweek, diminutive Erhun Oztumer was possibly considered unsuited to Saturday's filthy conditions and unlikely to make a similar impression against Mowbray's physical Rovers. Fair enough but in his replacement Aiden McGeady, Bowyer hardly turned to a workaholic midfield hard man. McGeady's vague, jittery contribution failed to justify his decision to drop Oztumer.

Bowyer's dogged faith in Tomer Hemed is similarly difficult to understand. The strongly built Israeli tries hard but rarely looks likely to score. A goal would undoubtedly galvanise him - not to mention a patient crowd - but in five starts plus seven substitute appearances,  a breakthrough has looked unlikely. Either Andre Green (two goals) or the returning Macauley Bonne (eight goals) must surely start alongside Lyle Taylor in the crunch clash with Luton Town on Saturday. Both Green and Bonne featured on Saturday, significantly as replacements for Hemed and McGeady. Oztumer watched impassively from the bench.

Darren Pratley, if fit, should surely be considered ahead of David Davis, an apparent like-for-like but in fact a pale imitation of Charlton's inspirational on-field leader. Sadly, Pratley seems to have been disappeared to join Chris Solly, last seen in the Cup defeat by West Brom on January 5th, in a mythical Room 101 where discards are never seen again nor even discussed.

There was, to be fair, no lack of effort from Bowyer's choices but they were always second best to Mowbray's marauders. Following a bright start, during which both Taylor and Hemed drew competent saves from Christian Walton, Rovers asserted themselves. They were denied a fairly obvious penalty when Jason Pearce manhandled Dominic Samuel inside the area but moved into the lead within the opening half hour.Setting off on a solo dribble from left to right, with intelligent decoy running by Amari'i Bell in support beside him, winger John Buckley worked himself into a position from which to unleash a crisp drive which caught a useful deflection and left Dillon Phillips helpless on its way inside the keeper's right post.

Eight minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead with assistance from another of referee Andy Davies' eccentric decisions. It's taken for granted, of course, that players second guess referees even when caught holding a smoking gun but Davis' protest that his tackle on Buckley was legitimate had an earnest ring of truth about it. Davies was unmoved, however, leaving Stewart Downing to deliver a wickedly inswinging free kick which Tosin Adarbioyo turned in from six yards.

Before the interval, Taylor's athletically improvised header from Josh Cullen's cross was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Walton but Charlton's impact was minimal. Blackburn retired in good order with three points already securely in their grasp. Their sedate progress through an uneventful second half was uninterrupted by undue inconvenience, though it might have been interesting to discover where Hemed's close range header finished up had it not bounced harmlessly off an unaware defensive head into Walton's grateful hands. The keeper also parried Taylor's accurately struck free kick and repeated his earlier gymnastics to divert Cullen's powerful drive to safety, following Darragh Lenihan's crude foul on McGeady. But the two-goal deficit was otherwise comfortably protected.

Easily beaten by a better side, the Addicks will no doubt be encouraged to chalk this setback down to experience and move on. Next Saturday's visit from Luton Town now shapes up as this season's most crucial game, for which Bowyer's team selection will be critical. The Hatters have breathed life into their seemingly lost cause and will be no pushover. Is there such a thing in this crazy division?

Charlton: Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce (Smith 46), Sarr, Doughty, Davis, Cullen, McGeady (Bonne 69), Taylor, Hemed (Green 60). Not used: Amos, Purrington, Oshilaja, Oztumer.

Blackburn: Walton, Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Bell, Travis, Johnson, Downing, Buckley (Bennett 84), Armstrong (Chapman, Samuel (Brereton 81). Not used: Leutwiler, Graham, Davenport, Carter. Booked: Nyambe, Bell, Lenihan, Buckley.

Referee: Andy Davies. Att: 25,363 (2083 visiting).

Charlton 0 Fulham 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

At a Valley with a new, buoyant spring in its step, well-organised Charlton frustrated promotion hopefuls Fulham, achieved their first clean sheet since October 15th and added a precious point to the total they need to ensure Championship safety. The game itself was no thing of beauty but provided a savage satisfaction of its own.

There were numerous, other reasons for optimism. The return of engine room maestro Josh Cullen to the starting line-up and the charismatic  presence of Lyle Taylor on the bench provided exactly the boost a threadbare squad needed to re-energise itself. Word is they will be joined soon by other long-term absentees.

The West Londoners, meanwhile, had injury problems of their own, all of them up front. They arrived, as expected, without clever bruiser Aleksandar Mitrovic and Brighton loanee Anthony Knockaert, who had scored their recent winner against Middlesbrough. Also unavailable was Aboubakar Kamara, Mitrovic's natural deputy, whose two goals beat QPR 2-1 two weeks ago. There was abundant skill in Fulham's line-up but an obvious lack of cutting edge.

The reinstatement in central defence of Jason Pearce was Lee Bowyer's solution to the worrying vulnerability which has regularly leaked goals and squandered leads. Pearce comes in for criticism from many keyboard experts but his spirit will be invaluable in the coming weeks. Always prone to at least one defensive bloodrush -the late free kick he conceded to Fulham here caused unpleasant heart murmurs - his captain's example more than compensates, a point made by his crucial second half block on Bobby DeCordova-Reid. The no-quarter battle of Charlton's Crazy Horse with Mitrovic at Craven Cottage in October is the stuff of legend.

After a three-month absence, Cullen took time to settle in but his influence is incalculable and his continuing good health vital. Typically he completed 90 minutes, by the end of which he was calling the shots again as the go-to midfielder. Taylor's 70th minute re-appearance, as replacement for hardworking Tomer Hemed, whose passionate appeal for a penalty when hauled down by Michael Hector was ignored by referee Stephen Martin, also lifted The Valley and helped see them over the line to a useful result. The encouraging performance was illuminated yet again by a sterling contribution from ageless Darren Pratley.  A full complement of Addicks, strengthened by one or two transfer window arrivals, has little to fear in this division.

Chances in a grimly contested game were few. Neat in their approach but playing harmlessly in front of Charlton's alert defence, the Cottagers made the majority of them and should have broken local hearts early in the second half. Upfield for a left wing corner, defender Michael Hector was unmarked at the far post when picked out by Ivan Cavaleiro's precise cross. The Chelsea loanee's free header was wastefully directed wide. In a tepid first half, Dillon Phillips made two smart saves from DeCordova-Reid, but was beaten by Joe Bryan's fierce low crosshot as it zipped dangerously wide of his left-hand post. In defence of his rare clean sheet, Phillips was relatively untroubled during an attritional second period.

Solid and determined, Charlton offered an occasional threat. Alfie Doughty's pace posed problems though his final ball was frequently wayward. Switched to the right flank in the second half, his clever cutback to Erhun Oztumer brought a wildly sliced effort from the diminutive fireball which flew high, wide and unhandsome on its way over Marek Rodak's crossbar. Doughty himself pounced on an error by a tetchy.  Harry Arter and forced a rare save from Rodak.

Pleased and proud of his warriors, Bowyer can now turn his attention to the massive encounter with Barnsley at The Valley on February 1st. His squad could be bolstered by recovered invalids and new blood while the Tykes face an inconvenient Cup trip to Portsmouth on Saturday, where Dickie Bird and Michael Parkinson are expected to start. Still with only one win in their last 17 league games, the green shoots of recovery, nurtured by the return to the colours of Cullen, Taylor and the effervescent Jonny Williams, are at last poking through. The treatment rooms at Sparrows Lane are beginning to empty. We're close to having our Charlton back...

Charlton: Phillips,Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Purrington, Pratley, Morgan (Williams 63), Cullen, Oztumer (Green 82), Doughty, Hemed (Taylor 70). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Oshilaja, Sarr, Dempsey. Booked: Cullen.

Fulham: Rodak, Hector, Odoi, McDonald, Cairney (Johansen 77), Ream, DeCordova-Reid, Arter (Christie 72), Cavaleiro, Bryan, Onomah (Stansfield 88). Not used: Bettinelli, Kongolo,De la Torre, Sessegnon. Booked:Ream.

Referee: Stephen Martin. Att: 16,424 (2,337 visiting).

In memory of Barry Cawley -Richard's dad and dedicated Fulham fan - who died recently and whose funeral takes place next Tuesday 28th, 2020. Rest in Peace, Barry -  in the Premier League hopefully.

Derby County 2 (Knight 10,77) Charlton 1 (Taylor 83,pen)

Kevin Nolan reports from Pride Park.

The cracks in Lee Bowyer's constantly re-jigged squad are beginning to widen and threaten to become unmanageable. Their miserable failure to beat Derby despite the home side being reduced to 10 men for all but a quarter hour of this desperately disappointing game was ominous. The strain is starting to show, with the wretchedly ill-timed loss of Boxing Day hero Macauley Bonne to suspected hamstring damage  guaranteed to add another furrow to Bowyer's already fevered brow.

Bonne's magnificent two-goal performance which destroyed Bristol City inspired hope that with Lyle Taylor back in scoring form, the Addicks had at their disposal a strike force to match any in the division. Instead, Bonne now joins the panel of patients in the New Eltham dispensary while Taylor is still feeling his way back to full fitness. With the January transfer window supplying its usual mishmash of truth and fiction, we're likely to hear as much from their agents as Charlton's medical staff. Know what I'm saying?

Passive and timid, Charlton sleepwalked their way into this vital fixture. Less than a minute had elapsed when Jason Knight sent Martyn Waghorn sauntering through their dozing defence to confront Dillon Phillips. Practised and successful recently in these one-on-one duels, Phillips spread himself to save splendidly with his legs.

The visitors wilfully ignored the warning. Starting from a free kick rolled back to Tom Lockyer by Chris Solly, their passing from the back was ponderous and ill-conceived. As space became constricted, Naby Sarr's vague loss of possession allowed right back Andre Wisdom to cross from the touchline. A suspiciously offside Waghorn touched on for Knight to bravely head home at the far post despite Solly's earnest attempt to decapitate him. Charlton's catalogue of defensive errors continues to multiply.

Just five minutes after the goal, the Rams villainously compromised their bright start. The viciously late -and possibly premeditated - challenge launched by Krystian Bielik on regular target Conor Gallagher left referee Jeremy Simpson little alternative but to produce a red card. Moronically booed for his pains, Gallagher was mowed down again by Wisdom before the interval but Simpson remained unsympathetic on this occasion. Still only 19, the supremely talented Chelsea kid clearly has a price on his head. Widely popular during his successful loan spell at The Valley last season, Bielik was an out-of-character bounty hunter.

Their man-advantage failed to galvanise Bowyer's lethargic side. The best they mustered was Deji Oshilaja's routine header at an untroubled Ben Hamer and Bonne's weak effort over the bar. Bonne's obvious discomfort before the break saw him replaced by Taylor for the second half. That's the way it goes for the Addicks lately. As one door opens, another slams shut.

Taylor's neat lay-off for Gallagher to slice wildly over the bar began the second period promisingly enough. When Alfie Doughty drew a smart save from Hamer with a swerving shot, there was a further flicker of life but the Rams were hardly under siege. Jack Marriott broke through but missed the target woefully from the 18-yard line, then forced Phillips into a sharp save with a fiercely angled crosshot. But with 13 minutes left, Knight's second goal doubled the lead.

Loitering with intent to the right of goal as Duane Holmes fed Max Bird on the left, the young Ram was unchallenged as he volleyed his second senior goal from four yards. That was not quite that as Curtis Davies became the latest footpad to assault Gallagher, his offence carelessly committed inside the penalty area. Taylor duly reduced the arrears from the spot and Charlton briefly sensed a chance of redemption.

Hamer did his bit to preserve Derby's precious three points by brilliantly saving from substitute Ben Dempsey, then regaining his feet to smother Taylor's attempt to convert the rebound. An equaliser, while more than welcome, would have obscured the unvarnished truth that Charlton are in deep trouble, not altogether of their own making, but trouble nonetheless. Bowyer has been able to rely this season an unquenchable spirit in adversity. At Pride Park, that indispensable asset went missing. His side was listless, lethargic and ultimately lifeless. They need help. They need re-invigorating. They need new bloody owners!

Derby: Hamer, Wisdom, Davies, Clarke, Bird, Holmes, Bielik, Lowe, Knight, Marriott (Whittaker 90), Waghorn (Forsyth 90). Not used: Roos, Dowell, Martin, Sibley, Malone. Booked: Holmes.

Charlton: Phillips, Solly, Lockyer, Sarr (Davison 69), Purrington, Oshilaja (Dempsey 69), Pratley, Morgan, Gallagher, Bonne (Taylor 46), Doughty. Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Matthews, Pearce, Ledley. Booked: Gallagher, Pratley, Solly, Dempsey.

Att: 26,058). Referee: Jeremy Simpson.