Millwall 2 (Gueye 79, Hooiveld 87) Charlton 1 (Diarra 68).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Den.

The mismatch was obvious. It pitted 12th placed Charlton, free scoring winners of seven of their last nine games against relegation haunted Millwall, languishing in 23rd place and without a home win since October 25th. No contest really. Charlton were up against it.
Since Neil Harris took over, the Lions’ improvement had still to be rewarded with a win. And trailing 10-men Charlton 1-0 with eleven minutes left in this scruffy local derby, it seemed their wait would go on. Naturally, though, the Addicks couldn’t see it out. No change there then.

Millwall’s appointment of Harris might have been made just in time to save them. The blowhard rhetoric of his predecessor Ian Holloway had been sucking them inexorably into the relegation rapids. His “my way or the highway” ravings, the early-season demand that his players sign contracts of commitment, not to mention his cringeworthy claim to blood brotherhood with chairman John Berylson, were embarrassing enough. The adoption of a large black flat cap completed the ersatz Cockney image.

Before he made off with Berylson’s shilling, Holloway left Harris with a difficult task, which was eased by this dramatic victory over habitual patsies. It was gained the hard way over opponents who could hardly be accused of not trying but having less to lose, simply didn’t want it as much as these fully committed Lions. It’s an old, wearisome story.

Unchanged from the side which gave promotion seekers Brentford a large fright in their last fixture, Millwall bossed the early exchanges, with Lee Gregory an old-fashioned toecap away from converting Ed Upson’s fine cross. Upson himself should have done better than head a precise centre from Dan Harding over the bar while, at the other end, Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s angled delivery was turned into the sidenet by a straining Chris Eagles.

There wasn’t much in it before the dismissal just past the half hour of an unusually belligerent Chris Solly tipped the balance in Millwall’s favour. A brutal fusillade of point blank shots which saw Martyn Woolford’s drive blocked by Joe Gomez near the goalline and Jimmy Abdou’s follow-up effort similarly thwarted seemed to be resolved by the boom viciously lowered by Aiden O’Brien which beat Stephen Henderson. Behind his keeper Solly kept the ball out with either his face (his version) or an upflung arm (according to referee Mick Russell). Blood from a cut lip was offered as evidence of the right back’s innocence but received scant sympathy from Russell who pointed to the spot before ordering off Charlton’s captain. Once the mayhem subsided came the small matter of the penalty, which Gregory placed too near Henderson and was saved comfortably. An opportunity had been missed but Millwall’s consolation was easy to find. They now had an hour to break down ten men, something they found increasingly hard to do.

Henderson’s defiance continued with a splendid save at full length to turn aside a crisp shot on the turn from Upson and the keeper continued his fine work with another plunging stop to foil Shaun Williams after the break. Gudmundsson replied for the handicapped visitors by curling a snapshot narrowly wide before, halfway through the second period, the Addicks defied logic by grabbing the lead.

A more than capable deputy for Rhoys Wiggins recently, Morgan Fox’s ability to cross accurately is hardly a secret. The peach he delivered after checking inside from the left touchline was cleverly flicked across David Forde and neatly inside the far post by Alou Diarra. With Good Friday results favouring them elsewhere, Millwall’s big chance to make progress seemed to be eluding them. But they were far from finished as it turned out.

The arrival of Nicky Bailey, booed for some reason by the visiting fans, steadied the Lions. But it was another substitute, Magaye Gueye, who made the vital difference. His whiplashed shot from an awkward angle arrowed through legs and left Henderson helpless in finding the opposite bottom corner. It seemed that Charlton had snatched a draw from the jaws of victory; eight minutes later they went one worse by snatching defeat from the jaws of that draw. Gueye again caused panic and Jos Hooiveld prodded home the winger’s wayward shot through a crowded six-yard box. If you knew your history, the turnaround came as little surprise.

So plus ca bloody change…but at least it was Harris celebrating rather than that badge-kissing carpetbagger Holloway. Losing hurts but having him crow about it would be too much. Him and his “Millwall (or wherever he lays his hat), love it or leave it” shtick.

Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Hooiveld, Nelson, Harding (Maierhofer 69), Williams, Upson (Bailey 76), Abdou (Gueye 67), Woolford, Gregory, O’Brien. Not used: Archer, Dunne, Beevers, Taylor-Fletcher. Booked: Hooiveld, Woolford, Williams.

Referee: Mick Russell. Att: 14,722 (2235 visiting).

Charlton 3 (Buyens 58, pen, 70, Church 80) Reading 2 (Pogrebnyak 40,90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

With pressure no longer an issue, carefree Charlton treated their delighted fans to a feast of wildly entertaining, if sometimes harum-scarum football. Cup semi-finalists Reading were torn to pieces at times but somehow led at half-time, reduced their eventual arrears to a single goal in second half added time, then prolonged the unnecessary agony until Garath McCleary’s last gasp free kick floated into the grateful arms of Stephen Henderson.

Despite the mournful bleatings of Reading manager Steve Clarke, who laid his side’s defeat squarely at the feet of referee Darren Deadman, truth is the visitors were outclassed. Spared a heavier setback by missed chances and some heroic last ditch defending, the disgruntled boss nevertheless saw conspiracy everywhere, particularly in the circumstances through which the Addicks equalised the first of Pavel Pogrebnyak’s goals shortly after half-time.

Clashing with Tony Watt in dealing with a routine cross from Chris Eagles, Michael Hector inexplicably swiped the ball clear with a flailing hand. There were few complaints from the Royals at the time but Clarke built a case around a phantom push, which apparently persuaded his young defender to unwisely use his hand rather than his head. From the spot, Yoni Buyens easily beat Adam Federici to make it seven successful penalties this season.

“The penalty was another poor decision by the referee,” grumbled the doleful Clarke, “but you get plenty of them in this division. Then Danny Williams was sent off although his first yellow card was soft because he won the ball.” It didn’t seem the time to mention that Williams, with a booking to his name already, was clearly a mug to engage in unpleasantries with Watt, who clearly had a lot less to lose. Or to advise Hector to keep his hands to himself.

But enough of Clarke’s bitter bellyaching. His side was given a rare chasing during the first half, as Guy Luzon’s re-vamped squad, minus outstanding right back Chris Solly, who was injured during the warm-up, and top scorer Igor Vetokele, rested in a bid to regain full fitness, frequently toyed with them. The hosts’ zestful pass-and-move was impressive and lacked only a goal to ram home their superiority. Five minutes before the break, Pogrebnyak reminded us that scoring is still the point of the game. Benefitting from a helpful penalty area ricochet, the towering Russian turned to plant a low drive past Henderson before both sides headed for the dressing room to work out how they had mutually contrived such a misleading scoreline.

Resuming with clear intent, Charlton missed a couple of chances before Hector crucially intervened. A cute pass from Frederic Bulot set up an accurate cross from Morgan Fox, which Watt shinned awkwardly over the bar at the far post. Then Buyens’ glorious ball picked out Johan Berg Gudmundsson, whose cross was headed down by Bulot for Buyens but Hector’s brave block thwarted his point blank shot. It was looking a little like “one of those days” until Hector offered his helping hand. It was downhill fast for Reading from then on.

Eagles headed Gudmundsson’s precise centre wastefully over the bar but the reprieve was brief. A swooping cross from the superb Joe Gomez was skilfully swept home by the equally impressive Buyens as scoring suddenly seemed a piece of cake. As the Berkshire Royals sagged, a perfect cutback from Buyens set up substitute Simon Church but Federici brilliantly blocked the point blank effort.

Church had scored his first goal of the season in the midweek mauling of Blackpool and duly doubled his tally thanks to the persistence and skill of Watt. Forcing his way along the right byline, the charismatic Scot left a trail of toiling defenders in his wake and engineered the tap-in which Church bundled over the line. Curious “celebration” from the scorer, though. All that faux-modesty and finger-to-lips hushing of the North Stand. Might have been more appropriate to salute Watt’s magnificent contribution than to spare the feelings of a former club which no longer pay your wages. It was bloody embarrassing.

Pogrebnyak’s second scruffy goal in the fourth of five added minutes distorted the scoreline but meant little. The Addicks won this game with something to spare and the ingredients are in place for a serious crack at promotion in 2015-16, assuming, of course, that Luzon’s side won’t be broken up and shipped elsewhere. Bulot’s emergence has been dramatic, Buyens has come into his own, while Gudmundsson is one classy operator. At 17 years of age, Gomez is already the real deal, while, in Jordan Cousins, Charlton have a diamond on their hands. And Watt partnered with Vetokele – could be tasty next season. But why wait until then? Good Friday provides the perfect stage on which to strut their stuff because there’s still important business to take care of this season. Go get ’em, Guy!

Charlton: Henderson, Gomez, Diarra, Johnson, Fox, Cousins, Buyens, Gudmundsson, Bulot, Eagles (Church 68), Watt (Lepoint 88). Not used: Dmitrovic, Bikey, Lennon. Ahearne-Grant. Booked: Buyens, Watt.

Referee: Darren Deadman. Att: 15,007 (953 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Buyens 57,pen) Blackburn Rovers 3 ( Rhodes 15,78 Conway 18)

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Charlton’s modest but perfectly timed three-game winning streak at The Valley was broken by in-form Blackburn, who beat them for the third time this season with something to spare.
And that something to spare was the force of nature that is Jordan Rhodes. Scorer of both goals in Rovers 2-0 win at Ewood Park back in November, Rhodes again delivered the goods with two more strikes which more or less decided the issue further south.

With 149 goals in only 277 league games prior to kick-off, Rhodes wasted little time in rounding off his total to an impressive 150 by opening the scoring after just 15 minutes. His goal, from Charlton’s point of view, was a double disaster but provided us with yet another example of the clinical finishing this sharpshooter has made his trademark.

What possessed the normally impeccable Chris Solly to add a gratuitous touch to a ball which was proceeding out of play for a Charlton throw will be a matter for the right back’s conscience but the visitors were ruthless in turning his absentminded error to advantage. Tommy Spurr’s quick throw picked out Rhodes on the move and the danger man brushed past the challenge of an off balance Tal Ben Haim, drew a bead and beat Stephen Henderson with a low drive in off the far post. Apparently Rhodes’ lack of blistering pace has deterred serious interest from the Premier League. Their bleeding loss.

Badly shaken by the early setback, Charlton were rocked by a second goal just three minutes later. And if the opener could be traced to indecisive defending, Craig Conway’s excellent strike was the result of an inexplicable howler of Roger Johnson’s making. Apparently hypnotised by Yoni Buyens’ routine pass, Johnson’s hand was first attracted to the ball, then hastily withdrawn as he froze on the spot. Nipping in behind the stricken centre back, Conway matched the quality of Rhodes’ finish with a crisp, low shot into the far corner.

Two down against more than useful opponents, the Addicks pulled themselves together and chased an already lost cause. Never reluctant to carry the fight, Tony Watt continued his aggressive form, his well judged pass releasing Igor Vetokele to clip the bar from an awkward angle. Before the interval, the confident Glaswegian closed down a careless back pass but was crowded out by goalkeeper Jason Steele and a posse of panicky defenders. He’s a rare handful and difficult to discourage.

Early inroads into Rovers’ lead were vital to the home side’s chances and 12 minutes into the second half, the visitors showed vulnerability of their own. Gamely chasing Jordan Cousins’ ball over the top, Vetokele was mown down by Steele, who escaped with a yellow card due to the close proximity of several colleagues. As deadly a penalty taker as any seen in a Charlton shirt recently, Buyens cleverly changed his high-and-clipped technique, sent Steele the wrong way and gave him no chance with a sidefooted shot into the bottom right corner. All six of the playmaker’s goals have been scored from the spot, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson proved himself, in Buyens’ absence at Leeds in November, to be a 12-yard expert in his own right. That’s seven successful penalties for Charlton this season. They have yet to concede one.

With their arrears now manageable, the Addicks briefly called the tune. Frederic Bulot was a thorn in Blackburn’s right flank, his measured cross after stepping inside right back Adam Henley on the left touchline perfectly flighted for Vetokele at the far post. A carbon copy of the top scorer’s wonderful goal at Wigan seemed certain as Vetokele leapt prodigiously but this time powered his header against the crossbar.

No longer sure of themselves, Rovers were ripped apart shortly afterwards by Vetokele’s cute pass which sent Watt sprinting clear of centre back Alex Baptiste to confront an advancing Steele. Choosing his moment to shoot, the talismanic Scot beat the keeper but also the left hand post by two feet. After his brief flirtation with infallibility, Watt had revealed himself to be human after all. It’s unlikely Rhodes would have fluffed the chance.

Speaking of whom, Blackburn’s goal machine sealed the issue 12 minutes from time. Almost in slow motion, he dispassionately headed home substitute Chris Taylor’s deflected cross as Charlton’s defence stood watching helplessly. When a late Watt effort was scrambled off the line, it was clear this was not to be their day. So still two more points needed for unofficial security…..piece of cake. They don’t play Blackburn every week.

Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Ben Haim, Johnson, Fox, Cousins, Buyens (Church 83), Gudmundsson, Bulot (Eagles 73), Vetokele, Watt. Not used: Dmitrovic, Wilson, Gomez, Bikey, Diarra. Booked: Fox.

Blackburn: Steele, Henley, Baptiste, Henry (Spearing 70), Spurr, Conway (Taylor 21), Williamson (Evans 63), Cairney, Marshall, Rhodes, Brown. Not used: Eastwood, Songo’O, Lenihan, Gestede. Booked: Brown, Steele.

Referee: C. Breakspear. Att: 14,888 (703 visiting).

Charlton 2 (Bulot 7,38) Notts Forest 1 (Antonio 14).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Still flushed with success after demolishing Huddersfield three days previously, a sadly depleted Charlton stepped up to face the more daunting visit of bang-in-form Nottingham Forest on a frigid Tuesday evening. And local joy was unconfined as the Addicks sent Dougie Freedman’s men back to the Trent with their tails between their legs. You could say they were a bit lucky. You could also say that their victory was down to their never-say-die attitude. What you can’t say is that it was undeserved.

There was initial dismay as local fans were greeted with the news that Chris Solly, Roger Johnson and Johann Berg Gudmundsson had swelled an extensive injury list which includes long-term absentees Rhoys Wiggins, Johnnie Jackson and Franck Moussa, with Tal Ben Haim a more recent victim. Guy Luzon ‘s resourcefulness was severely tested but there was always the titanic presence of Jordan Cousins to console him. Surely a runaway Player of the Year winner, Cousins covered every inch of a perfect playing surface in his side’s cause. His 21st birthday on Friday means we can’t refer to him as a kid any more which, as a footballer, he hasn’t been for at least two years. A superb professional this man.

Shuffling his deck, Luzon brought in Alou Diarra to replace Johnson at centre back, with Lawrie Wilson deputising at right back for Solly and Callum Harriott slotting in for midfield playmaker Gudmundsson. When Wilson began the action with a ferocious shot stinging Karl Darlow’s hands shortly before Frederic Bulot put Charlton into a 7th minute lead, the early signs were encouraging. That impression didn’t last but first things first.

Already a cult figure at The Valley, Tony Watt brought with him the same swagger which destroyed Huddersfield. His lateral solo run left to right along the 18-yard line was rudely interrupted by Jamaal Lascelles, whose crude challenge earned him a booking. Punishment fitted crime for once as Bulot assumed Gudmundsson’s setpiece duties and curled a superb free kick into the top left corner.

The born-again Bulot had provided the perfect start but it became quickly apparent that burly wide man Michail Antonio had the beating of Wilson on the left and that Harriott could offer little comfort to his beleaguered colleague in nullifying the winger’s menace. Neither offered much resistance as Antonio cut inside them to pick his spot for a low drive which beat Stephen Henderson and found the far bottom corner to equalise.

Antonio was briefly unplayable and stepping inside Wilson, his dangerous centre was headed clear by Diarra from under Henderson’s crossbar. The keeper was anything but convincing in clearing Chris Burke’s resultant corner, then was thankful that Henri Lansbury’s fierce drive travelled untouched through a crowd on its way inches wide of the far post. Possibly still rattled, Henderson made a meal of fumbling Antonio’s innocuous effort as the Addicks struggled to stay level.

Destined for replacement at the interval, both Wilson and Harriott had at least the satisfaction of first combining to create the matchwinner for Bulot. Harriott’s pass was expertly timed to send an overlapping Wilson clear of left back Danny Fox, providing space for Wilson’s low cross to pick out Bulot unmarked in the penalty area. The Gabon international did the rest with a silky first touch setting up the crisp shot which whistled past a helpless Darlow.

Luzon’s anticipated changes involved the introduction of Andre Bikey to take over from Joe Gomez alongside Diarra with the 17 year-old prodigy moving to right back to replace Wilson on the hour. Chris Eagles came in for the mildly injured Harriott.

A series of corners, taken from both sides by Chris Burke, put the Addicks under early second half pressure but it was from Ben Osborn’s precise cross that Matty Fryatt should have equalised, his tame header sailing over the bar. Gomez, meanwhile, was also finding Antonio a handful and the Addicks escaped when the South Londoner’s cross richocheted off Diarra before bouncing harmlessly wide off Fryatt. With the visitors in control, Osborne’s clever turn bamboozled Yoni Buyens but the midfielder’s curling effort missed its target by inches. Bikey’s typically brave block foiled Burke and Fryatt again missed an acceptable chance from Osborn’s perfect cross.

And before you knew it, the fourth official was indicating three minutes of added time, all but 30 seconds of which were spent next to the left corner flag, where Watt’s impudent trickery drove Forest to distraction and Freedman to apopletic frustration. Both Eric Lichaj and Antonio picked up bookings for aiming wild kicks at the cocky Glaswegian and Freedman might have joined in if he could have got at him. It left only time for Henderson to confidently claim Burke’s last gasp corner before Charlton’s victory against the odds was confirmed. Against the odds, largely against the run of play. But magificent and stirring too.

Charlton: Henderson, Wilson (Bikey 46), Diarra, Gomez, Fox, Harriott (Eagles 46), Buyens, Cousins, Bulot, Vetokele (Lepoint 88), Watt. Not used: Dmitrovic, Church, Lennon, Ahearne-Grant.

Referee: S. Hooper. Att: 14,937 (1,559 visiting)

Charlton 3 (Gudmundsson 33, Watt 48, 71) Huddersfield Town 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

On an afternoon of raw emotion, Chris Powell came home on Saturday, his path smoothed by a diplomatic declaration that he had “moved on” from his contentious dumping almost exactly a year ago.

Now at the helm of Huddersfield Town, Powell’s welcome, though warm and heartfelt by the vast majority of a bumper football-for-a-fiver crowd, was qualified by current circumstances. Though Charlton had eased their relegation worries recently, the Addicks are not quite safe yet and there’s a limit to the goodwill on offer to visiting managers. Even your author, an ardent admirer of Powell as man, manager and tunnel jump pioneer, wished him well only to a point, then prayed for his side to be mullered by the local heroes. So much for sentimentality; so much less for the protocol of press box neutrality. When the chips are down, dog savages dog and the beautiful game turns ugly.

The old pro knows how it works. He would readily accept that neither player, manager, supporter nor some short-lived owner with a undisclosed business plan, is more important than the club itself, particularly one being run with all the opaqueness of a freemasons’ lodge by a humourless bloke spotted around the place about as regularly as Damon Runyon’s Seldom Seen Kid.

So The Valley paid its dues to one of its own, then turned its attention to the apparently even-money clash between Powell’s Terriers and the Addicks of Guy Luzon, Charlton’s still-new manager (shalom, Guy, but it might be wise not to unpack completely yet) following the bum’s rush given to Jose Riga and Bob Peeters. And, boy, did the Israeli justify his assertion that winning beautiful rather than ugly was dear to his heart.

For once a moving third minute’s applause had warmed Powell’s cockles, Charlton settled down to take Town apart. Their movement was non-stop, their passing intuitive, their appetite for the ball insatiable. Not a weak link marred their performance, with the recently off-form Yoni Buyens and much-maligned left back Morgan Fox stepping up to do their bit. And when an underworked Stephen Henderson was called upon to contribute, his second half saves from Jack Robinson and, more miraculously at full stretch from Murray Wallace’s “cert” explained why three clean sheets have been achieved in four games since the big keeper returned from a 3-month injury absence.

In front of Henderson, Chris Solly’s right back excellence can be assumed while the new centre half pairing of 17 year old Joe Gomez and twice as old Roger Johnson scarcely put a foot or head wrong. With the game still scoreless, Johnson’s recklessly brave block on Ishmael Miller sent the visitors a message that Charlton’s irresistible artistry was matched by a steely determination to do what was necessary to defend their goal at all costs. Shielding them, meanwhile, with his usual wholeheartedness and positional awareness, Jordan Cousins put in another prodigious shift.

But it was the stylish smoothness of Johann Berg Gudmundsson, with the reborn Frederic Bulot his skilful ally, who encouraged the ceaseless running and interchanging from Tony Watt and Igor Vetokele which doomed Huddersfield to defeat. Gudmundsson is a delight to watch but even he was overshadowed on this enjoyable occasion by the dynamic Watt.

The ex-Celtic striker was a headache the Terriers couldn’t shake off. Vetokele had already squandered a good chance set up by his partner when Watt’s latest foray was crudely checked by outwitted Mark Hudson’s foul. The 30-yard free kick was tailored precisely for Gudmundsson’s wand of a left foot and the ball was nestling in the top right corner almost before Alex Smithies had reacted to the danger.

After Ishmael Miller had pulled a rare chance wide for the Yorkshiremen, Vetokele’s weak effort from Bulot’s pass failed to trouble Smithies and Watt ended his buccaneering first half by bursting through to riffle the sidenet.

Any fears that Charlton, though overwhemingly superior, hadn’t quite sealed the deal were laid to rest three minutes after the break when Bulot’s fine pass sent Vetokele accelerating away from Robinson on the left flank. The Angolan’s square pass was slightly behind Watt, who made light of swivelling to plant an improvised drive into the bottom left corner of Smithies’ net.

All that Charlton’s outstanding display required was a final flourish, a detail inevitably taken care of by the on-fire Watt. With 19 minutes remaining, the charismatic Scot drove at the heart of Town’s demoralised defence, shrugging aside a series of halfhearted challenges before finishing almost casually past a by now shellshocked Smithies. A fine solo goal.

Luzon, though naturally pleased by what he’d overseen, was impressively matter-of-fact in declining to rate the performance as Charlton’s best under his tenure. The demolition of promotion candidates Brentford was mentioned but the message that quality as much as quantity matters to him is clear. He’s off to a solid start and maybe he’ll last. He’s shrewd and likeable and the fans will take to him. Then possibly we can bid farewell to all the uncertainty which has undermined this fine old football club for a year now.

It’s been a right ‘mare for the supporters. A Flanders ‘mare in many ways.

Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Gomez, Johnson, Fox, Gudmundsson (Wilson 54), Cousins, Buyens, Bulot (Diarra 75), Vetokele, Watt (Eagles 81). Not used: Dmitrovic, Bikey, Church, Lepoint. Booked: Gomez, Cousins.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Robinson, Hudson, Wallace, Edgar (Smith 64), Scannell, Butterfield, Hogg (Coady 64), Bunn (Lolley 72), Vaughan, Miller. Not used: Murphy, Carroll, Gobern, Majewski. Booked: Robinson.

Referee: James Linington. Att: 25,545 (2,151 visiting).

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Ipswich Town 3 (Smith 31, Murphy 60, McGoldrick 90), Charlton 0

Kevin Nolan reports from Portman Road.

Colourless and lacklustre, Charlton slipped to routine defeat at the hands of promotion aspirants Ipswich Town in chilly Suffolk yesterday. Hot on the heels of table toppers Bournemouth, Town were hardly hotshots themselves but had more than enough about them to cruise comfortably to victory.

The details of Charlton’s latest setback, as much as its reality, causes concern about their long term prospects. Tuesday’s line-up, with the exception of long-term absentees Stephen Henderson and Rhoys Wiggins, seems just about the strongest available to Bob Peeters. At the halfway point of this grinding, gruelling season, the selection barrel has been scraped. Unless there is unprecedented activity in the January transfer window, what you see is what you get in S.E.7 these days and on an increasingly threadbare squad rests the Addicks’ chances of staying in the Championship. No need to panic but relegation is a far more viable prospect than promotion. It must be avoided at all costs. As no doubt it will be.

There were sporadic passages of play at compact Portman Road during which Charlton held their own. Some of their football was neat, if toothless. But there was never any valid hope that they would come through against the odds. They have lost the knack of quarrying useful results -admittedly the great majority of them draws- from unpromising circumstances. The rock-like defence which has kept them afloat has shown signs of cracking recently under the strain of protecting no more than the one goal per game regularly provided at the sharp end. Ominously, had the Tractors been a little luckier, this emphatic score line might have been doubled.

As early as the 8th minute, notice was served that the visitors were in for a difficult evening. A clumsy foul by Andre Bikey on Daryl Murphy conceded a needless free kick, which David McGoldrick cleverly curled round the wall but, with Neil Etheridge beaten, the ball rebounded harmlessly off the right post.

Regular setpieces were a steady source of problems for Charlton and it was from the ninth of ten first half corners that Town eventually broke the deadlock just past the half hour. Paul Anderson’s outswinging delivery caused chaos, which centre back Tommy Smith resolved by bashing home his fourth goal of the season from two yards. With their feeble goal-a-game ratio on their minds, the Addicks already were up against it.

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The livewire hero of Saturday’s recovery against Cardiff City, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, again provided faint hope for his laborious side. His slow-motion close range header was cleared off the line before he combined with Chris Solly to fashion a chance which George Tucudean scooped over the bar. Gudmundsson somewhat blotted his copybook on the stroke of half-time with a thoughtless foul on Jay Tabb. Up stepped McGoldrick to bend a carbon-copy free kick past Etheridge but he was even more unfortunate to hit the same post again, with the rebound trickling to safety off the comprehensively beaten keeper.

To his credit, Gudmundsson kept trying and his purposeful run stretched Town’s rearguard early in the second period but Smith crucially overpowered Tucudean near goal. The Icelandic playmaker then set up Solly to cross accurately and Johnnie Jackson to head narrowly too high. Just as abruptly, the Addicks’ hash was settled on the hour.

A raking shot from Cole Skuse returned Anderson’s partially cleared corner, a deflection flicked up for McGoldrick to head against the bar, leaving prolific scorer Murphy to nod the ricichet neatly into an empty net.

The diminutive Tabb was a restless influence and his cute pass was carelessly sidefooted over the bar by McGoldrick. Frankly, the untroubled Tractor Boys could afford his profligacy.

Gudmundsson’s fierce, angled drive, from Tucudean’s adroit lay-off, not only stung Bartosz Bialkowski’s hands but represented Charlton’s solitary effort on target. It was entirely academic, of course, and really no surprise when McGoldrick finished them off in added time with a well taken third goal.

Peeters is experienced enough to know that his side stand at a critical crossroads in yet another problematic campaign. Victory has been tasted on just six occasions, the last of which was the 1-0 triumph at Reading on November 8th. The most recent of four home successes was the 2-1 squeaker over Bolton Wanderers back on a distant October 21st. Charlton have, frankly, forgotten how to win. And they need to quickly remember how it’s done before the memory atrophies. Like we said, though, no need to panic yet.

Ipswich: Bialkowski, Bishop (Bru 84), Smith, Chambers, Parr, Anderson (Stephen Hunt 60), Berra, Skuse, Tabb, McGoldrick (Hunt), Murphy. Not used: Gerken, Mings, Ambrose, Sammons. Booked: Smith, McGoldrick

Charlton: Etheridge, Gomez, Ben Haim, Bikey, Solly, Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson (Bulot 70), Cousins, Tucudean, Vetokele. Not used: Pope, Wilson, Thomas, Fox, Pigott, Ahearne-Grant. Booked: Tucudean.

Referee: Christopher Kavanagh. Att: 26,157 (1023 visiting)

Charlton 1 (Gudmundsson 88) Cardiff City 1 (Adeyemi 12).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

A goal down to Cardiff City and on their way out at half-time, 10-man Charlton mustered a rousing second-half rally guaranteed to stir the blood and warm the cockles of a supportive crowd on Boxing Day. But for all their moving courage, they seemed doomed to disappointment as Tom Adeyemi’s early header continued to separate these sides with just two minutes left on the clock.

Fortunately for the Addicks, Johann Berg Gudmundsson had one more shot left in his locker. The restless bundle of energy seized on a loose ball some 30 yards from goal, moved forward a couple of paces, then thundered an unstoppable drive into the top left corner. “Pick that one out!”, he muttered in his native tongue as The Valley deliriously echoed his sentiments in more mundane Anglo-Saxon terms.

Gudmundsson’s magnificent equaliser was no more than Charlton deserved and might have provided the springboard for an even more dramatic turn of events had Igor Vetokele managed to convert the juiciest of chances deep into four minutes of added time.

Facing only David Marshall after Joni Buyens’ clever dummy allowed Gudmundsson’s pass to send him clear of a bamboozled defence, Vetokele, by overwhelming local choice the right man in the right place at the right time, chose power over precision and blasted wildly over the bar.

Those four added minutes, by the way, can’t pass without comment. After factoring in four second half substitutions and a lengthy goal celebration, it seems that City’s cynical timewasting, which included leisurely touchline-to-touchline journeys for long throw specialist Aron Gunnarsson to do his stuff, was a tactical masterclass. So don’t let anyone tell you that crime doesn’t pay. Except, of course, it came unstuck on this occasion.

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None of Charlton’s late heroics, meanwhile, can entirely gloss over their first half ineptitude. Until George Tucudean smashed Buyens’ cute pass against Marshall’s hands shortly before the break, they had rarely threatened. By that time, they were deservedly both a goal and a man down.

Gunnarsson had wasted little time in demonstrating his prowess with ball in hands, his lusty first minute missile from the right corner flag earning City their first corner. Crossing almost immediately to the opposite flank, where his hosts had thoughtfully provided a gap in the advertising hoardings to aid his momentum, he uncorked a monster which Ben Turner touched on for Ademeyi to bury a header into the roof of the net.

Out-of-sorts, disjointed and bereft of imagination, the Addicks -or Callum Harriott to be precise- compounded their haplessness by making a poor situation worse just past the half hour. A clumsy first touch led Harriott to launch a high, dangerous challenge -in fairness, more the product of incompetence than malice- on Craig Noone. Referee Russell’s red card was inevitable, just about the only decision he got right all afternoon, as wryly observed by Bob Peeters late on.

The manager’s interval message was apparently simple. Charlton had reached rock bottom, their only way was up. And how wholeheartedly his depleted troops, among which Neil Etheridge was making an encouraging debut, responded. Inspired by Gudmundsson, who used Harriott’s departure to move into a free roving role further upfield, they drove the previously dominant Bluebirds to disorganised distraction.

A second half siege began with Tucudean flicking Johnnie Jackson’s inswinging corner against the right post. Growing in confidence and pressing home his case for regular selection, the nimble-footed Rumanian then panicked Sean Morrison into hauling him back by skinning him inside the visitors’ half, an offence for which Morrison might have seen a red rather than the yellow card he received. Gudmundsson came within a whisker of exacting appropriate retribution but his artful free kick clipped the woodwork. The on-fire Icelander then forced a splendid, one-handed save from Marshall with a crisp low drive.

Surely nailed-on to partner Vetokele up front during and also after Harriott’s suspension, Tucudean received from Jordan Cousins, beat Marshall with a subtle flick but was foiled by John Brayford’s cushioned goalline clearance. A rare handful, Tucudean’s shot struck a defensive hand inside the penalty area; no dice was Russell’s response. Short of forcing the ball home by battering ram, there seemed no way to breach the Welsh wall until Gudmundsson’s sublime intervention.

So Christmas went out with a bang. The old Boxing Day fixture never quite had the glamour of Christmas Day but it’s as good as it gets these days. And quite right too. No more chestnuts roasting on a vendor’s open fire, no more Jack Frost nipping off our toes, no more straining to see more than a third of the pitch from behind the inevitable six-footer standing resolutely in front of you on a freezing terrace. Heath and Safety’s taken care of all that. But what they can’t take away is the sheer, animal thrill of a last minute goal in your favour. Nostalgia? -okay, it ain’t quite what it was but it’s still packs a punch. Cheers, JBG. And cheers all of you out there… you are out there, right?

Charlton: Etheridge, Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Gomez (Onyewu 56), Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson (Vetokele 56), Cousins, Harriott, Tucudean. Not used: Pope, Wilson, Bulot, Fox, Ahearne-Grant. Booked: Solly.

Cardiff, Marshall, Brayford, Morrison, Turner, John, Noone, Gunnarsson, Adeyemi (Ralls 88), Whittingham, LeFondre (Harris 69), Jones. Not used: Moore, Da Silva, Manga, Macheda, Connolly. Booked: Morrison.

Referee: Mick Russell. Att: 17,543 (874 visiting).

Blackburn Rovers 2 (Rhodes 6,19) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Ewood Park.

Horrified witnesses in a packed away end at Fulham two months ago will recognise the key components in Charlton’s latest defensive debacle at Ewood Park. Lacking only the late coup-de-grace applied by the West Londoners’ Hugo Rodellega on that chaotic occasion, this dismal defeat followed an otherwise eerily familiar pattern.

In front of only 318 battlehardened camp followers in the frigid Northwest, the Addicks stuck doggedly to their doctrine of playing out from the back and, as at Craven Cottage, were cruelly punished for their self-indulgence. They were actually served an early warning when Joe Gomez’ misplaced pass led to a chance which Jordan Rhodes fired against Nick Pope’s legs. But they didn’t learn. No more than three minutes later, Rhodes faced Pope again in one-on-one confrontation. It was unlikely that as prolific a marksman would kick a second gift horse in the teeth.

Presumably under strict tactical instructions, Pope’s pass out to Jordan Cousins placed the youngster under unwelcome pressure from Ben Marshall, who neatly abstracted possession before playing in Rhodes to his left. There was to be no second reprieve with the hitman’s careful drive slotted across Pope into the bottom right corner.

The nightmare start almost went from bad to worse when Pope dropped a swirling skyscraper at Rudy Gestede’s feet, hardly recommended practice with an in-form 12-goal striker on hand. Luckily for the badly rattled keeper, Gestede’s instant shot cannoned off Morgan Fox’s head to temporary safety.

By now it was essential that the panicky Londoners settled down before their disadvantage became unmanageable. Before the 20-minute mark, Rhodes disabused them of even that modest ambition.

Alertly on the move as Gestede flicked on Jason Steele’s huge punt, Rhodes brushed through Tal Ben Haim’s tissue-thin resistance, stumbled past a vaguely groping Pope and walked his 10th goal of the season into an empty net. The feeble hurdles he’d surmounted were typical of a first half, in which it’s difficult to recall a single 50-50 challenge won by visitors who have frequently made a virtue of papering over cracks in their ability with spirit and determination.

Not this time. Weak on the ball and unable to cope with Rovers’s unapologetic physicality, Charlton were easy prey for hard but fair opponents. And no case can be made for the extreme youth in their ranks. If you’re good enough, you’re also old enough has been a watchword we’ve come to accept. But you can’t have it both ways. Whatever your age, you’re expected to fight for the right to play. You need to toughen up, Charlton. And look after the ball better.

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So with Blackburn unconcerned with improving their position and with the Addicks clearly incapable of doing anything about it, a turgid encounter dragged on for 70 further minutes. Coming from behind has hardly been one of the virtues of Charlton’s campaign so far but at least the boredom gave us time to ponder Bob Peeters’ growing problems.

Beset by injuries to key players, not to mention the untimely return to Arsenal of Francis Coquelin, a talented midfielder on whom he was beginning to depend, Peeters has shuffled his deck recently. On a needs must basis, Chris Solly has stepped into right central midfield before, in the wake of Saturday’s early collapse, relieving left back Fox, whose confidence must have been shaken by his embarrassing removal on the half hour when, in fact, he was no worse than any of his experienced colleagues.

For what they’re worth, some conclusions can be drawn and suggestions made, among them the immediate return to right back of Solly, with the willing Lawrie Wilson operating in front of him. The re-invention of Callum Harriott as a striker in support of Igor Vetokele must surely be reconsidered, with the skilful, if admittedly lightweight George Tucudean handed another chance. The memory of the last second matchwinning chance the Rumanian expertly laid on for Andre Bikey against Blackpool should be factored in by the manager.

Last but far from least, owner Duchatelet must be persuaded to stick his hand in his sky (that’s yer pocket, Roland) and help out with a signing or two. A large, mobile target man, preferably a sturdy Brit,would be handy for starters before Charlton earn a reputation as a bargain basement outfit with contacts exclusively in Belgium. We can only dream of the likes of Rhodes and Gestede, of course, but the situation is precarious. It’s handy to have 30 points but we can’t stick on them, can we? We need to twist and get 20 more asap. It’s 50 or bust and we all know what that could mean. Doesn’t bear thinking about. Which doesn’t stop me thinking about it.

Blackburn: Steele, Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson, Tunnicliffe, Evans, Lowe, (Williamson 49), Marshall (Dunn 76), Gestede (King 76), Rhodes. Not used: Kilgallon, Eastwood, Varney, Conway.

Charlton: Pope, Gomez, Ben Haim, Bikey, Fox (Wilson 30), Buyens, Solly, Cousins (Bulot 73), Gudmundsson, Harriott (Pigott 46), Vetokele. Not used: Etheridge, Onyewu, Tucudean, Ahearne-Grant. Booked: Buyens.

Referee: David Webb.
Att: 12,231.

Charlton 2 (Buyens 38,pen, Cousins 55) Blackpool 2 (Eagles 25, Davies 89)

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley

Steady evolution gave way to sudden revolution on Saturday at The Valley, where Bob Peeters threw off his cautious reputation and confronted the steady erosion of his side with unusual boldness.

Beset by long term injuries to first choice goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, left back ace Rhoys Wiggins and deeply influential skipper Johnnie Jackson, Peeters learned as late as Thursday evening that Arsenal wanted loanee Francis Coquelin back in their ranks on Friday morning. The Gunners were perfectly within their contractual rights but their ruthless behaviour smacked of disrespect for a “smaller” club, which had a moral right to expect more reasonable notice that the loan was to end. No criticism of Coquelin, of course, who departed to resume an occasional career on Arsenal’s bench.

Meanwhile, back to Peeters who, short of donning a Che Guevara beret and rounding it off with a “No pasaran” t-shirt, could hardly have kicked over the traces with more spirited abandon. His new 3-5-2 (or was it 3-5-1-1?) formation featured regular right back Chris Solly in a right central midfield role, while17 year-old prodigy Joe Gomez took over behind him. Novice left back Morgan Fox was pushed forward to wingback as the Addicks were pared down to three at the back. With Callum Harriott and Igor Vetokele carrying the red flag up front, it seemed that visitors Blackpool would be swept away by a tide flooding aggressively over the barricades.

It would have been heartwarming to report the overwhelming success of Peeters’ bold experiment but the reality was rather different. Though Solly settled responsibly to his new duties, the “diamond” we were promised looked more than a bit lopsided. There was little understanding, even less dynamism, no cohesion to speak of. Frankly the laboured diamond began to look more lozenge-shaped as soon as the newly revitalised Seasiders got among them. And a well chewed lozenge at that.

It was Jean Paul Sartre who stopped waffling about other things long enough to maintain that “in football, everything is complicated by the presence of the opposing team”, an inconvenient truth just as conveniently ignored by your grandstand know-alls. It quickly became obvious that Blackpool intended to cheerfully complicate life for the misshapen Addicks. Timing’s the key to football and Lee Clark’s rejuvenated side bears no resemblance to the shambles which offered easy pickings for opponents earlier in a campaign which still looks odds-on to finish in relegation. It wasn’t Charlton’s good fortune to meet them while they were still on offer.

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The visitors’ defiant intentions were signalled as early as the 3rd minute, after Jordan Cousins carelessly tripped Chris Eagles and Jacob Murphy’s swerving free kick was turned aside at full stretch by Nick Pope. Pope was also reliable in getting behind Eagles’ sidefooted effort but rode his luck as Steven Davies was gutbusting inches away from touching Eagles’ swooping diagonal cross past him.

It was an uninspiring start to the uprising and was hardly improved by Vetokele’s poor touch in allowing Cousin’s piercing pass to roll untouched through to Joe Lewis; so it came as no surprise that it was unfancied (14/5 could be had on-line) Blackpool who shocked their supposed betters by snatching the lead.

Still with something to offer at 29, Eagles found space to accept Tom Kennedy’s infield space, his fierce drive earning a right wing corner off Tal Ben Haim; Jamie O’Hara’s inswinger was pawed by Pope on to Nyron Nosworthy’s head and forced over the line by Eagles despite Solly’s goalline resistance. All very scruffy but justified by the run of play.

As the Addicks came into it, O’Hara was booked for upending Cousins but Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s free kick soared harmlessly over the bar. The momentum had shifted, though, and a vital equaliser before the break was secured by Charlton’s fourth successful penalty of the season.

A sweeping move along the left flank was spearheaded by Fox, whose well-timed pass sent Gudmundsson to the byline. The midfielder’s cutback eventually reached Vetokele, who was irresponsibly upended by Peter Clarke. As expected, Yoni Buyens proved ice-cool from the penalty spot.

A rare home win -Charlton’s first since October 21st – seemed assured when the indefatigable Cousins fired them into the lead ten minutes after the break. Picked out by Solly’s square pass 25 yards from goal, the coltish teenager picked his spot and calmly passed the ball into the bottom right corner.

Up front for the visitors, meanwhile, the bustling Davies is exactly the kind of centre forward badly needed by Charlton to support Vetokele. Uncomplicated, direct and physical, he kept plugging away but was in the wrong place at the wrong time as he inadvertently blocked Kevin Foley’s goalbound drive. In the last seconds of normal time, he put matters right with a typical No. 9’s equaliser.

Harshly penalised for fouling Ishmael Miller though he appeared more sinned against than sinning, Andre Bikey conceded the free kick which Tony McMahon whipped in from the right and Davies, bravely throwing himself in front of the rashly charging Pope, risked injury to head down inside the right post. The scorer limped painfully off though Bikey himself wasn’t quite finished. With almost the game’s last kick, he met George Tucudean’s precise lay-off from the left byline but from eight yards blazed haplessly over the bar. It would have been hard on the plucky Tangerines if he’d scored but it was always a long shot -even from eight yards!

Charlton: Pope, Gomez, Ben Haim, Bikey, Cousins, Solly, Buyens, Fox, Gudmundsson, Harriott (Tucudean 71), Vetokele. Not used: Etheridge, Wilson, Bulot, Onyewu, Pigott, Ahearne-Grant. Booked: Ben Haim.

Blackpool: Lewis, Foley, Nosworthy, Clarke, Kennedy, McMahon, Murphy (Miller 48), O’Hara, Perkins, Eagles (Delfouneso 53) Davies (O’Keefe 90). Not used: Parish, Orlandi, Waddington, O’Dea. Booked: O’Hara.

Referee: A. Davies.

Notts Forest 1 (Tesche 59) Charlton 1 (Harriott 10).

Kevin Nolan reports from the City Ground.

When an on-fire Callum Harriott illuminated Charlton’s dismal 2013-14 season by banging in five goals in their last two league games, the immediate talk was of an overdue breakthrough, the final transition of an outstanding U-21 prospect to accomplished professional. It’s reasonable to assume that the end of the campaign came too soon for the in-form winger.

Harriott seems to have been around for so long that it’s almost surprising to realise that he doesn’t actually get the key of the door until March 4th next year. (That’s what we old-timers used to call reaching the supposedly mature age of 21). Already father of toddler son Harley, the newly responsible dad no doubt earmarked this season as the one in which he stepped up from the wannabe juniors to nail down a place in Bob Peeters’ embryonic senior side. That hasn’t worked out yet but time is still on his side. He’s making his move as injuries provide inevitable openings.

The often frustrating kid could manage no better than a place on the bench during the Addicks’ opening fourteen games before making his first start at Leeds on November 4th. Playing up front behind lone forward Igor Vetokele, his improvement has been steady and while the old tendencies to showboat dribbling and careless loss of possession still surface occasionally, a new willingness to put in the hard yards is winning over the sceptics. All his busy performances required was a goal to take the pressure off Vetokele. At a chilly City Ground, that important detail was taken care of after just 10 minutes.

Starting brightly with midfield providers Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Francis Coquelin dictating the play, the Addicks put together a sumptuous move in grabbing the lead. It was launched by Ben Tal Haim’s commitment to bringing the ball out of defence and crossing the halfway line before handing the initiative to Gudmundsson tight to the right touchline.

Checking back on his sweet left foot, the Icelandic international flighted a precise crossfield pass which was cleverly controlled by Jordan Cousins, who alertly picked out Harriott inside him. One steadying touch set up a crisp low drive which caught a slight deflection before finding the net off the inside of the right post. Charlton were off and running, their jubilation tempered only by the uncomfortable knowledge that only rarely are they good for more than one goal per game. A total of 21 in 20 games speaks for itself.

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Managed by the ultra-competitive Stuart Pearce, Forest were unlikely to surrender meekly and wasted little time in coming back at their lively visitors. A litany of missed opportunities was begun by the mess made by an unmarked Michail Antonio of hitting an inviting target at the far post. Jamie Paterson was equally careless with the close range chance he prodded lamely wide. And when Coquelin was booked for needlessly fouling Antonio, Nick Pope’s punched clearance of Paterson’s free kick was returned by Ben Osborn’s volley which deflected harmlessly over Pope’s bar.
Ten minutes before the break, the visitors’ more cultured football almost confounded that damning one-goal-per-game statistic. Taking the fight to Forest, Harriott ran at the heart of their defence before releasing Coquelin into space to his right. The immaculate French midfielder crossed perfectly, Vetokele managed a twisting header but Karl Darlow reacted smartly to parry. A 20th minute replacement for worryingly injured skipper Johnnie Jackson, Lawrie Wilson was unable to convert the rebound on his weaker left foot.
Forced back by the Trentsiders in the second half, Charlton lived on their nerves as Thomas Ince was set up by Danny Fox’s deep cross to shoot wildly off target. Hearts were in mouths when the Trentsiders howled for a penalty but referee Kevin Wright was ideally positioned to judge that Chris Solly’s tackle on Paterson was not only fair but clinical. Pearce’s men were building up a head of steam, though, and equalised before the hour. And what a goal it was. Meeting Ben Haim’s decent enough headed clearance outside the penalty area, interval substitute Robert Tesche detonated an unstoppable left-footed volley, which the elastically elongated Pope unbelievably managed to touch on its searing journey into the top left corner. As if to prove that it was no fluke, Tesche unleashed a second cannonball shortly afterwards but Andre Bikey bravely blocked.
Briefly lifting the steady pressure, the Addicks created arguably the second period’s best chance. Slipped through by Vetokele’s astute pass, Harriott eased between centre backs Michael Mancienne and Jamaal Lascelles but shot weakly against the advancing Darlow’s optimistically deployed right foot.
There was little else to trouble Darlow as his side desperately sought a winner. An irritating nemesis of Charlton while at QPR, substitute Dexter Blackstock headed Osborn’s centre straight at Pope, who was equally reliable in covering Antonio’s daisycutter. When Paterson’s late volley bent harmlessly wide, the visitors had the useful point their resistance deserved. Plus further proof that young Harley’s daddy is buckling down to put regular food on his high chair and the softest nappies on his powdered areas. Way to go, Callum. It’s making a man of you, not to mention a a more dedicated footballer.
Forest: Darlow, Lichaj, Mancienne, Lascelles, Fox, Antonio, Lansbury (Tesche 46), Paterson, Ince (Blackstock 76), Osborn, Fryatt. Not used: Wilson, Hunt, Vaughan, Burke, DeVries. Booked: Lansbury, Tesche.
Charlton: Pope, Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Fox, Gudmundsson (Bulot 90), Coquelin, Jackson (Wilson 20), Cousins, Harriott, Vetokele. Not used: Etheridge, Gomez, Onyewu, Buyens, Pigott. Booked: Coquelin.

Referee: Kevin Friend.
Att: 22,297.