Charlton 1 (Kermorgant 87) Birmingham City 1 (Elliott 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Shattered by yet another inexplicably late collapse, Charlton’s solitary crumb of comfort must be that on this particularly sickening occasion a draw at least boosted their points tally to a psychologically important total of forty. There will be little else that their fans will wish to recall about this ill-fated game.

Mind you, it could have been worse – much worse. If sorely limited visitors Birmingham City had had just a little more time available to them following Wade Elliott’s 92nd minute equaliser, a third consecutive 2-1 setback would most certainly have been Charlton’s fate. The panic which paralysed the Addicks during the two remaining added minutes was all too familiar. They seem pathologically incapable of seeing a lead through to its logical conclusion and, as a consequence of that failing, risk being sucked down into a relegation struggle.

What made this latest lapse an even more bitter pill to swallow was the apparently decisive timing of Yann Kermorgant’s opening goal. Just three minutes were left when the excellent Chris Solly crowned an inexhaustible performance in both defence and attack, by making space along the right flank for a pinpointed cross which Kermorgant headed down and beyond the reach even of City’s outstanding young goalkeeper Jack Butland. It looked briefly like Charlton’s turn to inflict late pain on stunned opponents

Having pounded away fruitlessly at Butland’s goal for most of the second half, the clearly superior home side had merely to go through efficient motions to seal a victory which had been a long time coming but was even sweeter for the wait.

Instead, Charlton dropped back, formed a defensive line in front of their penalty area and invited their visitors on to them. Accepting the invitation, the previously toothless Blues suddenly fancied their chances. They swarmed forward, were delayed by a series of anywhere-will-do clearances, but refused to surrender. There was considerably more luck than judgement in the low shot-cum-centre whipped into the six-yard box by Chris Burke but Elliott made the most of it. His instant shot was swept past Ben Hamer to spark unintelligible celebrations in the Jimmy Seed stand behind the beaten goalkeeper. Only referee Andy D’Urso’s merciful final whistle spared Charlton further humilation. Not that considerable damage hadn’t already been inflicted on them.

Falling back on the football manager’s default position of optimism, Chris Powell will understandably sift through the wreckage for silver linings. And there were, admittedly, plenty of them to find. Taking this critical game by the throat, Charlton controlled most of the action, made but missed several chances, and were good value for the win Kermorgant’s strike belatedly seemed to have given them. Only their usual lack of a cutting edge kept the outplayed Brummies in the hunt but their approach play was frequently impeccable. Led superbly by versatile Ricardo Fuller, they appeared capable of breaking through but were frequently foiled by Butland.

Signed by Stoke City on transfer deadline day but loaned back to Birmingham, the 19 year old prodigy made several key saves, the first of them a sprawling low diversion of Fuller’s low snapshot. His point blank defiance at Scott Wagstaff’s feet was followed by another full length plunge to defy Wagstaff after Fuller bullied his way along the right byline. His handling was both safe, sound and enough to make Charlton regret Stoke’s generous decision to send him back to the Second City.

Fuller was the Addicks’ bright spark, his swivelling volley of Solly’s throw-in flashing across goal, his touch and instinct consistently sound. It wasn’t all one-way, of course, and Solly’s timing of a penalty area tackle on elusive Robert Hall was executed with typically incisive timing. An emergency second half challenge from Cedric Evina which forced Marlon King to shoot wildly over the bar had the double virtue of saving his side and denying the deeply unpopular King the satisfaction of scoring. On a day of such deep disappointment, you take consolation where you find it.

And, boy, was this one disappointing day. Er, sorry, I’m showing a bit of bias here. And we’re not allowed that in the press box. So let’s hear it for plucky City. Well played, chaps. Now shove off back to Birmingham!

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Evina, Wilson (Green 71), Stephens, Jackson, Wagstaff (Dervite 90), Kermorgant, Fuller (Wright-Phillips 90). Not used: Taylor, Button, Pritchard, Wiggins.

Birmingham: Butland, Robinson, Davies, Caldwell, Caddis, Burke, Gomis (Thomas 68),Elliott, Reilly (Zigic 90), Hall (Redmond 73), King. Not used: Doyle, Mullins, Lovenkrands, Hancox. Booked: Reilly.

Referee: Andy D’Urso. Att: 17,269.

Crystal Palace 2 (Murray 75,79) Charlton 1 (Fuller 14).

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Kevin Nolan reports from Selhurst Park.

It’s generally accepted that lightning never strikes twice in the same place. But it certainly can strike its victims twice -it just lets fly from a different place after kidding them they’ve seen the worst. The second zapping can be even more painful.

What happened to Charlton at Selhurst Park shouldn’t happen to a junkyard dog. A week earlier at The Valley, they led Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 until goals in the 85th and 89th minutes stunned them. On this equally inauspicious occasion they resolutely, if somewhat precariously, defended the 14th minute lead given them by Ricardo Fuller’s maverick enterprise before belatedly caving in again. Two excellent strikes- this time neatly bridging the 75th and 79th minutes- from a deceptively subdued Glenn Murray left them badly burned for a second time.

Until Murrays 24th and 25th goals of a personally prolific season rescued his increasingly frustrated side, the Addicks had more than matched their promotion-seeking local rivals. They were undeniably the better team during a first half they effortlessly dominated; with improved finishing and maybe a timely slice of luck, the points might have been squirrelled away before the break. But Palace survived, relatively but ominously intact. Football makes a time-honoured practice of punishing profligacy and to the sceptics among 3,091 raucous travellers, the potential for disappointment stuck out like a hitchhiker’s sore thumb.

Up to the interval, so far was so good. With Leon Cort’s physical presence added to the line-up and Dorian Dervite drafted in as a sturdy defensive shield, the visitors called most of the shots. Contesting every scrap of territory, they thrust a large spanner into Palace’s midfield works, winning a large majority of second balls while hustling and harassing the startled Eagles to frequent distraction. Only their inability to capitalise further on Fuller’s solo effort was a nagging source of worry.

Visiting sinews were certainly stiffened by the shrewd old pro’s opener. A muscular, artful handful, Fuller has little to learn about unsettling a defence. A nudge here, a feint there, a nose-to-nose confrontation both here and there, all form part of a softening process. He fights for his right to play but there’s considerable skill involved too, as demonstrated by his delicate control of Chris Solly’s lofted pass down the right channel. Briefly teasing marker Damien Delaney, he impudently skinned his opponent on the outside before rifling an angled low shot through Julian Speroni’s legs into the far corner. Charlton had received a boost but an arduous afternoon still stretched before them.

With the Sheffield Wednesday disaster a raw memory, the Addicks hardly needed reminding that a second goal was vital. They buckled willingly to the task; busy Bradley Pritchard was quickly presented with an acceptable chance by Fuller’s cleverly dinked pass but a looming Speroni batted away his attempted lob; Cort headed Johnnie Jackson’s resultant corner awkwardly over the bar; the skipper himself glanced an inviting opportunity inches wide after Lawrie Wilson nodded Cedric Evina’s cross back from the far post. Not much had inconvenienced Ben Hamer during the first half, meanwhile, but his free ride was not destined to last.

Having switched from left to right, tactically no doubt but just as sensibly to escape Solly’s tenacious attentions, Wilfried Zaha made his first contribution with an adroit effort, curled with the outside of his right foot, which missed narrowly. Fuller replied instantly from 30 angled yards, his audacious drive brilliantly tipped over the bar by Speroni. As the home side began to assert themselves, 39 year-old substitute Kevin Phillips shot fiercely from close range but Hamer saved smartly. It was all Palace by now and no surprise that they eventually equalised through the reliable Murray.

The strain was already telling as Palace knitted together a bout of sharp interplay, which culminated in the accurate pass threaded through to Murray by Dean Moxey. One velvety touch made space for a crisp turf trimmer into the bottom right corner. Hamer’s superb flying save from Stephen Dobbie’s blockbuster briefly protected parity but with a sudden visitation of deja-vu unnerving the Addicks and their apprehensive disciples, Murray did it again four preordained minutes later.
A predatory menace, his expert mastery of Jazz Richards’ optimistic delivery put him clear as Cort fatally hesitated and Hamer briefly slipped. A brutal left-footed volley left no room for argument leaving Charlton victors of several battles but cockahoop Palace the outright winners of the war.

With successive defeats following three successive wins, there’s no call for panic, of course, but nervous glances over the shoulder toward the bottom of the division are allowed. Abruptly, a season which had been accelerating smoothly for Charlton has run into buffers. There’s no intention to add pressure but next Saturday’s home game against Birmingham, followed as it is by daunting trips to Hull and Leicester, assumes extra significance. Just saying…that’s all.

Palace: Speroni, Richards, Delaney, Ramage, Moxey, Butterfield (Phillips 46), Marrow, O’Keefe (Williams 67), Bolasie (Dobbie 67), Murray, Zaha. Not used: Price, Parr, Blake, Wilbraham.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Evina, Wilson (Haynes 81), Dervite, Pritchard, Jackson (Kermorgant 82), Wagstaff (Wiggins 73), Fuller. Not used: Button, Taylor, Stephens, Wright-Phillips.

Referee: Mark Halsey. Att: 17,945.

Charlton 1 (Jackson 47) Sheffield Wednesday 2 (Reda Johnson 84, Lita 89).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Sucker punched twice in the closing stages of a game they should already have sewn up, Charlton’s recent winning streak was brought to a sickening halt by relegation haunted Sheffield Wednesday. Though hardly secure while defending the lead provided by prolific Johnnie Jackson’s seventh goal of the season, the Addicks seemed capable of protecting their slender advantage to the bitter end. But they were to find out how bitter an end can be.

Unchanged from the line-up which, give or take a necessary adjustment here or there, had registered three consecutive victories, Charlton were six uncomfortable minutes away from making it four in a row until Reda Johnson’s towering, headed equaliser unnerved them. As they clung on desperately to a useful point, substitute Leroy Lita robbed them of even that consolation with a cruelly deflected winner.

A monotonous first half had done nothing to prepare us for the late drama. In fairness, though, it provided the occasional talking point, not least of which was the mess made by Wednesday left back Reda Johnson in somehow prodding wide of a gaping goal after Ben Hamer dropped Lewis Buxton’s free kick at his feet. Or when Anthony Gardner’s header met Danny Pugh’s inswinging corner, flicked off teammate Michail Antonio but was awkwardly scraped off the goalline by Cedric Evina. The Addicks had moments of their own, the best of them the header crashed against Wednesday’s crossbar by Michael Morrison after Matt Taylor returned Dale Stephens’ soaring free kick from the far post. There was little else to recommend a sterile opening session.

Two minutes after the break, a shaft of pure quality pierced the murk as Charlton seized the initiative. A flowing move was launched by Hamer, who plucked Pugh’s corner out of the air, before sending Lawrie Wilson on a rampaging run along the right touchline. Wilson’s well judged pass was taken in his stride by overlapping right back Chris Solly and crossed to Bradley Pritchard at the far post; busy Pritchard’s skilful control set up a deft pass, which Jackson’s reliable left foot whipped in off the right post with characteristic aplomb. From innovative start to efficient finish, it was a goal designed to galvanise its scorers and deflate its victims. Except that this time the reverse proved true.

Crude but effective, the Owls wisely stuck to their pounding guns. Antonio began their recovery by cutting in from the left to fire across Hamer but also inches wide of the far corner. His effort was quickly followed by Lita’s sharp turn and low drive which sent Hamer sprawling to save. Midway through the second half, they emerged unharmed from a turning point, which, had it gone against them, would almost certainly have finished them off.

A lively bundle energy throughout, Scott Wagstaff moved smoothly inside Buxton, drew a bead from 20 yards but was unfortunate to hit the base of the right post with Chris Kirkland hopelessly beaten. Charlton perceptively faltered; the visitors derived encouragement from their lucky break.

Lanky Reda Johnson, no doubt anxious to make amends for his earlier howler, inspired Wednesday’s revival. Urged upfield by his boss Dave Jones, he climbed high to meet Buxton’s hanging centre with a perfectly looped header, which left Hamer helpless on its lofty journey back across the stricken keeper into his unguarded net.
The effect of Johnson’s equaliser on both sides was palpable. Sensing Charlton’s sudden vulnerability, Wednesday went for the kill. With the tiring home defence vainly tracking Jermaine Johnson’s sauntering progress into their penalty area, Lita pounced on his short pass to try his luck with an optimistic snapshot. A wicked deflection sent the ball caroming past Hamer to provoke almost 2,000 disbelieving but ecstatic Yorkshiremen behind the goal into wild celebrations of an unlikely reversal of fortune. The rest of The Valley sagged in disappointment.

So just when a tough season promised to gather momentum, this body blow must be absorbed; but don’t bet against these resilient Addicks bouncing back. And there’s no better place to begin the process than at flyblown old Selhurst Park next weekend, with Dorian Dervite possibly drafted in to patrol in front of the back four. And it could be time to recall Leon Cort. We’re all managers, of course, and we’re all in this together. The assassins of the NHS were served notice of that truth by thousands of protesters earlier in the day. It’s called vox populi and it echoed loud and clear on the streets of Lewisham. But then there’s none so deaf as those that choose not to hear…

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Evina (Green 90), Wilson (Fuller 90), Stephens (Wright-Phillips 90), Pritchard, Jackson, Wagstaff, Kermorgant. Not used: Button, Cort, Harriott, Dervite. Booked: Kermorgant.

Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Llera, Reda Johnson, Lee (Lita 55), Prutton, Coke, Pugh (Madine 67), Antonio, Jermaine Johnson (Semedo 90). Not used: Bywater, Taylor, Mattock, McCabe. Booked: Coke, Buxton.

Referee: G. Salisbury. Att: 20,292.

Blackburn Rovers 1 (Rhodes 48) Charlton 2 (Stephens 28, Kermorgant 64).

Kevin Nolan reports from Ewood Park.

The contrasting emotions of rival managers Chris Powell and Michael Appleton spoke volumes at a bitterly divided Ewood Park on Saturday.
Already becoming one of the Championship’s longer-serving bosses with two years under his belt, Powell is in charge of a confident outfit capable of mixing it with the division’s brightest and best. Despite strict financial constraints, he has steered his improving side to mid-table security, with the promise of better to come. He has made a virtue of being underestimated. And his grin just gets more knowing.

A more naturally glum character, Appleton has flitted from job to job recently before surprisingly finding himself at the helm of a nakedly ambitious club with little to be ambitious about. The poisonous local animosity toward Blackburn’s chicken-rearing board (Dopiaza’s a personal favourite) may or may not be entirely justified but their Victorian mill owners’ attitude to this most working class of towns does them no favours. As Rovers struggled, the atmosphere became uglier and the Desai family’s disastrous decision, with their underlings trailing 2-1, to retreat to the Rolls Royce which had delivered them five minutes before kick-off, was the last straw. They were sent on their way by a chorus of derision, leaving their patently decent foreman Appleton to pick up the pieces.

None of which unduly troubled their visitors, who recognised that they were playing Rovers at precisely the right time and made the most of it. A solid, disciplined performance, to which every player made a sturdy contribution, underpinned victory.  Their patented 4-5-1 formation, in which indefatigable midfield wide men Lawrie Wilson and Scott Wagstaff excelled, ensured a domination that was only briefly threatened by a cleverly filched equaliser from Jordan Rhodes three minutes into the second half. The home side- and their fickle fans- sensed the possibility of recovery and were promptly slapped down again for their temerity. The Addicks won this game going away.

Three minutes after Anglo-Turkish striker Colin Karim-Richards squandered the game’s first chance by heading Ruben Rochina’s inswinging corner tamely into Ben Hamer’s hands, Charlton playmaker Dale Stephens demonstrated that while the accuracy of his shooting can’t always be guaranteed, if he strikes them right, they stay struck. Catching up with play as Chris Solly’s darting run and low cross was scuffed out to him by Karim-Richards, Stephens expertly tamed the chest-high ball, then drove it sumptuously it into the top right corner from 25 yards. Some 411 fans behind the far goal celebrated wildly. The remaining 13,326 mutineers on hand began rhubarbing their dissatisfaction.

A defiant save by Jake Kean from Johnnie Jackson and Yann Kermorgant’s inability to master the rebound maintained Rovers’ interest before the interval, shortly after which the previously subdued Rhodes showed that his quality has not been dimmed by local discontent. Instinctively reading the trajectory of Karim-Richards’ dipping cross from the right, Rovers’ goal machine stole a yard on an otherwise vigilant Matt Taylor at the near post and glanced a diving header across a slipping Hamer into the far bottom corner.

The visitors were rattled by the setback and Stephens did nothing to restore confidence by wasting a far easier chance than the one he’d converted in such style. Unchallenged near the penalty spot, he fired hopelessly wide after a fortuitous ricochet reached him. His miss might have proved expensive had Hamer not reacted with typical alertness to Karim-Richards wickedly swerving drive but order was duly restored by Yann Kermorgant’s 5th goal of the season -or 6th if the club supports his reasonable claim to the third goal at Watford on Boxing Day.

The move began unpromisingly with Johnnie Jackson stumbling in his efforts to find Bradley Pritchard on the right flank but recovering well enough to complete the pass. A little nugget this season and a tribute to Charlton’s talent spotting astuteness,  Pritchard stepped back on to his left foot for a searching cross aimed for Kermorgant. Outjumping a knot of players, the brawny Breton improvised a deliberately looped header which left Kean rooted as it soared under the bar.

Hastily, the bosses chickened out and flew the coop. Could get nasty if they do the same when Blackburn play Leicester City’s Foxes. Or even nastier should they run into the Tractor Boys at Ipswich. Er, sorry about that, there’s an end to the poultry jokes. Stand on me.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Blackburn: Kean, Kane, Hanley, Dann, Martin Olsson, Murphy, Lowe, Karim-Richards, Vukcevic (Pedersen 70), Rochina (Nuno Gomes 78), Rhodes. Not used: Usai, Givet, Morris, Goodwillie, Rosado.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Evina, Wilson (Harriott 90), Pritchard, Stephens, Jackson, Wagstaff (Dervite 78), Kermorgant. Not used: Button, Green, Wright-Phillips, Wiggins, Fuller.

Referee: David Coote. Att: 13,467.

Charlton 2 (Jackson 23, Wagstaff 45) Blackpool 1 (Eccleston 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Never slow to tinker sensibly with his tactics or team selection, instinctive gambler Chris Powell sprang two surprises on a frigid afternoon during which brass monkeys were phoning in sick all over the country. Not only did he change the shape of the side which won so spectacularly at Watford on New Years Day but he handed an all but forgotten Scott Wagstaff his first league start of the season in an re-vamped 4-5-1 formation.

They were bold decisions which, if they hadn’t come off, would have exposed Powell to the inevitable “don’t know what you’re doing!” derision from that part of the crowd -any club’s crowd- that always unerringly know what they’re doing and are rarely slow to share their expertise with the innocently naive rest of us.

Deployed wide on the left of a 5-man midfield, Wagstaff could be relied upon to run himself into the ground. He also contributed hugely to the Addicks’ first goal before claiming the second one himself. His ceaseless industry was invaluable in containing a useful but toothless Blackpool side which looked ominously slick during 20 one-way opening minutes but began to sag after falling behind midway through the first half. During Charlton’s’ struggle to get to grips with the patient Seasiders, they stuck faithfully to one of their gaffer’s regular mantras to “stay in the game” and came through a testing period with only one genuinely awkward moment. After just two minutes, tricky customer Nathan Delfouneso achieved the rare feat of confounding the imperturbable Chris Solly before standing up a teasing cross to the far post, where evergreen striker Kevin Phillips headed intelligently back across Ben Hamer for the opposite corner. An untidy combination of left upright and emergency centre back Matt Taylor scrambled the ball clear. It was as close to scoring as 39-year old Phillips was to come; time drags its heels for no man.

Another change, this one forced on Powell by Dorian Dervite’s suspension and Leon Cort’s hamstring problem, saw stalwart Taylor return alongside last season’s partner Michael Morrison. A clash of heads with Isaiah Osbourne inconvenienced him briefly before, swathed temporarily in bandage, his looping header from Dale Stephens’ inswinging corner was cleared off the line by Delfouneso. As his confidence grew, Taylor was another stopgap who came through nobly for a boss who knows the value of a committed squad.

Two minutes later, with Wagstaff the early catalyst, the Addicks snatched the lead somewhat against the run of play. Alertly intercepting Matt Gilks’ poor clearance, the recalled left winger found Solly, whose pass to Kermorgant rebounded off the big Breton into Johnnie Jackson’s stride. Snapping off a not altogether convincing right-footed shot, the skipper was gratified to watch it squirt past a poorly positioned Gilks on its way inside the left post. Jackson’s second goal in successive league games was celebrated with his customary gusto.

With the Tangerines still coping with their disappointment, referee Mike Jones’ curious decision that Neil Eardley hadn’t coldbloodedly chopped down Wagstaff a yard outside the penalty area – though, quite obviously, someone had – spared Eardley, as last defender, a red card. The vocal irritation of both Wagstaff and Powell was mitigated, almost immediately, by Charlton’s second goal scored, with undisguised glee and a deliciously savoured measure of justice, by Wagstaff.

A flowing move launched by Kermorgant’s sharp turn and incisive pass sent Lawrie Wilson haring past outmanouevred left back Stephen Crainey to the right byline. The midfielder’s carefully measured cross was headed powerfully goalward by a diving Kermorgant, parried magnificently by Gilks, but efficiently buried on the rebound by natural goalpoacher Wagstaff.

Tidy and organised, meanwhile, Blackpool plugged away during the second half as nervous paralysis afflicted a home side which, at times, seemed incapable of clearing their lines. The visitors were given unwarranted hope by a series of errors but lacked the firepower to exploit the situation. It’s admirable, of course, that defenders are encouraged to play their way out of trouble but there are times when a lusty boot into a neighbouring parish is encouraged. The purists might sniff at such crudity but it’s part of the game and always will be. As a cultured defender himself, Powell always knew when to “send it”. Had Nathan Eccleston’s excellent added time volley reduced his side’s arrears some ten minutes earlier, a stadium-wide nervous breakdown could have put intolerable pressure on our local A & E departments. Heartening to see the petitions outside the ground, by the way. See that you sign. We’re all in this together, you know.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with Maybridge – the CIS Tax Refund Specialists, 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Evina, Wilson, Stephens (Fuller 84), Pritchard, Jackson, Wagstaff (Harriott 74), Kermorgant. Not used: Button, Green, Wright-Phillips, Fox, Ajayi. Booked: Stephens.

Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley, Baptiste, Broadfoot, Crainey, Basham, Osbourne (Taylor-Fletcher 59), Sylvestre, Ince, Delfouneso (Eccleston 68), Kevin Phillips (Gomes 77). Not used: Halstead, Cathcart, Martinez, Harris.

Referee: Mike Jones. Att: 16,846.

Charlton 0 Huddersfield Town 1 (Beckford 11).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

The symbolic sound of over 11,000 people voting with their feet echoed through a cavernous Valley on Saturday. They were the sceptical souls who attended last week’s league game against Derby County but, in ignoring this fixture, poured scorn on the club’s claims that the FA Cup still matters to them. Charlton clearly prioritise between league and Cup; so too did the long suffering absentees who chose to stay at home. And who can say they were wrong?

For in a funereal atmosphere, 6,158 hardy annuals (their number swelled by 499 travelling optimists), who touchingly cling to hope over experience, went unrewarded for their loyalty by the Addicks’ traditionally perfunctory attitude to football’s most venerable competition. This lilylivered surrender continues a longstanding tradition of early exits and ran the recent humiliation at Northwich Victoria a close second as a modern Cup nadir. Its only saving grace was that Charlton’s unconvincing efforts to equalise Jermaine Beckford’s 11th minute goal spared them an unwanted replay and further down the line, in the unlikely event they survived that, the uninspiring prospect of hosting another all-Championship tie with Leicester City. Their fans, both present and absent, will be counting small blessings.

As a realistic contest, the game was effectively up once Cup scoring specialist Beckford fired the Terriers in front. Adroitly controlling Scott Arfield’s gloriously flighted pass as it eluded outwitted marker Matt Taylor, Beckford calmly finished past blameless debutant keeper David Button. Local victims could have saved themselves time and trouble by promptly heading for home without further ado.

Thrashed 6-1 by Leicester City just four days previously, Town deserved their place in Round Four simply for taking Round Three seriously. Virtually at full strength, in itself an expression of manager Simon Grayson’s faith in them, they responded spiritedly and were hardly flattered by the deceptively narrow winning margin. But they might have struggled against Chris Powell’s more committed Vicarage Road warriors.

Deprived of hamstring victim Leon Cort’s resolute defending, Powell made four other changes, the most surprising of which saw Taylor preferred to Michael Morrison at centre back. Chris Solly’s absence encouraged pointed, hopefully ill-founded rumours that possible transfer window suitors might prefer him not to be Cup-tied; Ricardo Fuller joined him on furlough, while Johnnie Jackson and Ben Hamer were strategically benched. As well as Button and Taylor, there were chances for Jordan Cook, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Salim Kerkar to stake claims to first-team selection.

Alongside Taylor, meanwhile, Dorian Dervite exacerbated Powell’s centre back problems by earning a richly merited 57th minute red card. His dreadfully sliced miskick allowed Beckford through again, an error he attempted to rectify by hauling down the goalside striker from behind. The visit of Blackpool to The Valley next Saturday becomes that little bit more awkward, not least because in eight attempts so far this season, Charlton have now failed to win a home game on Saturday afternoon. If it ain’t one jinx, it’s another…

Button excepted, not one of Powell’s new recruits covered himself in glory. Given no chance to save Beckford’s matchwinner, Button made one superb save from James Vaughan and while he won’t be unseating Hamer in the near future, his performance passed muster. The same could hardly be said of the anonymous Kerkar, an overawed Cook or out-of-sorts Wright-Phillips. The only satisfactory outfielder was Dale Stephens, whose passing remained neat and accurate while, it should be said, never actually inconveniencing the unruffled visitors. One enthusiastically uninhibited first half challenge, though, which left befuddled Town hard case Peter Clarke seeking the number of the truck which mowed him down, at least briefly cheered up a morose assembly. It’s always a laugh to see the biter bit.

Charlton’s chances were few and hardly clearcut. The first half passed without Alex Smithies muddying his hands, although I recall that the young keeper had to move smartly to divert Kerkar’s dipping free kick after Anthony Gerrrard crudely fouled Bradley Pritchard early in the second period. There was little else to report, so let’s not bother – apart, that is from recording the 78th minute first team debut of promising teenaged striker Adebayo Azeez. The Addicks slithered out of the 2013 FA Cup without ceremony or dignity. Let ’em go. Their brief participation was hardly noticed anyway.

Charlton: Button, Wilson, Dervite, Taylor, Evina, Cook (Morrison 59), Stephens, Pritchard, Kerkar (Jackson 78), Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Azeez 78). Not used: Hamer, Green, Wagstaff, Fox. Booked: Pritchard. Sent off: Dervite.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Hunt, Peter Clarke, Gerrard, Dixon, Arfield, Norwood, Clayton, Scannell, Vaughan, Beckford (Novak 83). Not used: Bennett, Tom Clarke, Wallace, Robinson, Smith, Atkinson. Booked: Hunt, Arfield, Clayton, Vaughan.

Referee: Darren Drysdale. Att: 6,657.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Watford 3 (Pudil 11, Abdi 53,pen, Geijo 68) Charlton 4 (Hoban 34 o.g. Kermorgant 37,70), Jackson 78).

Kevin Nolan reports from Vicarage Road.

This riotous assembly of a football match packed incident on top of incident in giddying sequence while a bemused crowd struggled to keep up. One found oneself checking the score at times as if one was at a basketball game (my thanks to Sir Barney White-Spunner – Spunners to his chums – of the Countryside Alliance for opening one’s eyes to alternative English). Along the way, it featured the curious combination of an own goal (with another one the subject of dispute), a penalty, some marvellous goalkeeping, one or two outstanding goals, occasional outbreaks of violence and, most vital of all as far as Charlton were concerned, their fifth away win of the season.

It didn’t start too promisingly for the visitors. There only 11 minutes on the clock when creative midfielder Alex Geijo was allowed to move into shooting range by a retreating defence before letting fly on the run. His low drive was turned away from goal at full length by Ben Hamer but Daniel Pudil chased down the rebound and fired it across the keeper into the far bottom corner.

There was a faint air of cockiness about the Hornets at the time but their complacency might have been their undoing. After Fernando Forestieri and Johnnie Jackson were both booked for deliberate handball, the Addicks equalised a trifle luckily just past the half hour.

As persistent as ever, Chris Solly won a right wing corner, which Jackson swung in and Tommie Hoban sliced into his own net. The Hornets had been served notice that this was to no easy stroll. Indeed, while they were still absorbing the blow, they promptly fell behind to a second goal of far superior quality.

A breath of fresh air at The Valley since making the step up from non-league Hayes and Yeading, Bradley Pritchard shows respect but no undue awe in his elevated surroundings. Ludicrously dismissed by some as too lightweight for this standard, he can look after himself, as central defender Joel Ekstrand discovered on the end of a foul, for which the slim midfielder deserved but escaped a booking. The more acceptable side of Pritchard’s talent was evidenced not only by the clever, overlapping run he made to collect excellent left back Cedric Evina’s intelligently reversed pass but also the perfect cross he stood up to the far post. Presented by such a tasty morsel, Yann Kermorgant tucked in with obvious relish to head Charlton in front.

Though Ricardo Fuller might have increased the lead with an angled shot into the sidenet before the interval, Gianfranco Zola’s conglomeration of foreign loanees were clearly far from beaten. Forestieri was his usual mixture of irritating gamesmanship and delightful trickery, first being magnificently thwarted by Hamer in one-on-one confrontation, then breaking clear to be blatantly brought down by Dorian Dervite as he bore down on Hamer again. Almen Abdi coolly converted the indisputable penalty and it was Charlton’s turn to wilt.

Another fine save from Hamer tipped Geijo’s deflected effort over the bar before Forestieri demonstrated his mercurial nature by contributing both the miss and the pass of the game in quick succession. The unchallenged mess he made of blasting Pudil’s low cross high, wide and anything but handsome from point blank range faded into insignificance alongside the deliciously chipped delivery that sent Geijo clear to slot calmly past Hamer (3-2, do keep up).

Watford’s second lead lasted just two minutes, the time it took Fuller to bamboozle a posse of bewitched defenders on the right byline, cut in and cross low and hard to the near post, where Kermorgant bundled the Addicks level. Then again, it might have been Nathaniel Chalobah’s final touch but the young Chelsea loanee probably won’t dispute ownership so we’ll stick it down to big Yann’s account. It was a goal and it was dubious but there’s no committee to worry about anyway.

Having drawn level again, the next logical step for the cockahoop South East Londoners was to polish off their stunned hosts. A right wing corner, taken by Dale Stephens instead of Jackson as expected, might have discombulated the Hornets because Jackson was helpfully unmarked as he rose majestically to head the outswinger into the top right corner.

The arrival of Matej Vydra and Troy Deeney, both mysteriously left on the bench, was too late to save Watford, though Vydra netted from an offside position and Hamer was required to produce one final, terrific save to conjure Forestieri’s wickedly deflected effort over the top. But the Addicks deservedly held on for a famous victory in shires not a million miles distant from where the Heythrop Hunt, led selflessly by Sir Barney Spunners, were in pursuit of their own excellence. Great result for Charlton, exhilirating stuff for those other red-clad heroes. Not so rewarding for Watford FC, of course, and a bit of a nuisance for any fox looking forward to a lie-in but there you go, omelettes and eggs, that sort of stuff. Happy New Year to one and all!

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Watford: Almunia, Hoban, Neuton, Ekstrand, Murray (Deeney 82), Cassetti, Abdi (Yeates 62), Chalobah, Geijo, Pudil (Vydra 79), Forestieri. Not used: Bond, Anya, Nosworthy, Battochio. Booked: Forestieri, Neuton, Ekstrand.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort (Taylor 86), Dervite, Evina, Wilson (Cook 79), Pritchard, Stephens, Jackson, Kermorgant, Fuller (Hulse 90). Not used: Button, Wright-Phillips, Kerkar, Seaborne. Booked: Jackson, Wilson, Cook.

Referee: Trevor Kettle. Att: 14,221.

Charlton 1 (Haynes 20) Derby County 1 (Ward 71,pen).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

When famously complaining that “everyone talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it”, Mark Twain was only kidding.
The great American humourist might have thought twice anyway if he’d been at The Valley, where predictions of a biblical deluge were largely unrealised. Before a miserably damp kick-off, a magnificent corps of fork-wielding volunteers certainly did something about it; their horticultural skills rescued a riproaringly exciting game which pitted adversaries who, as Derby boss Nigel Clough put it, “did their honest best to play football and score goals.” His opposite number, Chris Powell, nodded approval of Clough’s refreshingly balanced summation.

Though his side had led for over 50 minutes before the Rams drew level, Powell was clearly pleased with the point wrested in adverse circumstances. Reduced to 10 men after Michael Morrison received a second yellow card while conceding County’s equalising penalty, the Addicks weathered a storm of intense pressure, as the clouds opened in earnest and the rampant visitors forced no fewer than thirteen second half corners. They hung on thanks to Ben Hamer’s inspired goalkeeping, some desperate last-ditch defending and the slice of luck they were handed when Richard Keogh headed Paul Coutts late corner against the foot of a post. For sheer guts alone, they deserved to share the points.

Chastened by the error-strewn capitulation to Ipswich, Powell had taken a scalpel to the Boxing Day starting line-up. Out went the disappointing Dan Seaborne, Emmanuel Frimpong and Danny Green, not one of whom even featured on the bench. In came Cedric Evina, Bradley Pritchard and Lawrie Wilson, with skipper Johnnie Jackson recalled and Rob Hulse replaced by Yann Kermorgant. No loan signings featured among the old guard who, with the exception of the admirable Wilson, made mincemeat of League One last season.

Confined to their own half for the opening 20 minutes by their slick-passing, confident visitors, Charlton were living dangerously when County were victimised against the run of play by a stunning goal from Danny Haynes. Exchanging routine passes with Kermorgant on the left, Haynes dropped a shoulder to shake off a posse of defenders barring his way, cut in sharply and from 25 angled yards unleashed an unstoppable right-footed drive into the far top corner. A previously subdued Valley was suddenly electrified.

Out of match practice, meanwhile, Evina was struggling and his mistake allowed Coutts to set up Theo Robinson’s close range effort, which an off balance Hamer saved superbly. The keeper’s great work continued with a key block to deny Nathan Tyson in one-to-one confrontation before a tearful Haynes limped off with a recurrence of hamstring trouble. Chances at both ends saw Hughes’ dipping volley shave the bar, Morrison glance Kermorgant’s clever chip wastefully wide and substitute Wright-Phillips, instantly lively in place of Haynes, denied by Adam Legzdins when sent through by Jackson. Of more ominous significance, however, was the lengthy lecture, but no accompanying card, meted out by referee Boyeson to Morrison for blatantly tripping Tyson.

Evina’s confidence had grown enough to shoot first-time from long range, with Legzdins expertly tipping the effort over the bar before Keogh, already booked for a first half foul on Kermorgant, repeated the crime but escaped, like Morrison, with a wordy telling-off.  Boyeson’s patience was, unhappily for Morrison, wearing thin. It might have been a good idea to replace the big centre back with capable Dorian Dervite but too late was the cry…
Midway through the second period, the hardgrafting Pritchard missed a golden opportunity to put daylight between the sides. Carefully set up by Kermorgant after Wright-Phillips had wriggled free on the right byline to cross, Pritchard took a steadying touch but prodded an unconvincing shot against the underside of the bar from 10 yards. His glaring miss patently tipped the balance in County’s favour.

With 20 minutes remaining, the Addicks finally buckled. The latest in the stream of corners fired in by Coutts was disputed by Morrison and John Brayford, with Morrison possibly managing a touch but violently bringing down his rival in the process. Substitute Jamie Ward calmly dispatched the penalty, Morrison trudged off and, with the rain by now sheeting down, the 10-man Addicks endured ordeal by deluge.

Magnificent throughout the bombardment, Hamer distinguished himself by parrying Robinson’s point-blank shot, then reacting instinctively to keep out Conor Sammon’s follow-up header. The defiant keeper deserved the break he received while helplessly watching Keogh’s header rebound off an upright. Among Charlton’s drenched heroes, Hamer stood firm, putting his body where his mouth was- the very mouth that got him booked for cheeking a linesman. Perhaps unwisely he talked about it. But he definitely did some thing about it.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Evina, Wilson, Stephens (Dervite 73), Pritchard, Jackson, Haynes (Wright-Phillips 36), Kermorgant (Fuller 85). Not used: Sullivan, Wagstaff, Kerkar, Hulse. Sent off: Morrison. Booked: Morrison, Hamer.

Derby: Legzdins, Brayford, Keogh, O’Connor, Roberts, Coutts, Hughes ( Ward 69), (Jacobs 84), Hendrick, Davies, Tyson (Sammon 65), Robinson. Not used: Fielding, Doyle, O’Brien, Freeman. Booked: Hughes, Keogh, O’Connor.

Referee: Carl Boyeson. Att: 17,761. 

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton 1 (Haynes 73, pen) Ipswich Town 2 (Campbell 35, Murphy 45).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Charlton’s nosedive into the bottom half of the Championship table continued with this dispiriting defeat by Ipswich Town at a soggy Valley on Boxing Day. Unrecognisable as the shambolic side beaten comfortably by the Addicks in September at Portman Road, the Tractor Boys could afford to miss a first half penalty on their way to securing three precious points. Under new boss Mick McCarthy’s old school eye, they are a vastly different proposition to the demoralised crew former manager Paul Jewell left in his wake when fired recently.

Having brought this latest setback on themselves with chaotic defending, it’s also difficult to see where Charlton’s next goal from open play, much less a badly needed victory, will come from. A second half penalty efficiently converted by Danny Haynes ended their recent scoring drought, gave them brief hope but merely papered over cracks in their finishing. Not that the problems lie exclusively with the strikers.

A midfield ostensibly strengthened by the return from suspension of Dale Stephens and boasting the Premier League pedigree of Emmanuel Frimpong gave Charlton an edge, on paper at least, over the more workaday names opposing them. Switching flanks regularly, Haynes’ pace was expected to cause trouble, while recalled winger Danny Green would supply forwards Rob Hulse and Ricardo Fuller with the ammunition of quality crosses. That was presumably the thinking but unfortunately practice failed to live up to theory.

Arsenal loanee Frimpong is a multi-gifted individual, with more strings to his bow than an undoubted talent for football. Only 20 years old, he dabbles in rap and fashion, preening sidelines hardly likely to endear him to Arsene Wenger; neither would they enchant the spade-is-a-spade sensibilities of McCarthy. But it’s a different world and they don’t make footballers like they used to.

Frimpong began his afternoon’s contribution with a perfectly judged but risky tackle on DJ Campbell inside the penalty area, which caused a quick intake of local breath, and was duly encouraged to repeat the feat moments later as Lee Martin was moving innocuously away from goal near the 18-yard line. This time his timing was awry, down tumbled Martin and the penalty was inevitable. Campbell blasted his spotkick woefully wide and the Addicks had been handed a massive confidence booster, one which they seemed at pains to squander.

Campbell wasted little time in making up for his miss. A move involving Martin’s graceful run and sharp low centre was briefly ruined by Carlos Edwards’ clumsiness but was retrieved beyond the far post by Daryl Murphy, whose ball back into the middle left Campbell the easy task of scoring Town’s opener.

Consistently prone to lapses of concentration on the ball, the elegant Stephens carries casualness to dangerous extremes on occasion as he did in first half added time, when carelessly conceding possession to Martin. Never exactly a hit while on loan to Charlton a couple of seasons ago, Martin capped an impressively downmarket impersonation of Cristiano Ronaldo by darting quickly forward to bring Ben Hamer sprawling full length to save his strongly hit drive. The convenient rebound was neatly clipped into the roof of the net by unmarked Daryl Murphy.

Stephens’ best moment was the expertly struck free kick, after Fuller was fouled by Aaron Cresswell, which beat goalkeeper Stephen Henderson but rebounded off the left post and frustratingly out of the onrushing Haynes’ reach. His undeniable promise helped him survive the half-time midfield cull which saw Frimpong give way to Johnnie Jackson and the anonymous Green, having squandered another opportunity to stake a claim to first team permanence, replaced by the more committed Bradley Pritchard.

Improvement was immediate and the visitors wavered. Fuller disastrously stole Hulse’s cross away from the better placed Jackson, before Hulse headed Chris Solly’s centre too close to Henderson. In reply, Martin’s clever chip drifted beyond Hamer but harmlessly cleared the bar but the Addicks had the wind in their sails. Henderson saved again from Hulse but the goal Charlton so desperately needed wasn’t long delayed.

Following orders to track an increasingly aggressive Solly, Martin pursued his quarry into Town’s penalty area, where the typically cavalier tackle of a forward upended the rampaging right back. Assuming penalty duties from an acquiescent Jackson, Haynes made uncomplicated work of converting the spotkick.

With sufficient time remaining, Charlton were able to create only one clearcut chance, which Hulse, turning on a loose ball, fired into the falling body of Henderson. Stephens volleyed a last gasp effort wide but the Suffolk deservedly men held out. And that safety margin of 50 points is suddenly not the easy task it seemed a few weeks ago. Don’t panic yet, though. We’ll let you know when.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Seaborne, Green (Pritchard 46), Stephens, Frimpong (Jackson 46), Haynes, Hulse, Fuller (Kermorgant 82). Not used: Sullivan, Evina, Harriott, Dervite. Booked: Morrison.

Ipswich: Henderson, Chambers, Edwards, Drury (Reo-Coker 61), Orr, Martin, N’Daw, Cresswell, Smith, Murphy (Emmanuel-Thomas 90), Campbell (Hyam 87). Not used: Loach, Higginbotham, Chopra, Scotland.

Referee: Mick Russell. Att: 18,380.

Charlton fans united in an impeccably observed minute’s applause for club historian Colin Cameron before kick-off. Colin died on Christmas Eve after a blessedly brief illness. To say he will be missed is to risk grievous understatement. He had time for everyone and was loved by everyone, not least my wife Hazel and myself. I’m left with the teamsheets I fetched him from the recent Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday games, neither of which dear old Colin needs now. I’ll hang on to them for old time’s sake. Just in case.
First John Yarnton, now Colin Cameron. The press room just ain’t the laugh it used to be. And, God knows, they were both a laugh. So long, fellas, it’s been good to know you.

Updated:

In the interests of accuracy, something dear to Colin’s heart, it is recorded that the great man died in the early hours of Christmas morning and not on Christmas Eve as previously reported. Sorry for the misinformation.

Sheffield Wednesday 2 (McCabe 20, Helan 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from Hillsborough.

The bad news is that Charlton lost 2-0 for the second successive week on their Northern travels. The even worse news is that they lost to one of the weakest teams in the Championship and risk being sucked back among a relegation mob showing ominous signs of mutiny beneath them. Just when they think they’re out, they get dragged back in. Their Boxing Day engagement with struggling Ipswich Town is suddenly critical.

A lively start, during which Danny Haynes left Miguel Llera gasping in his slipstream and crossed agonisingly out of Salim Kerkar’s reach, soon subsided. Apart from one or two credible complaints about dubious refereeing, the Addicks laboured vainly to breach a defence which had managed only two clean sheets in 22 previous league games. A constantly re-jigged strike force of five recognised forwards has amassed 13 goals between them, a total matched individually for example, by Blackpool wide man Thomas Ince. And it’s always goals that count.

There had been times during Charlton’s long unbeaten run on the road when sheer bloodyminded refusal to lose sustained them. Key blocks and tackles were made by a side, for whom stubborn defence in depth became a watchword. And when they fell behind, as they did at Leeds and Wolves, there was just enough attacking quality about them to find equalisers. They became damned hard to beat. Now with half the season stretching before them, Chris Powell’s men are feeling the strain. Injuries and suspensions (right midfielder Lawrie Wilson picked up his fifth yellow card here and will miss the Ipswich game) have depleted them. It’s become a slog.

You could argue that the visitors lost this game in midfield, where possession was too freely surrendered and where the important second balls were regularly picked up by Wednesday’s more urgent battlers. Lacking the calming influence of suspended Dale Stephens, they looked in vain for the Arsenal pedigree of Emmanuel Frimpong to assert itself. Content with playing safe, square passes, Frimpong was neat but ineffectual; Salim Kerkar, meanwhile, replaced Stephens without making any impact; willing skipper Johnnie Jackson toiled fruitlessly; only Wilson spasmodically troubled the South Yorkshiremen. This engine room lacked fuel.

As the Owls overcame their early nerves, they grew in confidence. In a hectic sequence, Ben Hamer’s smart save kept out David Prutton’s rasper, with Leon Cort performing heroics on the goalline to clear Gary Madine’s rebounded effort. Anthony Gardner skied the loose ball but Charlton enjoyed only brief respite. Ex-Addick Llera’s educated left foot swung in a corner from the right, Cort and Gardner clashed in aerial combat with the ball squirting out to Rhys McCabe, unmarked on the edge of the penalty area. The 20 year-old former Glasgow Ranger uncorked a resounding left-footed volley which zipped irresistibly past Ben Hamer and Wednesday were in front. They stayed there with a little help from a friend -namely referee Gary Sutton.

Before the interval, a sharp exchanges of passes between Kerkar and Haynes set up Yann Kermorgant with a near post chance. Having stolen a yard from the towering centre back, the big Breton seemed certain to score until Gardner’s blatantly illegal challenge hauled him down. In a perfect position to judge, Sutton saw no trips and was equally lenient to the locals in supporting his linesman’s boss-eyed opinion that Haynes, though no worse than level, was offside when converting Kermorgant’s pass. A sense of double injustice overwhelmed Powell, whose vehement protests at the half-time whistle saw him banished to the stands, leaving Alex Dyer to suffer alone.

On the hour, a dreadful miss by Haynes sealed Charlton’s fate. Chris Solly’s accurate cross was headed down to him by Kermorgant but the speedster got his feet horribly tangled and air-kicked from five yards. Hardly the clinical finishing recently demanded by his boss.

Some encouragement was derived from the eagerly awaited return to action of 63rd minute substitute Ricardo Fuller in place of Kerkar. A typically uninhibited snapshot resulting from fellow sub Rob Hulse’s persistence was blocked but it was the brief cameo supplied by Danny Green which inspired hope. His usual mixture of genuine quality and frustrating inconsistency featured an inviting cross sidefooted narrowly wide by Michael Morrison, quickly followed by an infield dart to win a free kick from Jeremy Helan (scorer of a skilful added time coup-de-grace) that Jackson curled dangerously over the bar. Green’s hastly delivered centre when a steadying touch was advised showed the other, careless side of his coin but he must surely start on Boxing Day when changes might be rung. It’s the the time of year for them.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with, 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Llera, Reda Johnson, Antonio, McCabe, Prutton (Lines 67), Helan, Madine (Sidibe 87), O’Grady (Lee 74). Not used: Bywater, Taylor, Maguire, Jermaine Johnson. Booked: Reda Johnson.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Seaborne, Wilson, Frimpong (Green 78), Jackson, Kerkar (Fuller 63), Haynes (Hulse 78), Kermorgant. Not used: Sullivan, Wright-Phillips, Pritchard, Dervite. Booked: Wilson.

Referee: Gary Sutton. Att: 20,517.

Dedicated to John Yarnton, a dear Charlton friend and colleague who is missed every day we’re without him. Rest easy, John.