Bolton Wanderers 2 (N’Gog 73, 80) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from the Reebok Stadium.

With a little less than a half hour left in this uninspiring game, Charlton seemed capable of taking away at least a useful scoreless draw from chilly Lancashire. They had coped comfortably with Bolton’s puny attacking threat, spearheaded as it was by annoying old sweat Kevin Davies, with loanee Jacob Butterfield innocuous alongside him. In his career dotage, Davies’ main contribution to games is a steady diet of borderline fouls designed to upset the opposition while, at the same time, treading a precarious path along the perimeters of the law; without a goal this season, Butterfield had posed few problems.

Calm and untroubled, the Addicks were even casting covetous eyes on three valuable points. The best second half chances had fallen their way and there were grounds for supposing that a fifth away win of the season was within reach. But they reckoned without the impact that 63rd minute Bolton substitute David N’Gog was about to make.

Having tried the patience of successive management teams at Liverpool, N’Gog’s once promising career has dwindled into inactivity, punctuated by periodic loan spells. Only two goals in twelve starts (plus three sub appearances) at the Reebok this season had hardly set local pulses racing. Unfortunately for the Addicks, the erratic Frenchman was in the mood to double his tally at their expense.

A lack of ability has been the least of N’Gog’s problems. Liverpool had nurtured his talent until, they hoped, it would blossom to mutual benefit. Their long wait went largely unrewarded and their patience eventually ran out. But there will always be those days when the gifted striker puts it all together and vents his frustration on unwary opposition. Charlton were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

N’Gog’s first goal was pure poetry in motion. Shielding Jay Spearing’s pass into his feet from Dorian Dervite, his clever shuffle disposed of his fellow Frenchman’s close marking and made room for the ice-cool shot he rolled beyond Ben Hamer into the bottom left corner. Amid the dross surrounding it, his skill was a pearl cast before swine. No offence should be taken by the swine.

Shortly afterwards, N’gog added a second goal of similar quality. Spinning instinctively into space to accept Martin Petrov’s sharp pass, he found the same corner of the net with a firmly struck drive. His finishing in both cases was coldly clinical.

Charlton will have found defeat a bitter pill to swallow. They had squandered chances of their own, most notably the first half header sent wide by Danny Haynes, after Yann Kermorgant’s incisive pass and Lawrie Wilson’s carefully aimed cross had opened up the struggling Trotters. Kermorgant himself blew a golden opportunity early in the second period by misdirecting his header from Chris Solly’s centre wide of the post. Though charitably deemed offside, Wilson later completed a hat-trick of headed misses with similarly cock-eyed finishing.

Sparked by creative wide man Chris Eagles, the Trotters were themselves occasionally threatening. In the opening minutes, Eagles cushioned Chung-Yong Lee’s diagonal pass near the left byline before setting up the South Korean with an astute cutback. The less said about Lee’s disastrously screwed effort the better; ditto the weak shot Davies directed straight at Hamer after beating off Michael Morrison’s challenge. Eagles stung Hamer’s hands with a ferocious volley on the turn but there was little to concern the visitors

Midway through the second half, Bolton manager Dougie Freedman played his trump, or rather trumps. N’Gog replaced Butterfield and Martin Petrov, to surprising disapproval, took over from the hardworking Lee. Genuine, if somewhat shopworn, Premier League pedigree had been brought to bear and how handsomely it paid off for another of the Championship’s up-and-coming young managers. N’Gog’s dimly remembered quality destroyed the shellshocked Addicks. And the irony is that once he goes back almost inevitably into his protective shell, N’Gog probably won’t score again this season. Except, of course, when Bolton visit The Valley on March 30th next year.

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

Bolton: Bogdan, Mears, Ricketts, Knight, Warnock, Lee (Petrov 63), Andrews, Spearing, Eagles, Butterfield (N’Gog 63), Davies. Not used: Lonergan, Alonso, Ream, Afobe, Pratley. Booked: Warnock.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Dervite, Seaborne, Wilson, Stephens, Frimpong, Jackson, Haynes (Wright-Phillips 83), Kermorgant. Not used: Button, Kerkar, Pritchard, Cook, Cort, Hulse. Booked: Stephens, Wilson.

Referee: Kevin Wright. Att: 15,991.

Charlton 2 (Wilson 9, Pritchard 70) Brighton 2 (Mackail-Smith 28, Lua Lua 75).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

On an afternoon of high drama, during which the celebration of Charlton’s emotional return to The Valley in December 1992 dominated the early agenda, Chris Powell’s Class of 2012-1 concentrated responsibly on the most immediate challenge facing the club – namely the visit of Gus Poyet’s talented Brighton. Arguably the best footballing side in the Championship, the South Coasters clearly had no intention of following any script calling for them to play plucky but inevitable losers. They were a skilful, well motivated handful.

This was Albion’s second visit to South East London on successive weekends. Their controversial loss at Crystal Palace saw an avian clash of Eagles and Seagulls which generated a hotly disputed cleaning bill for the disposal of huge mounds of guano deposits. Lawyers representing both bitter rivals are expected to produce samples in High Court to resolve responsibility. It promises to get messy.

Closer to home, Chris Powell was confronted with his customary selection dilemmas by the withdrawal of tonsillitis victim Dan Seaborne and the excellence last week at The Den of Dorian Dervite. No doubt reluctantly, the gaffer solved the first problem by switching the ever-willing Chris Solly to cover Seaborne’s absence at left back and recalled fit-again Lawrie Wilson at right back. Emmanuel Frimpong replaced Salim Kerkar in midfield, with Johnnie Jackson moving wider left. Danny Haynes was preferred to Yann Kermorgant in a 4-5-1 formation but the real surprise was the choice of Dervite over Leon Cort to partner back-from-suspension Morrison at centre back.

While Morrison made an uncharacteristically shaky contribution, Dervite vindicated Powell’s faith in him with an outstanding performance. His timing, heading and distribution were superb as he held the Addicks together under Albion’s naggingly persistent attacks. The big, dominant Frenchman will be hard to drop following this confident display.

A little left out by the pre-match histrionics, some 3,400 twittering Seagulls in the away end were further mystified by the spontaneous applause which broke out in the seventh minute to salute Colin Walsh’s timeless goal at the same time on December 5th 1992. Only two more minutes were required for the Addicks to almost uncannily mark the occasion with a somewhat lucky opener.

After Haynes had forced a left wing corner off Gordon Greer, a short-passing routine between Jackson and Dale Stephens created a more favourable angle for the latter to swing over a right footed cross which skidded through a congested penalty area before Wilson’s faint touch carried it beyond Tomascz Kuszczak into the far corner.

With the visitors still stung by the reverse, Rob Hulse’s header from Jackson’s centre was smartly tipped over the bar by Kuszczak, who was then left standing as Morrison’s free header sent Stephens’ cross harmlessly off target. Charlton’s opening bolt had been shot.

Pulling themselves together, Albion hit back. Greer lifted a sitter over the bar before an incredible point blank save from Ben Hamer defied Stephen Dobbie. But for all of Brighton’s artistry, their increasingly inevitable equaliser resulted from a combination of route one tactics and a defensive howler. Not that the finish was less than clinical.

Struggling under an agricultural clearance, Morrison could manage no better than a weak, sideways header that the alert Mackail-Smith eagerly pounced on. Moving away from the stricken centre back, Brighton’s sureshot drilled a low drive unerringly inside the right post.

Before the break, as the visitors cooled off, Haynes drove Wilson’s astute cutback into the sidenet and Frimpong blasted Stephens square pass into the crowd behind Kuszczak’s net. Immediately following resumption, Hamer added another fine save from Will Buckley’s angled effort and Dobbie’s wildly sliced shot wasted Mackail-Smith’s cleverly chested pass. Mackail-Smith himself made a mess of converting Buckley’s low delivery at the near post, then saw his close range blast brilliantly blocked by Wilson.

On 70 minutes of this rousing game, Bradley Pritchard put Charlton ahead again with one of The Valley’s especially popular goals. The early running was made by Stephens’ pass to Hulse, who accurately picked out Jackson moving wide on the left flank; the skipper’s first-time low cross was squeezed past Kuszczak at the second attempt by Pritchard to spark euphoria among the crowd and his teammates. It’s impossible not to like the kid.

Unfortunately, the Addicks lead was again shortlived. And again Morrison carried the can. His despairing challenge from behind on lively Ashley Barnes illegally halted the substitute’s determined run on the very edge of the penalty area, a position from which Kazenga Lua Lua had little choice but to chance his arm with a free kick directly into the wall. It turned out to be his lucky day because a wicked deflection sent Hamer the wrong way and trickled past the hopelessly wrongfooted keeper’s left hand.

Unbeaten now in six games, Charlton are coping well in a tough league. They have inched into the top half of the table and the confidence grows. Powell’s battling side are worthy heirs to those marvellous men who began the new era at The Valley almost exactly twenty years ago. And the firm but fair manager personifies what the club is all about. In that dopey modern speak, they are in a good place.

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

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Solly, Haynes (Kermorgant 74), Stephens, Frimpong, Pritchard, Jackson (Kerkar 80), Hulse. Not used: Button, Taylor, Green, Wright-Phillips, Cort. Booked: Wilson.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor (Calderon 75) Greer, El-Abd, Hammond, Bridcutt, Dobbie (Barnes 62), Bridge, Buckley, Hoskins (Lua Lua 68), Mackail-Smith. Not used: Brezovan, Crofts, Harley, Lopez. Booked: Hammond.

Referee: Darren Sheldrake. Att: 19,080.

Millwall 0 Charlton 0

Kevin Nolan reports from The Den.

Backs-to-the-wall defiance was the order of the day for gutsy Charlton at The Den on Saturday. Roared on by over 3,500 supporters, many of them still emotionally scarred by the 4-0 capitulation in March 2010, the Addicks fought ferociously -like Lions, you could say- to resist a wave of attacks launched by bang-in-form Millwall. Under Chris Powell’s leadership, there was little prospect of that fiasco being repeated. Another surrender wasn’t an option. Like Nelson’s tars, his players had been left in no doubt about what was expected of them.

Unbeaten now in seven away games since their defeat at Derby County on September 18th, Charlton hung on grimly for this point. One of the surprise packets in the Championship, Millwall subjected them to a relentless battering but couldn’t break them down. A wall of defensive bodies, behind which goalkeeper Ben Hamer coolly kept his nerve, defied them during overwhelmingly one-way traffic. At the other end, untroubled David Forde could have slipped away for a quiet weekend in his native Galway without being missed.

Realistic as ever, Powell admitted disappointment in his side’s inability to create more offensively but sought encouragement in the one-for-all, all-for-one spirit shown by his men. Though reluctant to pick out individuals in a keenly contested but never violent encounter (at least on the pitch), he did make special mention of deputy centre back Dorian Dervite, who stepped in for suspended powerhouse Michael Morrison and stood up manfully to a daunting task. He might have added that Dervite’s tower block of a partner, Leon Cort, was equally magnificent and that new superlatives are needed to describe the massive talent that is Chris Solly. Must keep that last bit quiet until the January sales are history.

Cataloguing the chances created -and missed – in this pulsating atmosphere, makes for unbalanced reading. One side of the ledger records that the besieged visitors managed one shot on target and two shots off target. My notes remind me that Rob Hulse broke clear briefly in the first half before dragging his shot across Forde but wide. For the life of me, I can’t track down the other two efforts but I’m willing to be convinced they occurred. Kenny Jackett’s talented Lions, on the other hand, form a lengthy entry in the opposite column. In chronological order, they blew two points as follows.

Liam Feeney and Chris Taylor began the onslaught by cutting in from each flank to both fire wide of Hamer’s goal; Andy Keogh then stepped inside to curl in a dipping cross which narrowly eluded Chris Wood before Feeney arrived on the blindside to slide a shot harmlessly back across goal; Adam Smith centred, Taylor applied a faint touch but Wood’s weak prod barely reached Hamer; ex-Addick Josh Wright sent a soaring volley narrowly over the bar; Jimmy Abdou finished a determined run by shooting dangerously off target.

Bright and inventive in their approach play, Millwall resumed where they had left off after the break. A superb block by Solly foiled Taylor at close range; Keogh’s awkwardly bouncing cross was cleared by Cort, with confident appeals for handball turned down by scrupulously impartial referee Dean Whitestone; on a quick break following a rare Charlton attack, Keogh used intelligent runs on either side of him to make space for a powerful drive, which Hamer athletically touched over his bar. There were countless other skirmishes and scrambles.

With a quarter hour remaining, the Lions’ best chance fell to substitute Dany N’Guessan, unhindered as he met Wright’s outswinging corner at point blank range. His downward header was sneaking inside the left post until Solly, sensibly positioned on the line, cleared the danger.

A barrage of late corners, punctuated by Smith’s despairing off-target effort, was the last throw of Jackett’s dice, with Millwall’s admirable manager showing his usual fair-minded restraint in refusing to make much of Millwall’s penalty claim but possibly missing the point in lamenting that the Lions sorely missed absentees James Henry, Darius Henderson and Liam Trotter. Consistently prevented from naming an unchanged side, Powell could host a seminar in the skills of gap-plugging and cloth-cutting. He has made an art form of it.

Powell had the final say in this duel of bright young managers. His 81st minute introduction of Bradley Wright-Phillips for Yann Kermorgant brought last season’s discarded top scorer back into action and was rewarded by a lively cameo which suggests that the last hasn’t been heard from Charlton’s slim sharpshooter. They say you don’t miss what you’ve got till it’s gone. Let’s not test the theory.

Millwall: Forde, Adam Smith, Shittu, Beevers, Lowry, Feeney (N’Guessan 67), Abdou, Wright, Chris Taylor, Keogh, Wood. Not used: Maik Taylor, Racon, Batt, Jack Smith, Osborne, Malone.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Dervite, Seaborne, Pritchard, Stephens, Jackson, Kerkar (Green 73), Kermorgant (Wright-Phillips 81). Hulse. Not used: Button, Taylor, Frimpong, Haynes, Jonsson.

Referee: Dean Whitestone. Att: 18,013.

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

Charlton 2 (Fuller 77, Kermorgant 85) Peterborough United 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Disgruntled and disconsolate, Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson made no secret of his feelings in the press room after this harsh defeat. He was still struggling to accept that his attractive, if vulnerable, side had lost. And he wasn’t alone in his disbelief.

Encouraged by holding relegation rivals Ipswich Town to a draw at Portman Road three days previously, United had shown impressive style in dominating large chunks of this absorbing game but came up empty-handed. During an extended siege of the home goal after the interval, they had their increasingly desperate hosts on an uncomfortable rack but a glaring lack of strike power to put the necessary seal on their neat approach play proved their undoing. Then, with 12 minutes left, a cruel lesson in uncomplicated goalscoring reminded Posh that if you can’t win, the thing is not to lose. Even a useful, richly merited goalless draw was snatched from their grasp.

Having returned from a six-week injury lay-off at the weekend, Ricardo Fuller had played reasonably well without making a huge impression. The highlight of his evening was the sinuous solo dribble through a startled defence, followed by a quickwitted toepoke, which keeper Bobby Olijnak resourcefully kept out with his feet. There would, however, be one more chance for Fuller much later on and the patient, streetwise veteran made the most of it.

There was no apparent threat to the visitors as Fuller accepted Yann Kermorgant’s routine pass some 25 yards from goal. Until, that is, with minimal backlift but surprising power, a bombshell of a shot left Olijnak helpless on its fizzing, dipping way into the left corner of the net. As last hurrahs go, this one was special because Fuller promptly collapsed collapsed with a recurrence of the hamstring trouble which has dogged him throughout his brief Charlton career. Damaged hamstrings are, as it happens, all the go around Sparrows Lane.

Five minutes from time, Kermorgant sealed his own return from A&E with a reassuring second goal. Having announced himself after just 90 seconds with a thunderous drive, which Olijnak saved spectacularly, the clearly onside Breton was on hand near the far post to tap in the crisply driven low cross from substitute Danny Green, with which Rob Hulse had already made faint contact. From a press box vantage point, Hulse’s effort was bobbling wide until Kermorgant alertly arrived to make sure.

And there, in two nutshells, was the message that Ferguson Jr. needs to take on board. In football, it’s not so much how elegantly you set out as how pristinely you arrive. Peterborough looked proper Posh for much of Tuesday evening’s excursion before degenerating into travel-stained passengers; Charlton, on the other hand, roughed it in third class but turned up in immaculate shape to enjoy the last laugh at journey’s end.

Pleasing on the eye much of the time, United had chances to take the lead before their hosts broke through, none better than the artfully clipped effort on the run from George Boyd, which had a startled Ben Hamer scrambling to turn over his bar. Soon after the break, lively debutant Dwight Gayle should have improved on the drive he buried into Hamer’s midriff after George Thorne’s perfect pass picked him out, while clever midfielder Lee Tomlin knew little about the shot from George Boyd that he inadvertently deflected against the base of the left post. Tomlin’s vicious low drive brought Hamer down at full length to save before skipper Michael Bostwick, with another crisp daisycutter, tested the in-form Hamer as Posh rode the crest of an attacking wave. A confident but abortive penalty claim when Kerkar clumsily upended Tomlin undoubtedly added to Ferguson’s sense of injustice. Seen ’em given; seen ’em turned down. That’s how it goes.

At the other end, Johnnie Jackson wastefully headed Salim Kerkar’s chipped cross over the bar but it was the early booking picked up by Michael Morrison, for scything down Tomlin, which plunged The Valley into gloom. Morrison’s fifth caution of the season means that he will miss Saturday’s daunting trip to Millwall. Manager Chris Powell has already shown impressive ability to improvise this season but Morrison’s absence at the Den is a handicap he could have done without. He can be trusted to solve this latest selection conundrum.

Staying sharp through most of the second period, Posh turned the screw as much of Charlton’s defending dissolved into emergency tactics. Renowned as a freescoring side, they have actually managed only nine goals in ten trips away from London Road. It was their lack of cutting edge, much more than a shortage of luck, that brought their downfall on Tuesday. Good side, though. Nice to watch.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Seaborne, Pritchard, Frimpong (Green 75), Jackson, Kerkar, Kermorgant (Jonsson 90), Fuller (Hulse 78). Not used: Button, Stephens, Wright-Phillips, Dervite. Booked: Morrison, Frimpong.

Peterborough: Olejnik, Knight-Percival, Brisley (Swanson 84), Little, Bostwick, Newell, McCann, Boyd, Tomlin, Thorne, Gayle. Not used: Day, Alcock, Zakuani, Ferdinand, Clarke-Harris, Carthey.

Referee: Iain Williamson. Att: 17,377.

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Charlton 1 (Hulse 60) Huddersfield 1 (Clayton 88, pen).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Once Charlton get the hang of winning on their own manor, their still shaky position in the Championship might start to look a little more secure. They could even find themselves looking up rather than down at the situation above and below them.

The Addicks’ failure to protect the 60th minute lead given them by Rob Hulse sent another excellent crowd home, struggling to understand their inability to see off 10-man Huddersfield. Beating numerically disadvantaged opposition is not always a formality, of course, and it won’t have escaped the frustrated fans’ notice that these talented, dogged Terriers were well worth their point. Doesn’t change the fact, though, that another golden opportunity was missed.

Before Keith Southern’s debatable dismissal, the visitors had already justified their impressive 10th position in the table. In a lively start, Charlton were relieved that Johnnie Jackson was perfectly placed to clear off the line after Adam Clayton drove Oliver Norwood’s poorly cleared corner goalward from 15 yards, with the inviting rebound awkwardly shovelled over the bar by Peter Clarke. By the time Simon Church ran on to Alex Smithies’ huge punt to test Ben Hamer and Leon Cort heroically blocked Lee Novak’s close range blast, Town had already shown their attacking teeth.

Making his debut in central midfield, meanwhile, loanee Emmanuel Frimpong settled down quickly to show his class. Strong and perceptive, his Arsenal pedigree was unmistakable until a lack of match practice caught up with him shortly after the hour mark. Already deprived of in-form striker Danny Haynes and stopgap left back Dan Seaborne, Chris Powell is by now well versed in the art of make do-and-mend. Much will be justifiably made of the Terriers’ grit in responding to adversity in this entertaining game. Not so much attention is focused on the disastrous luck with injuries and illness that have beset Charlton’s careworn manager. He’s doing fine under trying circumstances. So are Charlton.

On 34 minutes, shortly after Ricardo Fuller had burst clear to shoot narrowly wide and Lee Novak had replied with a low drive that had Hamer diving to save with Church closing on the rebound, referee Lee Collins’ contentious decision to send off Southern appeared to have tipped the balance in the Addicks’ favour.
As Michael Morrison carried the ball untypically over the halfway line, his momentary loss of control lured Southern into hefty 50-50 collision in the centre circle. From the bleachers, his challenge seemed fair but, no more than six yards from the action, Collins disagreed. For the second successive week, Charlton had been handed either a one-man advantage or an unsought liability, depending entirely on your point of view.

Far from daunted by the setback, Huddersfield opened the second half brightly, with Clayton’s drive deflected dangerously off target and a Danny Ward snapshot safely gathered by Hamer. At the other end, Chris Solly’s deceptive feint-and-acceleration set up Hulse to head over the bar. The Addicks were inching closer and a minute later a cleverly crafted goal put them ahead.

Picking up an innocuous ball, Jackson found Fuller, who astutely played Bradley Pritchard in behind left back Paul Dixon; from the right byline, the midfield workaholic cut back a measured pass for Hulse to sidefoot efficiently past Smithies. Simple. Effective. But not conclusive.

After Fuller had gone agonisingly close to applying a late coup-de-grace, the Addicks visibly lost confidence. Jackson’s key interception earned them the temporary respite of a right wing corner, swung in by Adam Hammill at the second attempt. Previously impeccable in his handling of high deliveries, Hamer flailed wildly, Clarke prepared to pounce at the far post but was flattened by Solly’s desperate intervention. The inevitable penalty was calmly converted by Clayton to earn the Yorkshiremen the point their pluck had earned them.

Charlton weren’t quite finished. In a final flourish, substitute Green crossed deliciously, Hulse headed firmly but Smithies saved brilliantly to his left. There was also a scare for the hosts but Solly whisked Church’s last gasp cross off Alan Lee’s toe.

So was this a point gained? Or two lost? Again, it depends entirely on how you look at it. But the pressure to straighten out this indifferent home form is mounting. We re-convene at The Valley on Tuesday evening for another stab at it. Bring along your half-full glasses.

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

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Kerkar, Pritchard, Stephens, Frimpong (Green 66), Jackson, Fuller (Kermorgant 84), Hulse. Not used: Button, Taylor, Wright-Phillips, Jonsson, Dervite. Booked: Pritchard.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Hunt, Clarke, Lynch, Dixon, Norwood (Arfield 71), Clayton, Southern (sent off 34), Ward (Hammill 84), Church, Novak (Lee 77). Not used: Bennett, Woods, Gerrard, Robinson. Booked: Dixon, Clayton.

Referee: Lee Collins. Att: 20,012.

Burnley 0 Charlton 1. (Haynes 69).

Kevin Nolan reports from Turf Moor.

Continuing their irresistible form on the road, Charlton chalked up their third win a row to move comfortably clear of the Championship’s relegation strugglers, with the hard work they made of beating 10-man Burnley quickly forgotten in the euphoria of victory. A second successive clean sheet laid the foundations and was decorated by Danny Haynes’ superb winner.

Deprived yet again of a key player when playmaking midfielder Dale Stephens fell ill, Chris Powell plugged the gap by handing Icelandic loanee Egert Johnsson a surprise debut. With Jonsson clearly off the pace ,the move wasn’t an unqualified success but the Addicks dug in around the newcomer with their usual spirit. This band of battlers relish a challenge.

The formula is painfully simple. Away from The Valley, the Addicks set out a solid, pragmatic, disciplined stall. Although far from negative, they defend in numbers and are dangerous counterpunchers. It’s hardly a barrel of fun for home teams and their frustrated fans but the ends justify the means. On foreign fields, Charlton engage their enemy as Roundheads.

Two recent, riproaring home games, during which they conceded eight goals, showed the other side of the coin. There’s nothing wrong with entertaining, particularly since the car crash encounter with Cardiff City was thrillingly edged by the odd goal in nine, but too much of a good thing will surely see Powell develop a facial tic to match Clouseau’s tormented Inspector Dreyfus. It’s all very cavalier, of course, and Cavaliers have all the fun, what with all those curly wigs, dashing hats and flashy swordplay. Truth is, though, that it was the Roundheads who always knew how to grind out a result.

This far from easy win hinged largely on the outcome of a 15th minute flashpoint, which saw Clarets right back Kieran Trippier concede a penalty for deliberate handball on the goalline and get sent off for his crime. In bewildering sequence, Chris Solly combined cleverly with Bradley Pritchard before cutting in to shoot firmly with his less favoured left foot.

Trippier blocked the shot, with his hand as it turned out, then also blocked Johnnie Jackson’s follow-up. By the time Haynes headed a third effort on to the bar, referee Robert Madley had seen enough, decided that sufficient advantage had been allowed and that the law demanded its due. A penalty was awarded and despite the customary bellyaching, Trippier was correctly dismissed. Unnerved by a wilfully engineered delay, Jackson’s indifferent spotkick was capably saved by Lee Grant; Charlton had squandered an opportunity which, it seemed at the time, they might regret later.

A game of few clearcut chances trundled on, with Burnley giving at least as good as they got. The best effort of an even first half was Brian Stock’s thunderous 30-yard rocket, fingertipped brilliantly over the bar by Ben Hamer, while referee Madley’s decision that Leon Cort’s awkward interception in the away penalty area was innocently ball-to-hand established his credentials as anything but a homer. At the other end, Haynes’s sharpness in turning on Salim Kerkar’s perceptive pass enabled him to shoot viciously from an acute angle but Grant, at full stretch, turned the ball around his left post.

Seven minutes into the second half, the force of nature that is 20-goal striker Charlie Austin finally clocked in for work. Tightly shackled by man-of-the match Michael Morrison, with Cort constantly on hand in support, Austin dispossessed an absentminded Johnsson, then moved into range for a carefully curled effort narrowly wide of Hamer’s left post. Duly warned, Powell promptly replaced the out-of-practice Jonsson with Ricardo Fuller in a clear statement of attacking intent. Though Austin headed Dean Marney’s cross wide in Burnley’s last serious flourish, it was the well organised Londoners who made the important breakthrough.

Making another quietly effective contribution, left back Danny Seaborne linked up with Kerkar to provide space for an unhindered Jackson to measure a deep cross for Rob Hulse at the far post. Easily outjumping Danny Lafferty, Hulse directed his header across goal, where Haynes generated surprising power in looping a difficult header back over Grant into the opposite corner.

Having won the battle, Powell’s durable Roundheads battened down the hatches to win the war. Making light of the injuries and illnesses which have regularly bedevilled their season, they rallied behind skipper Jackson to see out the remains of a satisfying afternoon in scenic East Lancashire. Job done with chilling efficiency. Get down The Valley on Saturday to see them take on Huddersfield Town. They might well go barmy again. Could even have their boss working on his tic again.

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

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Lafferty (Edgar 78), Stanislas (Ings 73), McCann, Marney, Stock, Paterson (Vokes 83), Austin. Not used: Jensen, Mills, Bartley, Stewart. Sent off: Trippier.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Seaborne, Haynes (Dervite 86), Johnsson (Fuller 53), Pritchard, Jackson, Kerkar, Hulse (Taylor 90). Not used: Button, Wright-Phillips, Wagstaff, Green.

Referee; Robert Madley. Att: 11,405.

Bristol City 0 Charlton 2 (Haynes 20, Morrison 57).

Kevin Nolan reports from Ashton Gate.

Managing two successive wins for the first time this season, Charlton began the process of placing clear water between themselves and the relegation maelstrom below them with this coldly efficient win in the West Country. No doubt to manager Chris Powell’s profound relief, Bristol City were put in their place at the bottom of the division with a minimum of fuss.

Following Tuesday evening’s chaotic victory over league leaders Cardiff City, Powell had made his rubber-legged way along the touchline like one of those Specsavers pensioners who settle down for a quiet cheese sandwich but find themselves whisked aloft on a death-defying, face-contorting fairground ride. What kind of game was that, he was entitled to enquire. It was certainly not conducive to his mental well-being and robbed him of the energy for his usual fist-pumping eruptions from the dug-out.

This important win made no such demands on his emotions. A steady tape-to-tape performance, featuring a well-timed goal early in each half, provided evidence that the Addicks are finding their feet at this higher level, as well as further proof that Powell’s handling of his ongoing injury crisis has been masterly. For this game, Danny Seaborne had been loaned from Southampton to cover the problem spot at left back, fitted in seamlessly and did everything his new boss asked of him. Elsewhere, Rob Hulse and Danny Haynes have manfully picked up the scoring slack with two goals apiece so far while the return to form of Dale Stephens has galvanised midfield. Those furrows on the boss’s brow are softening visibly. Sack Chris Powell! You surely jest!

Down at drafty Ashton Gate, a 2nd minute incident demonstrated Charlton’s resolve. Closing in on Albert Adomah’s clever pullback from the right byline, Martyn Woolford drew a bead on goal and made meaty contact on a 10-yard shot. Before the ball had travelled a few feet, a flying block by Chris Solly sent it caroming back into the midfielder’s body. The battlelines had been clearly drawn.

At the other end, Haynes embarked on a sinuous solo run, which set up skilful left midfielder Salim Kerkar for a crisp daisycutter, which Tom Heaton nimbly turned round his left post. Kerkar’s deceptive cross then drifted narrowly over the bar but the Addicks were not kept waiting long for their opening goal.
Slick passing between Seaborne and Kerkar was carried on by Hulse, who shovelled a pass back to the supporting Stephens. A raking, low drive beat Heaton, hitting both posts before Haynes calmly converted the rebound at close range. Taking the lead was a novel experience for the visitors but, even at this early stage, they suggested they were capable of building on their advantage.

Haynes did his best to double his tally but scuffed awkwardly wide after Bradley Pritchard headed Kerkar’s accurate cross down to him. City, meanwhile, had their moments with Ben Hamer required to save bravely at Adomah’s feet and Sam Baldock making a tame mess of topping Ryan Taylor’s centre into Hamer’s waiting hands. Further chances eluded Haynes and Hulse before the interval rescued the Robins.

Haynes’ pace continued to trouble the West Countrymen but his finishing failed to match his enthusiasm as he chased down Kerkar’s lofted delivery but shot wildly off target shortly after resumption.

Another typical block by Solly frustrated Neil Kilkenny before a moment of inspiration from Stephens, who took over from Pritchard to shoot first-time from 30 yards, was foiled by Heaton’s athletic tip-over the bar. From Johnnie Jackson’s resultant corner, the visitors put the issue beyond reasonable doubt with a second goal from an unexpected source. Turning sharply in the penalty area as Jackson’s inswinging delivery caused confusion, centre back Michael Morrison was given clear sight of goal by Marvin Elliott’s error and made the most of it by applying a striker’s finish into the bottom left corner.

With over a half hour remaining, there were, needless to say, motions to be gone through but this important result was already secured. The closing stages brought further good news for Powell with the welcome return from injury of experienced old sweat Ricardo Fuller. And this time, the travelling fans were saluted with his customary gusto. Then, who knows, maybe he was off for a cheese sandwich.

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Bristol City: Heaton, Foster, Fontaine, Wilson, Briggs, Adomah, Elliott, Kilkenny (Pearson 70), Woolford, Baldock (Davies 57), Taylor (Stead 57). Not used: Gerken, Carey, Anderson, Bryan.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Seaborne, Stephens, Pritchard, Kerkar (Taylor 90), Jackson, Haynes (Dervite 78), Hulse (Fuller 86). Not used: Button, Green, Wright-Phillips, Hollands.

Referee: Philip Gibbs. Att: 13,009.

Charlton 5 (Jackson 40,45, Stephens 54, Haynes 60, Hulse 65) Cardiff City 4 (Helguson 4, Mason 24, Noone 90, Gunarrsson 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Urged on by a fanatically loyal crowd, Charlton destroyed league leaders Cardiff City with a five-goal salvo within 25 irresistible minutes straddling half-time, reacted negatively to six baffling minutes of added time and ended up clinging, like eleven shipwrecked survivors, to a single lifebelt. The tension was unbearable as City’s Peter Whittingham lined up a last gasp free kick but a defensive boot directed the ball in the general direction of Woolwich and a famous victory was secured. To his credit, careworn Chris Powell managed an impressive line in feigned nonchalance as he made his way down the touchline in search of sanctuary. The rest of us looked forward to a nice lie-down in a darkened room.

Following Saturday’s caning by Middlesbrough, it was hardly recommended that the Addicks should fall behind as early as the fourth minute. Again their vulnerability to setpieces was their undoing as Heidar Helguson lost his marker (Johnnie Jackson might have been the culprit) at the near post to glance Peter Whittingham’s inswinging corner beyond Ben Hamer’s reach.

With almost eerie defiance, the North Stand increased their volume of support, wavering only slightly when City, playing in unfamiliar blue shirts, doubled their lead. Another Whittingham corner from the left was flicked on by Mark Hudson, looped against the bar by Ben Turner, clawed clear by Hamer but drilled home from 10 yards by Joe Mason. The Bluebirds or Red Dragons, as their tradition-ignorant owners now call them, were doing as they pleased and, briefly, they showed why they topped the league. Their Achilles heel is, of course, an away record which is inferior to Charlton’s; 21 of their 28 points to date have been collected in seven perfect home games. They soon demonstrated why.

Five minutes before the break, Charlton were back in the hunt. An enthusiastic up-and-under from emergency right back Michael Morrison was dropped by David Marshall under scrupulously fair pressure from Rob Hulse. The loose ball was toed back to Jackson by Salim Kerkar and, from 15 yards, the skipper belted a no-nonsense drive into the top right corner.

Relieved no doubt to be factoring a vital goal into his half-time Henry V oration, Powell could scarcely contain his glee as Jackson doubled his- and Charlton’s- tally during stoppage time. The visitors seemed to have escaped unscathed with Turner clearing off the line after Hulse rounded Marshall but the Welshmen’s own vulnerability to dead ball deliveries was cruelly exposed. Jackson met Kerkar’s left wing corner with a firm header inside the left post. The din behind the far goal was deafening.

Hitting a freewheeling stride, the Addicks made mincemeat of Malky Mackay’s men after the break, though their third goal was attended by the kind of luck which has conspicuously eluded them this season. Matthew Connolly’s crude foul on Chris Solly near the left touchline set up a freekick, which the outstanding Stephens dispatched over a desperately backpedalling Marshall on its unerring way into the far top corner. The back-in-form Stephens disappeared under a man- mountain of delirious teammates.

The best-and belatedly worst- was still to come. Having troubled the visitors with his pace, Danny Haynes celebrated his return from injury with an important goal. The speedster was stumbling as Bradley Pritchard’s clipped cross from the right byline arrived but contrived to cleverly head the ball back across Marshall and in off the keeper’s flailing left hand.

The Red Dragons’ fire was all but out as Hulse added a fifth five minutes later. Moving unmolested on to Kerkar’s teasing centre from the left touchline, the hardworking striker crowned an selfless contribution by heading easily past the shellshocked Marshall. It seemed all over, of course, an impression clearly shared by more than a few furtive deserters from the away end. They never learn. On this occasion they missed the unlikely sting in the Dragons’ tail which almost produced a storybook ending.

Deflated and wearied by the mysterious addition of six minutes, Charlton wilted visibly. There were still five of those minutes available when left-footed wide right midfielder Craig Noone, mostly subdued and driven infield by the consistent Solly, slipped through the middle, eluded Hamer, crossed the goalline with the ball, then fished it out of the net en route to an undelayed kick-off.

Going down like ninepins with cramp by this time, the increasingly beleaguered homeboys were now all over the place and it was no surprise that fresh substitute Aron Gunnarsson sorted out a penalty area mess by drilling the ninth goal of a riotous evening through a mass of struggling bodies. And it was just as inevitable that Charlton would be required to resist the last gasp free kick, conceded by Pritchard’s punchdrunk foul on Whittingham. Rarely was a final whistle greeted with such undisguised relief. The significance of a result gained by a depleted, injury riddled group of players in such stirring circumstances could be profound. In its immediate aftermath, they could be proud of themselves. Their marvellously hoarse fans made it clear that they were.

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Charlton: Hamer, Morrison, Cort, Dervite, Solly, Haynes (Wright-Phillips 66), Pritchard, Stephens (Hollands 90), Jackson. Kerkar, Hulse. Not used: Button, Taylor, Green, Fox, Azeez. Booked: Morrison, Pritchard, Stepehens, Solly, Hulse.

Cardiff: Marshall, Connolly, Turner, Hudson, Taylor, Noone, Cowie (Gunnarsson 68), Whittingham, Frei (Bo-Kyung 68), Mason, Helguson (Gestede 73). Not used: Lewis, McNaughton, Kiss, Conway. Booked: Taylor, Turner, Connolly.

Referee: K. Stroud. Att: 15,764.

Charlton 1 (Hulse 12) Middlesbrough 4 (Woodgate 27, McDonald 54, Ledesma 64, Smallwood 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

A second half capitulation to in-form Middlesbrough continued the miserable home form which leaves injury-riddled Charlton two precarious points above the Championship’s Plimsoll line. One point from their last five Valley fixtures leaves them dangerously close to sinking under disappointment overload.

It’s freely conceded that the Addicks were fairly and squarely beaten by the better side. There’s no disgrace in that, of course, but even this early in the season, the dismal question must be whether there are three inferior teams in the division. Just a few weeks ago, Peterborough were written off as no-hopers but pulled themselves together and now sit just two points behind Charlton. On Saturday, hopeless Ipswich, under new manager Mick McCarthy, provided another of the shocks which have studded the season so far by beating Birmingham City 1-0 at St. Andrews and closed to gap on Charlton to four manageable points. Mind you, the Tractor Boys’ surprise win keeps Birmingham only two points above Charlton. This relegation business makes accountants of us all.

Another excellent crowd saw Charlton give as good as they got from Tony Mowbray’s promotion hopefuls in an entertaining first half. Had they accepted even one of two golden headed chances either side of Rob Hulse’s first goal for the club, the outcome might have different. But you can hardly bemoan your fate if you waste such opportunities.

There was barely three minutes on the clock when Bradley Pritchard sent Bradley Wright-Phillips clear down the left flank, intelligently continuing his run into the penalty area. The striker’s accurate cross missed Hulse but picked out Pritchard who directed a free header haplessly over the bar.

The miss seemed a little less important nine minutes later as Hulse fired his latest employers in front. The early running was made by Dorian Dervite’s alert midfield interception and pass to Pritchard, who used Wright-Phillips’ decoy run to his left to feed Hulse on his right. Gaining quick ground, the QPR loanee beat Jason Steele with a faintly deflected drive inside the right post.

At that point, Boro hardly looked fearsome. But they merely were biding their time and were level before the half hour. Dervite’s foul on Grant Leadbitter was promptly punished by the victim’s lethal free kick and Jonathan Woodgate’s emphatic header past a helpless Ben Hamer. Ignore the puzzling buzz word doing the rounds because there was nothing “soft” about the goal; both delivery and finish were rehearsed. Short of nailing Woodgate’s feet to the ground, there wasn’t much Charlton could do to prevent it. It’s no secret that about half of the goals scored these days are the result of setpieces. The trick is to claim your share of them. Oh yeah, and don’t give away free kicks needlessly. These blokes thrive on them.
Before the interval, Hulse should have restored the lead. Chris Solly’s quick throw caught out dawdling left back George Friend, allowing Lawrie Wilson to place a measured first-time cross on the big forward’s brow. At the near post, Hulse reprised his dreadful miss at Molineux by heading harmlessly over the bar.

A clearly rattled Friend retaliated by picking up a caution for violently scything down Wilson, breathing a sigh of relief when Johnnie Jackson’s inswinging free kick was headed down and narrowly wide by Michael Morrison at the far post. Infected by the sudden panic, Woodgate joined him in the book for deliberate handball, with Jackson skimming the bar from the promising setpiece. It was spirited stuff from the Addicks but it failed to dispel the nagging feeling that the best of Boro was still to come.

Nine minutes after resumption, the visitors duly began the process of dismantling their hosts. Pouncing on Morrison’s error, Josh McEachran fed Scott Mcdonald, who extended his red hot scoring streak by blasting a ferocious angled drive past Hamer. The tireless Aussie then turned provider with a neat flick sending Emmanuel Ledesma through to skilfully lob over the shellshocked keeper.

With twenty minutes left, Boro could relax and enjoy their obvious superiority. Running riot through a demoralised defence, McDonald forced two fine saves from Hamer, meanwhile setting up substitutes Lukas Jutkiewicz and Justin Hoyte to both miss when it seemed easier to score. In added time, Lutkiewicz tried again with a low crosshot which was going wide until fellow sub Richard Smallwood intervened to tap home the Northeasterners’ fourth goal at the far post. By then, only goal difference was relevant.

Still, there’s always another game coming up tomorrow – or Tuesday, to be precise. Er, that’s when table-topping Cardiff City arrive in S.E.7. It makes you realise that this division is light years removed from the puny league, through which Charlton strolled last season. But it’s the place to be and it’s worth fighting ferociously to stay there. The Addicks have a manager who will accept nothing less.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort (Haynes 76), Morrison, Kerkar, Wilson (Stephens 46), Dervite, Pritchard, Jackson, Wright-Phillips (Cook 76), Hulse. Not used: Button, Taylor, Green, Hollands. Booked: Pritchard.

Boro: Steele, Parnaby, Woodgate, Bikey, Friend, Haroun (Hoyte 90), Bailey, Leadbitter, McEachran (Smallwood 90), Ledesma (Lutkiewicz 67), McDonald. Not used: Leutwiler, Zemmama, Halliday, Reach. Booked: Friend, Woodgate.

Referee: G. Scott. Att: 17,736.

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

Wolves 1 (Sako 13) Charlton 1 (Wilson 57).

Kevin Nolan reports from Molineux.

A second one-all draw within four days, on both occasions coming from behind on the road, says much for the unquenchable spirit that sustains Chris Powell’s battling side. With their feet now firmly under the Championship table, an improvement in home form must be the next urgent item on the agenda.

Satisfaction at this encouraging result will be tempered by regret that the Addicks came away with only one of the three points they just about deserved. Two misses by an otherwise hardworking Rob Hulse, the more glaring of which would surely have been an 88th matchwinner, spared Wolves an unexpected defeat.

Hulse had soldiered on gamely with threadbare support up front when the excellent Chris Solly made space to stand up a tailored cross, which practically begged to be converted. Instead, Hulse headed firmly but inexplicably wide of the right post as he had done earlier when set up by Bradley Pritchard’s perfect delivery from the right byline. They had chances of their own, of course, but Wolves were undoubtedly more relieved to hear the final whistle.

There were uncanny similarities to Tuesday evening’s game at Elland Road. The Addicks were again given an early chasing before settling down but it was no surprise that they reached half-time a goal down. On this occasion, they succumbed on 13 minutes and there was much, admittedly, to admire in the goal’s construction and execution.

Pace and precision were combined both in Jermaine Pennant’s measured pass to overlapping Kevin Foley and the right back’s cleverly angled ball laid back across the six-yard area. Meeting the pass on the run, Bakary Sako gave Ben Hamer no chance with a searing right-footed volley inside the right post.

Well on the top at the time, Wolves might have moved out of sight had they managed to double their lead. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was a toe-end away from touching in Sako’s dipping centre, while Lawrie Wilson heroically blocked Stephen Ward’s goalbound drive.. Before the break, however, there were signs, most notably when Salim Kerkar turned sharply to shave a post, that the same stranglehold which wore down Leeds was beginning to sap the suddenly faltering Midlanders. It wasn’t pretty but it worked.

Charlton’s growing confidence might have been seriously dented immediately following the re-start but, for once, their luck was in. In bewildering sequence, Kevin Doyle headed back Pennant’s cross for Tongo Doumbia to apparently smash home routinely from close range. Having followed through on to the goalline, Doyle was perfectly to block Doumbia’s sure thing and was ruled offside to complete his embarrassment. Two minutes later, the visitors not unexpectedly equalised.

A bundle of energy as usual, Pritchard sent Cedric Evina clear behind Ward to pull an accurate cross away from keeper Carl Ikeme at his near post. Nipping in alertly, Hulse hit both keeper and woodwork but the rebound rolled kindly to Wilson, who scored easily. With Wolves still reeling from the setback, Hulse promptly missed his first golden chance from Pritchard’s fine cross. The out-of-luck striker did better when sent through by Pritchard but his fierce angled shot was parried by Ikeme.

Comfortably in control, the Addicks were all but undone by Hamer’s absentmindedness in hanging on to the ball too long, his offence duly flagged by a jobsworth linesman; after an eternity of tension, the errant keeper redeemed himself by competently saving Sako’s low free kick. The burly midfielder had a last chance to nick the points but blazed over the bar.

So with two defiant away performances on which to build, Powell’s pressing priority must be to address his side’s vulnerability at The Valley. He might start by sticking, temporarily at least, to the same game plan which has served them so well on their travels to several daunting venues. With his current dearth of strikers, keep the same defensive formation, play patiently on the break and don’t worry about any need to entertain. In other words, if you can’t win, make damn sure you don’t lose- an attitude which might have served them well against Watford and Barnsley recently. A point’s a point and with his brief to keep Charlton in this division, needs must as relegation drives. That’s the theory, anyway. It’s open for debate.

Wolves: Ikeme, Foley, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Pennant (Forde 82), Doumbia, Henry (Edwards 82), Sako, Ebanks-Blake (Sigurdarson 46), Doyle. Not used: Stearman, Batth, Davis, De Vries.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Evina, Wilson, Pritchard (Hollands 90), Dervite, Kerkar (Cook 84) Jackson, Hulse. Not used: Button, Green, Wright-Phillips, Razak, Taylor. Booked: Hulse.

Referee: C. Pawson. Att: 22,198.

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