Charlton Athletic

Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 0-1 Norwich City

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Kevin Nolan's Valley View
The Addicks hosted a Premier League side at home for the first time in 15 years, but couldn’t quite finish off top-tier strugglers Norwich City. KEVIN NOLAN was in the press box.

A single flash of Premier League quality, with only 11 minutes remaining in this FA Cup third round tie, sent Norwich City into Round Four and left Charlton free to concentrate on reaching Wembley via the EFL Trophy.

An away tie at Hartlepool on a Wednesday evening in January lacks obvious appeal but it is, no doubt you agree, better than nothing.

It was Teemo Pukki, summoned from the bench at half-time to replace Greek teenager Christos Tzolis, who supplied that extra something which settled an evenly fought clash which Charlton could – indeed should – have at least drawn.

Sprinting on to a shrewdly weighted through ball from Kenny McLean, he was too quick for a toiling Jason Pearce and, resisting the temptation to shoot, squared unselfishly for fellow substitute Milot Rashica to tap in the winner.

Although a constant menace, Pukki hadn’t exactly terrorised the Addicks but proved to be the difference which separated sides of almost identical merit.

If Jonathan Leko had made more of a similar chance from four yards, created for him just past the half hour by Elliot Lee, an honourable draw would have meant extra-time and potentially penalties.

But Leko snatched at the opportunity, spooned it horribly over the bar and reminded home fans that while Dean Smith could call on the likes of Pukki and Rashica, Johnnie Jackson was cruelly deprived of both Conor Washington and Jayden Stockley. His striker-less selection’s inability to score was hardly difficult to predict.

Not that Jackson’s otherwise strong side were easy marks for their soon-to-be Championship opponents. An early, bone-crunching challenge by Ryan Inniss on marauding Turkish defender Ozan Kabak signalled an intent that was easy to read.

To his credit, Kazan neither crumpled nor complained and battle was joined. Until the interval, Charlton enjoyed an edge and with better finishing and, it must be said, the occasional intervention of luck, might have retired for refreshment in the lead.

Lee was a restless bundle of energy and when set up by the equally hardworking Alex Gilbey, curled narrowly wide. After Leko missed the best chance of all, Gilbey chanced his arm from distance to produce an unorthodox but effective save from Tim Krul, who somehow shovelled his 25-yarder up and over the bar.

The visitors were always in contention but Charlton opened the second period still marginally on top. Receiving from George Dobson, Lee closed in from the flank but was foiled by Krul’s astutely outstretched right foot. The Canaries’ vastly experienced Dutch stopper was proving that it’s not how, but whether, you keep ’em out that matters. He’s been doing it long enough.

The introduction of Pukki was, meanwhile, greeted with mild apprehension among home fans. The simultaneous introduction of 25-year-old Kosovan Rashica caused no similar disquiet but Smith was royally served by both his half-time substitutions.

In response to Krul’s eccentric heroics, meanwhile, Stephen Henderson did his bit to keep the Addicks in the tie. His saves from McLean’s crisp drive and Max Aaron’s low effort, which was sneaking inside his left hand post, were at least expected of him.

At the other end, however, he wrongfooted everyone by charging upfield to take a last chance free kick to the left of City’s penalty area. Waving aside objections, including those voiced by regular setpiece specialist Lee, his delivery was surprisingly delicate and well judged. Leaping high at the far post, Pearce nodded back across goal and Ben Purrington’s six-yard header rebounded off the bar.

(We apologise if readers, at this point, detect any bad language lurking between the lines of this report. It’s entirely uncalled for but, honestly, you had to be there. And, be fair, it was enough to make a saint swear. We are unable to guarantee it won’t happen again.)

Charlton: Henderson; Clare, Pearce, Inniss (Gunter 70); Jaiyesimi (Blackett-Taylor 71), Gilbey (Kirk 87), Dobson, Lee, Purrington; Leko, Burstow (Davison 70). Not used: MacGillivray, Matthews, Souaré, Morgan, Watson. Booked: Inniss, Purrington, Dobson, Gilbey. Booked: Inniss, Purrington, Dobson, Gilbey.

Norwich City: Krul; Byram (Aarons 71), Hanley, Kabak, Giannoulis (Williams 46); Lees-Melou, Sørensen, McLean; Dowell (Rashica 46), Sargent (Idah 85), Tzolis (Pukki 46). Not used: Gunn, Gibson, Gibbs, Płacheta. Booked: Hanley, Pukki, Sørensen.

Referee: Joshua Smith

Attendance: 13,825 (2,260 visiting)

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers

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Kevin Nolan's Valley View

New Year’s Day brought a rude awakening for Charlton fans – but KEVIN NOLAN tried not to let it spoil his birthday…

Back-to-back 1-0 defeats have blown a ruinous hole in Charlton’s lingering hopes of a place in the post-season play-offs. With 22 games still to play, that might be dismissed as a hopelessly defeatist statement by those fans whose glass remains defiantly half-full until the bitter end.

But the truth is that the Addicks’ mid-table position is exactly where they belong. They’re a decent enough League One side – too good to go down but not nearly good enough to go up.

In a word, mediocre.

Three impressive victories in Thomas Sandgaard’s Fill The Valley initiative had inspired genuine belief that Johnnie Jackson’s men had turned a critical corner and were poised to make their move on the top six pacesetters.

All three games were won by solid 2-0 margins, the first of them seeing off Plymouth Argyle, who arrived at The Valley unbeaten in 16 league games. When Ipswich Town and Cambridge United were similarly dispatched, there was a buzz in the air which even deeply disappointing performances at Morecambe and Shrewsbury failed to dispel.

Plymouth’s revenge at Home Park two weeks ago, however, provided damning evidence that Charlton’s inconsistency would be their undoing.

Surprise packets Wycombe Wanderers had already beaten the Addicks back in September and occupied a healthy fifth position before Saturday’s kick-off.

They did their promotion prospects no harm with this comfortable, often fractious victory, set up by an excellent first half goal and consolidated by an exhibition of expertly crafted timewasting which, with inept referee Paul Howard’s connivance, reduced the second half to almost pantomimic farce.

Collapsing without warning, making a meal of every setpiece, kicking the ball away religiously, these Chairboys were anything but Choirboys. The award of five measly added minutes rewarded their cynicism and proved again that in football, crime can be made to pay. Added time – it’s no more than a charter for cheats!

None of which suggests that Charlton were robbed. They were in fact taught a bitter lesson by one-time minnows in the art of game management, a euphemism these days for blatant bending of the rules – or laws, such as they are.

And in 34-year-old Garath McCleary, the visitors had an experienced campaigner capable of blending sublime skills with the game’s darker arts in search of a result. The tricky veteran claimed both of Wycombe’s goals in their 2-1 home win over what was then Nigel Adkins’ side; his outstanding assist which helped settle this ill-tempered clash made it four so far this season and provided top scorer Sam Vokes with his seventh goal.

Neatly controlling Jason McCarthy’s pass to the right of Charlton’s goal, McCleary wriggled clear of George Dobson’s attentions on the byline, closed in to the near post and provided Vokes with a two-yard chance the Welsh striker could hardly miss.

Charlton were already chasing a lost cause, one which the visitors were at pains to make even more remote. Two of the three changes made by Jackson from the team which flopped at Plymouth sensibly restored Akin Famewo and Conor Washington to the starting XI.

But the enforced absence of Jayden Stockley, withdrawn after picking up a “niggle” was a body blow. His replacement, Josh Davison, got off to a nightmare start which clearly drained him of confidence and gave way to Jonathan Leko at half-time.

The large Valley crowd showed sympathy to the unfortunate Davison and an ineffectual Leko but Stockley’s belligerence was sorely missed.

Up front for the Chairboys, meanwhile, was former Addick Brandon Hanlan, to whom fell the visitors’ best chance of doubling the advantage provided by McCleary. Early in the second half, Hanlan outmuscled the otherwise redoubtable Jason Pearce, but shooting far too early, made Craig McGillivray’s save routine. McCleary came much closer with a sharp drive which deflected narrowly wide of the left post.

Charlton’s chances were few and far between. Elliot Lee’s first half effort drew a fine save from David Stockdale but the keeper knew little about the 58th-minute ricochet off Leko, which sent Alex Gilbey’s close range cross cannoning into his right post.

Washington drove narrowly wide but the closest Charlton came to an equaliser was late substitute Ryan Inniss’s last-minute header which was scraped off the line by Wycombe’s captain Joe Jacobson. And that was all she wrote…

Charlton: McGillivray, Clare, Famewo, Pearce, Purrington, Dobson (Inniss 88), Jaiyesimi (Burstow 84), Gilbey, Lee, Davison (Leko 46), Washington. Not used: Henderson, Morgan, Watson, Souare. Booked: Pearce, Clare.

Wycombe: Stockdale, Grimmer, Jacobson, Forino-Joseph, McCarthy, Mehmeti (Wheeler 61), Scowen, Obita, Hanlan, McCleary, Vokes (Stewart 90+2). Not used: Przybek, Wheeler, Thompson, Horgan, Akinfenwa. Booked: McCleary, Wheeler, Obita.

Referee: Paul Howard. Att: 18,895 (873 visiting).

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 2-0 Cambridge United

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Kevin Nolan's Valley View

KEVIN NOLAN was at The Valley as Charlton continued a run of home victories.

Buoyed by 2-0 victories in the first two of Charlton’s imaginative Fill The Valley offers, Charlton eagerly looked forward to making it an impressive hat-trick when Cambridge provided the opposition at The Valley on Saturday. It’s no co-incidence that the players again responded to a nearly full stadium, even if the crowd was boosted by ersatz fans. Lukewarm support is better than no support at all.

There was no room, of course, for over-confidence. A glance at the clubs’ mutual records shows that United have won seven and drawn five of their eighteen previous league meetings. They did the double over the Addicks during the 1991-92 season, winning 2-1 at Upton Park under the Stone Age management of John Beck. The memory of that dreadful afternoon still triggers uncontrollable facial tics among Charlton supporters still struggling to forget. Samaritans had to take the phone off the hook and leave a voicemail message until the calls subsided that evening.

Needless to say, the chaps who represent Cambridge these days owe nobody an apology for Beck’s dismal excesses. They have made a decent job of building on their promotion from League Two last season and arrived in SE7 after sticking five past Cheltenham on Tuesday evening. They duly contributed to a testy, tetchy encounter, during which the Addicks were themselves hardly likely to be mistaken for Westminster Abbey choristers, as they fought fire with fire and outbooked their visitors 5-4.

Had referee Benjamin Speedie applied the letter of the law, Jayden Stockley’s second half card might have been red rather than yellow. The feisty striker was standing up for Jason Pearce, who had been mowed down by Joe Ironside. He needn’t have bothered because this was exactly the kind of game the skipper relishes; he and Ironside walked off together at the final whistle, happily comparing bruises.

Unlike Tuesday’s visitors Ipswich Town, who played attractively without once troubling Craig McGillivray, the U’s breached the home defence on several occasions but found Craig McGillivray in outstanding form. Two one-on-one saves from Adam May and Sam Smith stood out but the in-form keeper also protected the clean sheet with his clean handling of other strikes. “Doing his job” was Johnnie Jackson’s tongue-in-cheek tribute. McGillivray has been doing it brilliantly in recent weeks.

Another Addick who went over and above the call of duty in securing this important victory was Conor Washington, scorer of both goals and indefatigable chaser of lost causes. Alongside Stockley, he gave the Addicks a potent edge up front and answered critics of his finishing ability with two strikes of predatory opportunism.

Mark Bonner’s men had twice threatened to snatch an early lead before the first of Washington’s brace. First, Ironside reacted to James Brophy’s deflected shot by heading wide as the ball, happily for Charlton, arrived slightly behind him. Then Smith shot weakly past the left post when ideally placed.

United’s misses were punished by Washington’s opener on the half hour. Receiving Alex Gilbey’s sharp pass to feet with his back to goal, the Irishman turned on what old-timers would recognise as a sixpence before placing a low drive across Dimitar Mitov and neatly into the far bottom corner. His sixth league goal of the season was to be later followed by his seventh – a more than decent return from fourteen starts.

Charlton’s encouraging commitment to attack was exemplified by the appearance of left wingback Ben Purrington, who moved on to Elliot Lee’s pass before shooting powerfully wide. Ex-Addick Mitov followed with a fine save at his near post from Jonathan Leko, a sporadic threat before he faded and was replaced by Diallang Jaiyesimi in a like-for-like second half exchange.

Lee, meanwhile, was part of a hardworking midfield which, along with McGillivray’s defiance and Washington’s goalscoring heroics, provided the platform for this vital victory. Gilbey’s elegant playmaking was complemented by George Dobson’s shoulders-hunched urgency between both penalty areas. Dobson put his foot in regularly, breaking up the visitors’ rhythm and spreading the play sensibly with unflashy distribution. An unsung hero you could say. But deeply appreciated by Jackson, it’s also safe to say.

Precariously a goal in front, the Addicks lived dangerously as McGillivray saved magnificently from Smith and again when Smith was put through by May, outwitted substitute Pape Souare but sidefooted tamely off target. Having replaced an inconveniently injured Purrington, Souare drew a few sharp intakes of The Valley’s breath with careless inattention in possession but, with one minute of regulation time remaining, redeemed himself by laying on Washington’s clincher.

Showing an encouraging readiness to support the front runners, Souare accelerated down the left touchline, leaving bedraggled defenders in his wake, before crossing low into the visitors’ six-yard area. An obliging deflection off Stockley fell nicely for Washington to drill home a perfect example of an opportunistic goal. The home crowd’s exhalation of relief was heartfelt, then they hung around to enjoy the traditional tunnel jumps. Even Addicks to Victory was excusable in the euphoria. Sometimes you can forgive anything.

Charlton: McGillivray, Clare, Pearce, Famewo, Purrington (Souare 72), Dobson, Gilbey, Lee, Leko (Jaiyesimi 68), Washington, Stockley.
Not used: Henderson, Morgan, Davison, Watson, Elerewe. Booked: Famewo, Pearce, Stockley, Lee, Clare.

Cambridge: Mitov, Williams, Iredale, Digby, Brophy, Ironside, Smith (Worman 90+4), Dunk (Lankester 88), Okedina, Weir (Knibbs 77), May.
Not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Masterson, Yearn, McConnell. Booked: Digby, Ironside, Dunk, May.

Referee: Benjamin Speedie. Att: 24,886 (1698 visiting).

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 2-0 Plymouth Argyle

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Kevin Nolan's Valley View

A packed Valley roared on Johnnie Jackson’s Addicks as they took the League One leaders apart yesterday. KEVIN NOLAN was there.

With the faithful Green Army at their back, Plymouth Argyle swept into The Valley on Saturday as confident table-toppers, unbeaten in sixteen league games since losing their opening fixture.

Not numbered among the pre-season promotion favourites, the Pilgrims have surprised the pundits by setting the pace in League One with fluent, easy-on-the-eye football. Scoring at a rate of nearly two goals a game, their blistering start is no flash in the pan. Argyle seem capable of going the distance.

No slouches themselves under rookie managers Johnnie Jackson and Jason Euell, Charlton have turned their miserable, early season form on its head. Since Nigel Adkins was handed his P45, 13 points have been won from five league games; whether Jackson has convinced owner Thomas Sandgaard to make his position permanent remains to be seen. He certainly did his chances no harm by masterminding this magnificent victory.

Boosted by the club’s bold offer to season ticket holders of free seats (buy one, get three free), The Valley was a heaving, pulsating wave of passion before kick-off. There was unmistakably something in the air, a surge of irresistible partisanship driving Jackson and his boys.

In a packed Jimmy Seed Stand, the visiting Westcountrymen did their best to stem the vocal tide but their task was hopeless. Saturday’s home crowd was having none of it.

Riding a wave of raw emotion, the Addicks responded with a stirring, cocklewarming performance to which each individual contributed. From the dependable Craig McGillivray in goal to the bravery of Josh Davison up front, and in every position between them, each player found an extra yard and ounce of energy for the cause.

Plymouth were clearly more than useful opponents but, as their manager Ryan Lowe graciously conceded, they “were beaten by the better side”. Had Charlton added clinical finishing to their all-round excellence, Lowe’s tribute might have qualified as faint praise.

Despite starting on the front foot, Charlton came close to sustaining an early setback which might have seriously changed things. Conor Grant’s free kick from the right touchline was untouched as it reached Macaulay Gillesphey at the far post, bounced off the left back’s shin and rolled harmless inches wide as McGillivray scrambled across his goal line.

In reply, George Dobson intercepted Dan Scarr’s wayward pass but fired narrowly off target, Purrington’s point blank effort was gamely blocked by Joe Edwards and Alex Gilbey’s header sent Elliot Lee’s outswinging corner goalwards to be blocked almost at source by Panutche Camara.

Charlton’s pressure hardly amounted to a siege of Michael Cooper’s goal but after Josh Davison recycled a right wing centre, Dobson’s cross was headed by Lee into the side net at the far post.

Ending the first half as they’d started it, Plymouth went dangerously close to taking an undeserved lead back into the dressing room with them. Edwards’ subtle pass sent Ryan Hardie through a scattered defence to confront McGillivray. Standing firm, the advancing keeper charged down the forward’s shot and a hugely relieved Valley breathed again.

Mere minutes after resumption, the stadium erupted when Purrington, with his second goal in successive weeks, fired the Addicks into the lead. Drifting intelligently into space on the right of the visitors’ penalty area, the marauding left-back met Dobson’s deep cross from the left and squeezed a bouncing volley between Cooper and the right post.

It wasn’t the cleanest of strikes but was celebrated with an explosion of joy mixed with entirely understandable relief. And appropriately, it was scored in front of the North Stand, where Purrington and his mates gathered to milk the moment until firmly called to order by referee Peter Wright.

Argyle are too good a side to accept defeat until it’s over and hit back spiritedly. Grant shot narrowly over the bar, then drilled over a centre which eluded a posse of straining players but was cleared by Purrington at the far post. A second goal became Charlton’s priority but when Lee combined with Washington to set up a shooting chance for Gilbey, the midfielder was foiled by Cooper’s fine save.

The visiting keeper’s defiance had kept his impressive side in the hunt but with six regulation minutes remaining, Washington eased the tension with his fourth goal of the season. Sent clear down the inside right channel by Lee’s shrewdly judged pass, the Northern Irishman used his deceptive pace to outstrip Gillesphey, closed in on Cooper and crashed an unstoppable drive inside the right hand post.

The coup-de-grace had been delivered but Argyle’s defeat would have been more decisive had Washington and Lee converted simple chances to double their misery. Not that it mattered. A complete team performance had already been delivered to an ecstatic Valley, one marred only by the 55th-minute injury sustained by Jason Pearce. The skipper had been a towering influence and, on an afternoon when every Addick was a hero, was on his way to man-of-the-match recognition.

We’ll settle instead on Akin Famewo, who celebrated his escape from suspension (last week’s referee Trevor Kettle confirmed that his vision is boss-eyed by confusing Famewo with Purrington) with a splendid contribution of responsible defending and enterprising attacking.

On second thoughts, let’s nominate 14 men-of-the-match and say no more about it. This one was that special.

Charlton: McGillivray, Clare, Pearce (Gunter 55), Famewo, Purrington, Gilbey, Jaiyesimi (Blackett-Taylor 83), Lee, Dobson, Davison (Burstow 77), Washington. Not used: Harness, Morgan, Kirk, Watson. Booked: Dobson.

Plymouth: M Cooper, Gillesphey, Houghton, Wilson, Scarr, Broom (Mayor 71), Edwards (G Cooper 88), Hardie (Jephcott 70), Garrick. Grant, Camara. Not used: Burton, Agard, Randell, Galloway. Booked: Gillesphey, Broom.

Referee: Peter Wright.

Attendance: 26,090 (2,846 visiting).

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 4-0 Havant & Waterlooville

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Kevin Nolan's Valley View

The Addicks notched up their first FA Cup win in three years yesterday – but managed to make hard work of it for much of the match. KEVIN NOLAN breathes a sigh of relief.

Still on the right side of 40, Johnnie Jackson has more than a little of the old school about him.

He’s no dyed-in-the-wool reactionary but comes across as a straightforward bloke who calls it as he sees it. And when he claimed during the week to respect the FA Cup and all it once stood for, he was taken at face value. His own failure to make it as far as the semi-finals apparently still rankles.

For this first-round tie against Havant & Waterlooville, who currently sit in 10th place in the National League South table, Jackson boldly named a side which featured nine changes from the team which went toe-to-toe with Rotherham United three days previously.

Akin Famewo and Jayden Stockley were the sole survivors but all nine newcomers were unarguably first team squad members.

On paper, at least, his team had more than enough about it to see off H&W comfortably. In no way was Jackson showing disrespect to either Saturday’s visitors or the competition itself.

But while the one-sided scoreline ultimately vindicated his judgement, it took Charlton until deep into the second half to demonstrate their pedigree. And until they did, they were bloody awful. Dreadful. Woeful. Pitiful. Lots of other words which fail me now. Provide your own if you like.

Pokerfaced on the sideline, the Addicks’ youthful boss was facing a gauntlet of disapproving hindsight as an inconvenient replay at the romantically named Draper Tools Community Stadium loomed over him.

Then his inspired introduction of Elliot Lee and Ben Watson for the misfiring Albie Morgan and Harry Arter changed everything. Suddenly the clouds rolled away, Charlton clicked and the Hawks abruptly turned into sitting ducks.

The tempo changed and so did the mood among 2,991 home fans, a meagre gathering which drew the disapproval of H&W manager Paul Doswell, who had been looking forward to a nice little earner as well as an enjoyable day in the capital. He seemed more disappointed by the gate than the result.

The first half can be dealt with briskly. Possession was hogged by the hosts who passed their way painstakingly over the halfway line, horsed around for a while, then headed back to their own territory where they set up again before repeating the process.

There were innocuous shots at goal from Charlie Kirk, with deputy right back Sean Clare the pick of a poor bunch, Arter and Morgan. But the nearest anyone came to a goal was visiting defender Josh Passley, whose shot/cross caused Stephen Henderson brief concern before drifting harmlessly off target. Rarely was an interval more keenly anticipated.

Jackson’s half-time talk was no doubt slightly salty in tone. It certainly galvanised Corey Blackett-Taylor who, after spending the first session in Joe Newton’s pocket, began to terrorise the left back. Electric acceleration set up a venomous drive which grazed the bar.

And when Stockley headed Arter’s cross tamely wide, the Addicks were showing signs of belated life, interrupted only by the fine save Henderson needed to make from Jake McCarthy’s header.

With the Hawks cheerfully wasting as much time as they dared, a daunting midweek trip to Havant – or is it Waterlooville? – was becoming likely. The visitors in the Jimmy Seed Stand were becoming cheekier by the minute when the roof fell in on them.

The first hammer blow was delivered by Josh Davison, whose task in heading home Kirk’s perfect cross at the far post was simplicity itself. With H&W’s rapidly tiring defence breached, a tide of red shirts flooded through.

Old pro Watson had brought with him a sensible, steadying influence; Lee was more dynamic and began to run his bewildered victims ragged. His nimble feet inside the visitors’ penalty area suckered skipper Joe Oastler into lunging in to bring him down and Stockley claimed his ninth goal of the season from the spot.

Nine minutes later, the scorer moved into double figures by prodding home from two yards after Lee’s whiplashed drive crashed off a post and was kept alive by Pape Souare.

The issue was well and truly decided at that point but there was still time for the most romantic conclusion to a troublesome afternoon. It was scored by Mason Burstow, who celebrated the signing of his first professional contract with his first senior goal. He’s unlikely to forget either the goal or the quality of the strike which produced it.

Having replaced Stockley on 86 minutes, 18 year-old Burstow burst over the halfway line, tearing past both exhausted defenders and supporting teammates, with only one thing on his mind. And that was to hammer an unstoppable drive past Mannion into the keeper’s inviting net.

The first of many, we trust… they don’t all have to be so spectacular, Mason.

Charlton: Henderson, Clare, Famewo, Elewere, Souare (Clayden 87), Arter (Watson 70), Morgan (Lee 70), Blackett-Taylor, Kirk, Davison (Washington 90+4), Stockley (Burstow 86). Not used: McGillivray, Dobson, Pearce, Jaiyesimi. Booked: Elewere, Lee.

Havant & Waterlooville: Mannion, Pasley, Oastler, Green, Magri (Rooney 63), McCarthy, Newton (Rendell 77), Collins (Baggie 77), Gobern, Roberts, Chambers-Parillon (Searle 84).

Referee: Carl Brook. Att: 3,865 (874 visiting).

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Rotherham United

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Kevin Nolan's Valley View

Charlton’s revival under Johnnie Jackson continued last night with a hard-fought draw against form team Rotherham United. KEVIN NOLAN reports from The Valley.

Fresh from demolishing Doncaster Rovers 4-0 – an impressive result which built on their backs-to-the wall heroics at Sunderland – resurgent Charlton confronted sterner opposition at The Valley on Tuesday in their third test under the youthful stewardship of Johnnie Jackson. Rotherham United were themselves riding a wave of confidence after whipping faltering Sunderland and could justifiably claim to be League One’s outstanding team.

Something clearly had to give unless, of course, they settled for a point apiece. And that’s how it turned out – but not before the dust settled on this full-blooded, often controversial meeting and left both sides with nothing but mutual respect for each other.

Most of the controversy centred around the frankly bizarre refereeing of Scott Oldham, who teetered dangerously close to losing control of a fiercely competitive but never violent encounter. It’s only fair to say that Mr Oldham operated throughout on an equal opportunities basis. His democratic incompetence affected both sides and possibly evened out over a hectic, entertaining evening. If that sounds like damning with faint praise, we’ll settle for that.

Mr Oldham started well, his fifth-minute booking of Jayden Stockley for a lusty challenge on Daniel Barlaser was entirely the right decision. Shame he failed to apply the same letter of the law to Michael Ihiekwe early in the second half for an agricultural challenge on Alex Gilbey. Already booked for an earlier offence, Ihiekwe’s fate seemed sealed to everyone but our understanding official, who contented himself with a stern wigging and a meaningless free kick. Relieved Millers manager Paul Warne reacted by almost immediately substituting his errant defender.

Warne’s South Yorkshiremen edged the first half without particularly troubling Craig McGillivray. Half-chances fell to Barlaser, who drove narrowly wide, then Ihiekwe whose close range header veered off target after Akin Famewo’s unwitting deflection fell kindly to him.

For the Addicks, Conor Washington’s glancing header from Chris Gunter’s cross missed by inches; a crisp volley by Diallang Jaiyesimi, named by Jackson as replacement for injury victim Jonathan Leko, tested Josh Vickers’ handling.
Washington’s tame header at Vickers appeared to have closed out a tense first half which, unhappily for the locals, ended in disaster.

Deep into two minutes of added time, United right-back Wes Harding prepared to deliver the latest in a series of long throws from the right corner flag. Instead, he shovelled a questionably foul throw to Oliver Rathbone, accepted the return and hammered over a cross which came perilously to curving in, then out, of play.

At the near post, centre-back Richard Wood, still upfield in anticipation of a long delivery may – or may not – have knocked the ball back to scorer Mickel Miller with an illegal arm.

All three complaints – the iffy throw, the fluctuating cross and Wood’s dodgy assist – were passionately disputed by a posse of angry Addicks but Oldham was unmoved. By cocking a deaf ‘un, he added another temporary handicap to the fleeting myopia which blinded him to Ihiekwe’s later villainy.

It had been vital that Charlton reached the break still level but Miller’s strike was a discouraging development. United had the goal they intended to defend by fair means and less than fair means where necessary.

Employing every trick in the book and some they’d invented themselves, they reduced the second period to a stop-start, stuttering process. The on-field treatment and painstaking departure of Miller took over three minutes, which made nonsense of Oldham’s award of five added minutes. Timewasting pays. Pass the word.

Clearly playing for their caretaker boss, whose bottom line demands “they play for the shirt, that they give everything out on that pitch”, the Addicks “gave the supporters something to be proud of” as they sought an equaliser. Gilbey’s superb pass sent Washington through but an advancing Vickers did enough to smother his shot, with Rarmani Edmonds-Green’s crucial block of Stockley’s follow-up effort typifying the visitors’ determination to hang onto what they had.

At the other end, McGillivray kept his side in the hunt by smartly parrying Michael Smith’s angled blockbuster, then producing a stupendous effort to keep out Freddie Ladapo’s corner-bound header when it appeared to have already beaten him. McGillivray was to be rewarded for his excellence seven minutes before regulation time expired.

Appreciated by fans for his never-say-die spirit, Washington ran on to Elliot Lee’s lofted delivery and was confronted by Edmonds-Green as he moved over the 18-yard line. At which point, Oldham adopted a “boys will be boys” attitude to the Irishman’s er, let’s say hefty removal of the defender from his path. Possibly feeling he owed Charlton one, he beamed benignly as Washington let fly and found the net with the help of a wicked deflection off Wood.

Bless him, he had no way of knowing what the goal meant to Jackson, his gallant men and a profoundly relieved Valley. No hard feelings, Scott, but don’t hurry back. Once is more than enough.

Jackson, meanwhile, is moulding a group of talented individuals into a smoothly functioning unit. Clearly no tinkerer, he named the same side which routed Doncaster, with Jaiyesimi for the injured Jonathan Leko an enforced change.

Just as clearly, he feels that two games within three days are negotiable for well-paid professionals, with the admirable Jason Pearce making the case with a second, spirited performance against an aggressive, physical side which included the 6’4″ Michael Smith.

Added to which, we might have seen the last of that ponderous playing out from the back. When you can play through energetic midfielders like Lee, Gilbey and George Dobson, it makes sense to trust them, rather than put pressure on defenders to start the ball rolling. Each to his own, so to speak…

Charlton: McGillivray, Gunter, Famewo, Pearce, Purrington, Dobson, Gilbey, Jaiyesimi (Blackett-Taylor 80), Lee, Stockley, Washington. Not used: Hendrson, Kirk, Davison, Watson, Clare, Elewere. Booked: Purrington, Famewo, Stockley.

Rotherham: Vickers, Harding, Barlaser, Wood, Wiles (Odoffin 82), Ladapo, Miller (Ferguson 68), Rathbone, Ihiekwe (Ogbene 58), Smith, Edmonds-Green. Not used: Johansson, Sadlier, Grigg, Kayode. Booked: Barlaser, Wiles, Ihiekwe, Smith.

Referee: Scott Oldham. Att: 12,592 (371 visiting).

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 4-0 Doncaster Rovers

kevinnolan1 Comment

Kevin Nolan's Valley ViewJohnnie Jackson’s Addicks registered a second successive win yesterday, delivering a convincing demolition of Doncaster Rovers. KEVIN NOLAN reports from a much happier Valley.

It’s probably prudent to dial down the superlatives in describing Charlton’s ruthless destruction of Doncaster Rovers, with bang-in-form Rotherham United due at The Valley on Tuesday evening.

Rovers, after all, were one of only two teams below Charlton going into this early season six-pointer and provided solid evidence that they were exactly where they belonged. They were, frankly, feeble and were lucky to head back to South Yorkshire with only a four-goal defeat to show for their puny efforts.

The otherwise excellent Jayden Stockley scored the Addicks’ third goal but should have claimed the match ball for his first hat-trick for the club. His second half finishing, particularly on the end of a couple of early substitute Diallang Jaiyesimi’s precise deliveries, was uncharacteristically wayward.

Rotherham will be a vastly different proposition, especially after mauling Sunderland 5-1 on Saturday. But they will be visiting a side which, under Johnnie Jackson’s stewardship, is gelling into a cohesive outfit featuring genuinely outstanding individuals.

There were several candidates for man-of-the-match, among them the aforementioned Jaiyesimi, chip off a familiar block Elliot Lee and buccaneering midfield marauder Alex Gilbey. Old sweat Jason Pearce, stepping in for long-term absentee Sam Lavelle, also laid claim to the honours but it was George Dobson, a forgotten man by Nigel Adkins, who supplied the nuts and bolts of a near perfect team performance.

Dobson made a tentative start to his Charlton career and was quickly discarded by Adkins as the team was dismantled and put together again in bewildering fashion week after week. No player seemed certain of his place as the changes were rung and Dobson’s form undeniably dipped. There was an accomplished player in there somewhere and Jackson wasted little time in recognising his talent.

Against Doncaster, Dobson’s was arguably the definitive box-to-box contribution. Never at a standstill, he tackled, intercepted and blocked with seemingly inexhaustible energy, Breaking up Donny’s admittedly limp forays into home territory with almost metronomic regularity, he distributed reliably and sensibly and surely nailed down a starting role in Jackson’s forthcoming plans. It takes one to know one and the caretaker manager, as a dynamic midfielder himself, is hardly likely to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Lee was almost equally impressive and began his afternoon with a cracking volley which left Pontus Dahlberg helpless but was cleared off the line by skipper Tom Anderson. On 21 minutes, Lee’s luck changed for the better when his in-swinging free kick from the left touchline ruffled Stockley’s blond locks before making its untouched way into the opposite corner. Charlton were off and running; before the interval, they doubled their lead. Gliding into enemy territory, Dobson chose his moment to send Gilbey surging into Rover’s penalty area with Anderson in close attendance.

Shaking off his pursuer, Gilbey practically invited an illegal challenge, an outfoxed Anderson duly obliged and referee Tim Robinson, after momentary hesitation, pointed to the spot. Conor Washington decorated another of his selfless performances by burying the penalty in the bottom right corner.

As the Addicks smelled blood, Ben Purrington set up Washington for a near post blockbuster which Dahlberg bravely blocked, then fired a chance engineered by Dobson and Washington, wastefully straight at the overworked keeper. Shortly after the break, the twinkle toes of Jaiyesimi stepped inside Kyle Knoyle near the touchline and delivered a left-footed centre, which was headed wastefully into Dahlberg’s grateful hands by Stockley.

Rovers were continuing to live precariously and Matt Smith’s foul on Lee near the left touchline gave his victim the opportunity to whip another of his wickedly dipping free kicks into the goal area. Dahlberg awkwardly shovelled the ball against the predatory Stockley and Charlton’s top scorer claimed his sixth league goal of an already productive season.

Sure by now of only their fourth victory, the Addicks turned the screw on their outclassed victims. An almost gratuitous fourth goal was added by Purrington, a sound defender who is, himself, no stranger to the scoresheet. Closing in stealthily as Jaiyesimi floated over his latest killer cross, the left back looped a header back across Dahlberg and in off the keeper’s left hand post.

Charlton were still insatiable and Stockley’s diving header, from yet another of Jaiyesimi’s inch-perfect deliveries, was miraculously conjured against his bar and safety by Dahlberg. And even Jackson’s rampant side had to settle for what they had – a four-goal thumping of comprehensively beaten visitors, who failed to engage Craig McGillivray even once.

It’s unlikely that fellow-Yorkshiremen Rotherham will be such a soft touch. Two weeks ago, they would have been warmly favoured to comfortably conquer Adkins’ stuttering side. But two weeks in football is a long time. Something tells me Charlton might – just might – be into something good.

Charlton: McGillivray, Gunter, Famewo, Pearce, Purrington, Dobson, Gilbey, Lee (Clare 78), Leko (Jaiyesimi 15), Stockley,
Washington (Davison 84). Not used: Henderson, Blackett-Taylor, Watson, Elewere. Booked: Purrington.

Doncaster: Dahlberg, Knoyle (Rowe 57), Anderson, Olowu, Williams, Smith, Bostock, Hiwula (Horton 76), Dodoo, Galbraith,
Vilca (Cukur 76). Not used: Jones, Barlow, Hasani, Blythe. Booked: Vilca.

Referee: Tim Robinson. Att: 16,449 (589 visiting).

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