Charlton Athletic match reports

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

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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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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 2-3 Accrington Stanley

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Kevin Nolan's Valley View

Last night’s defeat to Accrington Stanley left Nigel Adkins’ career as Charlton manager hanging by a thread. KEVIN NOLAN watched another humiliating night for the Addicks at an angry Valley.

In the 9th minute of this desperately fraught game, a thoughtless foul by Albie Morgan on towering Accrington midfielder Harry Pell conceded a free kick 25 yards from Craig McGillivray’s goal.

Its victim deliberated long and hard over a setpiece he clearly fancied, drew a careful bead and arrowed a perfect shot over Charlton’s wall into the top left corner.

Abruptly, an already simmering atmosphere erupted into naked anger. “Sacked in the morning” and “you don’t know what you’re doing” were among the politest of protests on an otherwise balmy Tuesday evening.

The target for the tide of profanity was, of course, manager Nigel Adkins, who must have dreaded such an early concession. Even the hardest of hearts surely felt a twinge of sympathy for Charlton’s beleaguered boss. It was Morgan, after all, who had needlessly fouled Pell and the buck for Stanley’s early breakthrough surely stopped with him. But in the overall scheme of things, it’s the manager who carries the can.

Listening to the foul-mouthed abuse in the VIP section of the lower West Stand was owner Thomas Sandgaard, his presence confirmed by the endless pre-match onslaught of heavy metal served up as entertainment.

Be thankful for small mercies, though. He could have been a Cliff Richard fan.

Hailed as something of a Messiah as recently as March, Adkins already seems on borrowed time. Clearly struggling to find a settled side, he surprisingly restored Morgan as his midfield orchestrator, relied on speedsters Jonathan Leko and Corey Blackett-Taylor to provide width but left hard-running Conor Washington on the bench.

Up front, Jayden Stockley was preferred to Josh Davison in a side geared for pace and aggression. Of Ben Purrington, George Dobson, Harry Arter and Charlie Kirk there was no sign.

After some 20 minutes of ceaseless opprobrium, Adkins was handed brief respite by an unexpected, but welcome, equaliser. The determination of Tuesday’s best Addick, Alex Gilbey, won him space near the right byline to send over a low, drilled cross. First to the dangerous ball was Morgan – Stanley’s David, not the homeboys’ Albie – who turned it neatly past Toby Savin. The pressure on Adkins eased slightly.

Before the interval, Charlton provided proof that they hadn’t absorbed the lesson handed out earlier by Pell. An ill-advised foul by Sean Clare gave the former Charlton academy pupil a second chance from a similar position as his first success. A wicked delivery again cleared the wall, left McGillivray grasping at air, but crashed down from the underside of the bar; also over the line, as it happens, but who could begrudge Adkins a break?

A smart save by Savin from the busy Gilbey concluded a fractious first half, leaving the Addicks level but their manager still squarely in the firing line.

Smartly out of the blocks in the second period, the Addicks briefly held sway. Blackett-Taylor’s fine cross was swept wide by Gilbey before Stockley’s far-post header from Morgan’s inswinging corner beat Savin but was booted off the line by Colby Bishop.

Recovering their poise, the visitors produced the ideal riposte by taking the lead for a second time before the hour mark.

Again it was Pell who did the damage by timing his run to the far post and turning in Sean McConville’s low centre. Having taken on the North Stand after scoring earlier, he was by now on his best behaviour and celebrated more discreetly with the 128 hardy pilgrims who had journeyed down from Lancashire.

They had further cause for joy when, nine minutes later, Ethan Hamilton embarked on a solo run, with Pape Souare in unconvincing pursuit, and found the bottom left corner from outside the penalty area.

There were now no holds barred in the personal vituperation heaped on Adkins’ head; his response remained stoical and not without dignity. Whether that earns him more time from the fun-loving owner remains to be seen.

Or indeed, whether he wants more time. A quieter life without Metallica caterwauling in his ear must have its attractions. Music might be the food of love, as the Bard claims, but they didn’t have junk food in his day.

In the shorter term, meanwhile, Adkins’ replacement of a subdued Clare by Washington paid immediate dividends. The irrepressible Northern Irishman refused to accept as inevitable Sam Sherring’s shepherding of the ball over the left byline.

Dispossessing the complacent defender, he contrived a swinging cross which centre back Michael Nottingham clumsily shanked to Stockley’s feet. From 12 yards, Charlton’s top scorer swivelled to reduce the deficit to one goal again.

In a frantic, spirited conclusion to a poisonous game, Leko shot into the sidenet and Washington squirted an angled effort wide.

The was one more scare for John Coleman’s men as substitute Davison met Leko’s measure cross with a firm volley but was foiled by Savin’s prudently deployed right leg. That left a wounded, disconsolate Adkins with one more toxic gauntlet to run.

It might be that Sandgaard spares him next Saturday’s trip to Sunderland. Every cloud, Nigel, every cloud…

Charlton: McGillvray, Gunter, Famewo, Lavelle, Souare (Jaiyesimi 90+1), Leko, Gilbey, Clare (Washington 73), Blackett-Taylor (Davison 73), Stockley. Not used: Henderson, Pearce, Matthews, Watson. Booked: Morgan, Souare, Clare.

Accrington: Savin, Sherring, Hamilton, Butcher, Pell, Bishop, McConville, Nottingham, Conneely, Morgan, Amankwah. Not used: Trafford, O’Sullivan, Procter, Leigh, Mansell, Nolan, Malcolm. Booked: Sherring, Pell, Morgan.

Referee: Sam Allison. Attendance: 11,183 (128 visiting).

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 2-2 Portsmouth

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Kevin Nolan's Valley View

A late equaliser spared Addicks manager Nigel Adkins from the wrath of the Valley crowd at full-time yesterday. KEVIN NOLAN tried to make sense of his latest line-up.

A much-needed interval was offering welcome respite to Charlton, who were a goal down and being completely outclassed by Portsmouth at an increasingly surly Valley.

Only an astonishing miss by old adversary John Marquis had spared them the two-goal deficit, which would more than likely have proved conclusive as they teetered on collapse. The discontent around three sides of the ground was palpable and opprobrium began to rain on the already toilworn shoulders of manager Nigel Adkins.

Featuring five changes from the side which drew at Gillingham in midweek – Pompey were unchanged – his latest in-crowd was struggling to find rhythm or cohesion.

Most baffling was the relegation to the bench of Corey Blackett-Taylor, who had reduced the Gills to distraction and was almost as impressive at Wycombe a week earlier. With the bit between his teeth, so to speak, the youngster needed to play, not rest, or so it seemed to many dedicated observers.

Falling behind after just six minutes was hardly guaranteed to bond disgruntled supporters and a cautious manager but, with almost eerie inevitability, that was exactly what happened.

Receiving Mahlon Romeo’s pass to the left of goal, Ronan Curtis used Lee Brown’s overlap to make space for a superb, dipping drive over Craig McGillivray into the top corner; no challenge was offered by marker Adam Matthews or any of his backtracking colleagues.

Matthews gained partial redemption almost immediately with a fine recovery tackle to halt Marquis in the act of point-blank shooting. And it was Marquis who squandered the chance to put early daylight between the teams.

Marcus Harness’ quick feet turned Sam Lavelle on the left, with his clever pass picking out Marquis, whose heavy touch and ponderous turn had the unexpected effect of placing Jason Pearce on his backside. With the goal now at his mercy, the hapless striker incredibly shovelled a seven-yard shot wide of the right post. It was a miss of breathtaking ineptitude and something of a turning point.

The first shoots of recovery had been provided by Elliot Lee, who surged on to Jonathan Leko’s through pass but was thwarted by Gavin Bazunu’s legs. The Dublin-born keeper also saved at full length from Leko and used his legs again to keep out Alex Gilbey’s angled effort before the break.

Charlton’s undeniable improvement, however, failed to placate the mutinous locals whose chorus of disapproval escorted Adkins down the tunnel. The beleaguered manager didn’t get where he is today, of course, without having something up his sleeve.

His interval replacement of the deeply disappointing Harry Arter with recently-neglected Sean Clare was instantly rewarded in the most satisfying way. A clumsy foul by Sean Raggett on Lee close to the right byline conceded an unnecessary free kick which his victim prepared to take from a dangerous position between touchline and penalty area.

Cleverly disguising his intent, the quick-thinking Lee cut the setpiece back to Clare, who barrelled into the area and lashed an unstoppable drive inside the right post. Planned in SE9, executed in SE7, the equaliser temporarily lifted the pressure off an anxious Adkins.

As the momentum briefly switched, Lee broke away, with excellent advantage applied by referee Coggins, to test Bazunu before Leko turned sharply to draw a fine, fingertip save from the suddenly busy keeper.

But it didn’t last and Pompey were back in front with 18 minutes left. Ryan Tunnicliffe’s piercing pass was deftly flicked on by Marquis and slotted efficiently past McGillivray by the irrepressible Harness.

The influential goalscorer’s prompt replacement by the pleasingly anonymous ex-Addick Reece Hackett-Fairchild was not only a huge relief to the Addicks but evidence that Pompey manager Danny Cowley is hardly a genius.

It was Adkins’ introduction of Blackett-Taylor and Josh Davison that paid off spectacularly as his substitutes combined to produce Charlton’s second equaliser.

A significant contribution was made by steady-as-a-rock Ben Watson, his accurate diagonal ball taken in stride by Blackett-Taylor, who outpaced Romeo before crossing for Davison to sweep home at the far post.

Expect Clare, Blackett-Taylor and Davison to start on Tuesday evening against Bolton – but don’t assume they will.

Funny how grizzled veterans like Pearce and Watson can manage back-to-back games but effervescent kids like Blackett-Taylor and Davison need to put their feet up. It’s one of life’s little mysteries…

Charlton: McGillivray, Matthews, Pearce, Lavelle, Watson, Arter (Clare 46), Leko, Gilbey, Lee (Blackett-Taylor 82), Souare, Stockley (Davison 82). Not used: Henderson, Dobson, Famewo, Kirk. Booked: Souare, Clare.

Portsmouth: Bazunu, Brown, Williams, Tunnicliffe, Marquis (Hirst 82), Curtis, Harness (Hackett-Fairchild 78), Freeman, Romeo, Raggett, Morill. Not used: Bass, Harrison, Thompson, Downing, Azeez. Booked: Raggett, Brown.

Referee: Anthony Coggins. Att: 16,278 (2,995 visiting).

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 1-2 Cheltenham Town

kevinnolan

Kevin Nolan's Valley View

A confused and incoherent performance saw the Addicks slump to an embarrassing defeat at The Valley yesterday. KEVIN NOLAN took his stopwatch.

Cheltenham Town turned up at The Valley on Saturday as rank outsiders in more ways than one and did a neat number on the locals.

Cor, they marvelled, look at that stadium! Get a load of the dressing rooms! Can’t wait to have a go under those shower baths just as soon as we find out how they work! Gosh, it’s a bit different and no mistake from last season at Chippenham and Tiverton. I’m loving this, Jethro.

At 3pm, the Robins – their nickname and they’re welcome to it – emerged into the sunlight, not a bumpkin among them, and proceeded to play Charlton off their carefully barbered pitch. Urged on by precisely 511 yokels who knew all the songs, including the one about being in a library, they were two in front on the half hour and already planning their getaway to the boondocks with all three points.

Slightly rocked by Charlton’s early second half reply, they weathered a brief flurry before, in manager Michael Duff’s words, “seeing it out with a calmness and a clarity of what they wanted to do. Their supporters won’t have known much about us because it’s little old Cheltenham – we have to use that as fuel to show the rest of the country we can compete at this level. We managed the game superbly.”

What we did learn about “little old Cheltenham” was that their “game management” was as cynical as any you’ll find anywhere in the big city. They wasted time while wasting time, if you catch the drift.

Led by a goalkeeper who moved with all the urgency of a garden slug, they condensed the playing time after the interval to what seemed no more than a handful of minutes.

That’s not meant as a complaint, by the way, more as a backhanded compliment to a focused, united side denied a much larger winning margin by the brilliance of Craig McGillivray. And, anyway, the addition of six paltry minutes justified their methods. It took their three substitutes half of those minutes to hitchhike off the field.

Understandably irritated by the supposedly shock outcome, Nigel Adkins pulled no punches. “First half for me the team was unrecognisable [from the side which comfortably disposed of Crewe Alexandra, presumably] – unrecognisable from what we’ve done. It’s more like hoof-ball and I don’t want that.”

Adkins was reacting to an opening period in which the Addicks were jaw-droppingly abysmal and during which the visitors scored their decisive goals. After just six minutes, the home defence was cut to pieces but temporarily rescued by McGillivray, who saved magnificently at close range from Town debutant Taylor Perry. Unhappily for the defiant keeper, Matty Blair slammed the rebound into the bottom left corner.

Disastrous as it was, Charlton’s start would have deteriorated but for McGillivray, who kept out Alfie May’s fierce drive with his feet. But the Westcountrymen were not detained long before doubling their lead. It was Blair’s turn to make the running as he beat Chris Gunter on the right flank and crossed waist-high for Perry to slam home from six yards.

On the end of a torrid seeing-to, and with wide men Diallang Jaiyesimi and Charlie Kirk both grave disappointments, Charlton resorted to the “hoof-ball” deplored by their manager.

Jayden Stockley laboured alone up front, while Albie Morgan showed again that, despite his appetite for work, he lacks the gravitas to quarterback between defence and attack. Some hope was offered by Elliott Lee and Ben Watson who strove to restore some order to the general chaos but these were 45 excruciating minutes only an evening spent with Michael McIntyre could hope to match.

Just two down and technically still in with a chance, the Addicks improved after the break and briefly bothered their country cousins.

Stockley caught Scott Flinders in even more glacial motion than normal near the penalty spot, robbed the complacent keeper and square-passed to Jonathan Leko, an interval substitute for Kirk. Leko skilfully teed up Jaiyesimi, who blasted an inviting chance wildly over the bar. Jaiyesimi was promptly replaced by Conor Washington who, with Leko, made a huge difference. A flying save by McGillivray kept out a point-blank connection by Callum Wright before Stockley’s diving header sent Morgan’s cross over the bar.

But Charlton’s best period produced the goal which inspired brief thoughts of revival. Both substitutes were involved with Washington cleverly controlling Morgan’s perfect delivery and setting up Leko to finish crisply past Flinders.

With a half hour left, there was ample time to find an equaliser, an ambition which reckoned without the crafty connivings of Duff’s time bandits. It’s hard to recall anything of significance apart from May’s incredible two-yard miss and the feeling that, in the words of the Willie Nelson song, “Funny how time slips away…”

Charlton: McGillivray, Gunter, Famewo, Lavelle (Souare 80), Matthews, Watson, Jaiyesimi (Washington 58), Lee, Kirk (Leko 46), Morgan, Stockley. Not used: Harness, Dobson, Pearce, Blackett-Taylor. Booked: Famewo, Stockley.

Cheltenham: Flinders, Long, Hussey, Pollock (Freestone 72), Thomas, May (Joseph 76), Chapman, Boyle, Wright, Blair, Perry (Sercombe 64). Not used: Evans, Williams, Bonds, Horton. Booked: Long.

Referee: Andy Davies. Att: 13,790 (511 visiting).

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