The fox in the box
Francis Jeffers justified this title when two excellent strikes, supplemented by his first goal from the Addicks by Luke Young, gave Charlton a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at The Valley on Wednesday night. Charlton were under some pressure from Villa for the first twenty minutes of the game, but they withstood this well and came to dominate a match that propelled them to fourth place in an admittedly tentative table. But last season we lost both matches against Villa so it has to be regarded as a step forward.
Darius Vassell, linked recently with the Addicks, gave early notice of Villa's intentions when his shot hit the bar in the sixth minute. Villa started to win corners and then Deano had to make a good diving save on the ground. Feesh, who seemed to be as slow as a 161 bus in the traffic after the match, conceded another corner, but then Charlton managed to win one. Villa managed to kick their next one out of play. Rommedahl burst into the box and was brought down, but despite a hopeful shout from the crowd, it was not a penalty. Carlton Cole delighted the Covered End with a lazy effort that was well wide. Jason Euell excelled in defence when Villa threatened to burst through and then Luke Young anticipated his later goal with a good attack.
On 29 minutes the Herminator put in an excellent cross and Jeffers made no mistake in heading it into the back of the net to make it 1-0. A delighted Jeffers skimmed across the pitch on his knees to accept the acclamation of the West Stand. Five minutes later Kishishev put in a pinpoint long pass, Mjellberg was unable to retrieve the situation and Jeffers found himself one-on-one with Sorensen in the Villa goal. Some Addicks strikers would have fluffed it, but he made no mistake with a sweet strike into the back of the net. A clearly overjoyed Jeffers found time to acknowledge the North and East stands as well this time.
Deano had to make a good save on the ground. Sorensen then inexplicably played the ball out to Lisbie and the striker reacted well, but his shot skimmed across the top of the crossbar. There was a moment of danger in front of the Charlton goal, but fortunately the ball was cleared. Charlton were riding their luck but, as Steve from Sidcup pointed out, we had been unlucky in both matches against Villa last year. A great pass from the rampant Kishishev put Lisbie through. Sorensen made a good save, but injured himself in doing so. In the three minutes added on, Deano had to push the ball over the bar to deal with an awkward attack. He had to make a second save to preserve Charlton's lead.
Half time: Addicks 2, Villa 0
Frantic tannoy announcements were made for the cleaning supervisor during and immediately after half time, perhaps suggesting that the Carthorse was sick as a parrot. Stefan Postma was brought on as keeper to replace Sorensen and applauded the Covered End as he took up his post. Villa were straight out of the blocks, winning an immediate corner, but it ended in a Charlton throw in. Good work by Lisbie won Charlton a corner. Fortune put the Addicks under pressure when he should have booted the ball forward rather than trying to be clever and consequently losing it. Villa kept up the pressure with a sharp shot from distance which Deano had to save on the ground.
I had been surprised to find that Cliff Richard had left the music business and taken up refereeing under his old name of Harold Webb. He was clearly still on his summer holidays when he ignored a blatant hand ball by Villa. Charlton rode their luck again when a threatening Villa attack ended in failure. As the Bloke Beside Me became increasingly tense, Luke Young forged forward and put the ball under the keeper's body to make it 3-0. Lisbie put in an effort but it was off target.
To their credit Villa did not give up and won a corner which was cleared. JLloyd Samuel had escaped the usual booing he receives at The Valley for his desertion, but got his just deserts when he was given a yellow card for bringing down Lisbie. A Fortune error exposed Deano who was out of his goal, but fortunately the ball was cleared. Jeffers put in a superb cross which sizzled across the front of the Villa goal, but unfortunately no Charlton player was able to connect with it. Charlton won a succession of corners. In the middle of this sequence, the hapless Cole was taken off and replaced by Angell, leading to renewed chants suggesting that the Carthorse was an Onanist. Francis Jeffers was taken off to a standing ovation and replaced by Konchesky. Shortly afterwards Lisbie was replaced by El Karkouri and then Hughes replaced Rommedahl. El Karkouri made a good tackle. Villa won four corners in succession, but were unable to make anything of them. O'Leary had an exchange of views with the West Stand crowd.
We weren't back in Leamington until 1.30 a.m., but it was one of those occasions that was well worth the journey and a late night. The local Villa are not much in evidence this morning!
Darius Vassell, linked recently with the Addicks, gave early notice of Villa's intentions when his shot hit the bar in the sixth minute. Villa started to win corners and then Deano had to make a good diving save on the ground. Feesh, who seemed to be as slow as a 161 bus in the traffic after the match, conceded another corner, but then Charlton managed to win one. Villa managed to kick their next one out of play. Rommedahl burst into the box and was brought down, but despite a hopeful shout from the crowd, it was not a penalty. Carlton Cole delighted the Covered End with a lazy effort that was well wide. Jason Euell excelled in defence when Villa threatened to burst through and then Luke Young anticipated his later goal with a good attack.
On 29 minutes the Herminator put in an excellent cross and Jeffers made no mistake in heading it into the back of the net to make it 1-0. A delighted Jeffers skimmed across the pitch on his knees to accept the acclamation of the West Stand. Five minutes later Kishishev put in a pinpoint long pass, Mjellberg was unable to retrieve the situation and Jeffers found himself one-on-one with Sorensen in the Villa goal. Some Addicks strikers would have fluffed it, but he made no mistake with a sweet strike into the back of the net. A clearly overjoyed Jeffers found time to acknowledge the North and East stands as well this time.
Deano had to make a good save on the ground. Sorensen then inexplicably played the ball out to Lisbie and the striker reacted well, but his shot skimmed across the top of the crossbar. There was a moment of danger in front of the Charlton goal, but fortunately the ball was cleared. Charlton were riding their luck but, as Steve from Sidcup pointed out, we had been unlucky in both matches against Villa last year. A great pass from the rampant Kishishev put Lisbie through. Sorensen made a good save, but injured himself in doing so. In the three minutes added on, Deano had to push the ball over the bar to deal with an awkward attack. He had to make a second save to preserve Charlton's lead.
Half time: Addicks 2, Villa 0
Frantic tannoy announcements were made for the cleaning supervisor during and immediately after half time, perhaps suggesting that the Carthorse was sick as a parrot. Stefan Postma was brought on as keeper to replace Sorensen and applauded the Covered End as he took up his post. Villa were straight out of the blocks, winning an immediate corner, but it ended in a Charlton throw in. Good work by Lisbie won Charlton a corner. Fortune put the Addicks under pressure when he should have booted the ball forward rather than trying to be clever and consequently losing it. Villa kept up the pressure with a sharp shot from distance which Deano had to save on the ground.
I had been surprised to find that Cliff Richard had left the music business and taken up refereeing under his old name of Harold Webb. He was clearly still on his summer holidays when he ignored a blatant hand ball by Villa. Charlton rode their luck again when a threatening Villa attack ended in failure. As the Bloke Beside Me became increasingly tense, Luke Young forged forward and put the ball under the keeper's body to make it 3-0. Lisbie put in an effort but it was off target.
To their credit Villa did not give up and won a corner which was cleared. JLloyd Samuel had escaped the usual booing he receives at The Valley for his desertion, but got his just deserts when he was given a yellow card for bringing down Lisbie. A Fortune error exposed Deano who was out of his goal, but fortunately the ball was cleared. Jeffers put in a superb cross which sizzled across the front of the Villa goal, but unfortunately no Charlton player was able to connect with it. Charlton won a succession of corners. In the middle of this sequence, the hapless Cole was taken off and replaced by Angell, leading to renewed chants suggesting that the Carthorse was an Onanist. Francis Jeffers was taken off to a standing ovation and replaced by Konchesky. Shortly afterwards Lisbie was replaced by El Karkouri and then Hughes replaced Rommedahl. El Karkouri made a good tackle. Villa won four corners in succession, but were unable to make anything of them. O'Leary had an exchange of views with the West Stand crowd.
We weren't back in Leamington until 1.30 a.m., but it was one of those occasions that was well worth the journey and a late night. The local Villa are not much in evidence this morning!
posted by Wyn Grant at 8:30 AM
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