Christmas Cheer at The Valley
The Addickted had a good start to their Christmas when Charlton beat Fulham 2-1 at The Valley to take the Addicks to 7th place in the Premiership. However, it was not just the victory itself that gave satisfaction, but the way in which it was achieved. The Addicks played fluent and flowing football with Danny Murphy accomplished in the role of midfield general.
Charlton made a competent enough start to the game, but they were worrying the Bloke Beside Me who thought that the Addicks were not posing a sufficient threat. Certainly, there was little worth reporting in the opening minutes. However, a superb tackle by Matt Holland on the East Stand side freed up Luke Young to make an attacking run by the West Stand which produced a Charlton corner. Van der Sar had to save on the line from a header from the Herminator.
Fulham were indulging in a lot of niggling fouls and referee Steve Bennett showed what he thought of their tactics by giving Papa Diop a yellow card for a push on Shaun Bartlett. Unfortunately, he lacked the courage of his convictions later in the game when the Sengalese man mountain should have been given a second yellow and sent off.
A Fulham free kick posed momentary danger, but came off the Charlton wall. Throughout the game, Fulham only really looked like scoring from a set piece. Then the action switched to the other end. Good work between Bartlett and Murphy allowed the Springbok to put in a dangerous cross. Diop was unable to make contact and the ball found Thomas unmarked at the far post. Taking his time, he calmly slotted past Van der Sar into the corner of the net to make it 1-0 on 27 minutes.
Deano made a good stop from a fierce Fulham shot, although it was probably going just wide. After pushing a Fulham player out of the way, Thomas won Charlton a corner, but the effort ended in a goalmouth scramble and a goal kick. In time added on, Fulham won a corner, but Kishishev cleared and went on a great run which unfortunately ended in a poor pass.
Half time: Addicks 1, Cottagers 0
After a poor Fulham cross was followed by a dangerous one, Deano had to make a save along the crossbar. There was yet another foul on Thomas, but no yellow card was produced. Charlton won a corner and had two opportunities to score in the follow up, but it was not to be. Having been issued with the discount vouchers for their Harrods Christmas hampers at half time, the Fulham fans woke up and started to sing.
A throw in from the Herminator won Charlton a corner, but Van der Sar was judged to have been fouled. Danny Murphy launched on a teasing run, evading one defender after another, and it was disappointing to see his effort come off the post. Malbranque was pulled off in favour of Radzinski as the Welsh wizard tried to weave his magic.
Thomas was fouled on the edge of the penalty area. Murphy send his free kick towards El Karkouri who evaded Brian McBride to make it 2-0 for the Addicks on 66 minutes.
Diop had to be warned once again by the referee about his fouls. Cole managed to evade the Herminator but with Deano stranded he could only put the ball into the side netting. On 79 minutes Jeffers replaced Bartlett. Fulham won a free kick on the edge of the 'D' and Diop's effort hit the Charlton crossbar.
Kishishev won the ball fairly, but referee Bennett explained to him that his new aggressive haircut would mean a yellow card. With eight minutes to go Fulham won a corner. Murphy managed to block a header from McBride, but in the ensuing scramble Radzinski scored from close range to make it 2-1. It turned out to be only a consolation, but for a few minutes there were signs of panic in the Charlton ranks. Konchesky was brought on in place of Rommedahl to steady the ship.
Charlton won a corner but the Herminator's effort was off target. Euell had a half chance, but missed. After a Fulham corner had been cleared, Jeffers fumbled an opportunity when he should have shot or passed. Three well won points for the Addicks and the realistic prospect that the home games against Everton and Arsenal will be real contests.
Match analyst Monty Martin is an excitable spaniel at the best of times, but he had two reasons for additional excitement on Monday. First, he moved into a new home in Blewbury, Oxon. Then, invited to The Valley as guest match analyst, he was able to present the first ever Silver Bone to Danny Murphy for his overall contribution to the game. Only the post stopped Murphy from scoring. Deano was not put under a great deal of pressure by the Harrods attack, but did what he had to do well. He can hardly be blamed for the Fulham goal which was rather fortunate. Fortune was not prominent, but did what he had to do he did competently. El Karkouri is fast becoming a Valley favourite. He was stalwart in defence, his trademark long-range free kicks can be a real threat to the opposition, and he scored a crisply taken goal. Young was particularly threatening in attack down the wings, but also performed his defensive duties well. Hreidarsson also contributed considerably to Charlton's attacking moves, as well as performing his defensive duties well. He also demonstrated a traditional Icelandic Christmas greeting when he grabbed Malbranque round the neck. Kishishev showed some touches of real genius and anchored the midfield well. In a night when there were many contenders for the Silver Bone, Jerome Thomas was very much in the running, his name chanted by the Addickted as he left the pitch at the end of the game. Perhaps he should have had it, but he has received so many recently that perhaps he deserves a special issue golden bone. Matt Holland was also in commanding form, making some key interventions in the match. Rommedahl showed plenty of pace and determination, but some of his inspired moves didn't succeed. Playing the lone striker role is not easy, but Bartlett fulfilled it with his usual professionalism, also providing the assist for the first goal. Konchesky came on towards the end and steadied any last minute nerves. Once again Jeffers did not have much time to show what he can do, but fluffed his best chance. Euell was granted a cameo role and the unsettled player was greeted with chants of his name by the Covered End.
Juneau the Soccer Cat has given the Hiss of the Match to persistent fouler Papa Diop.
Crowd rating Fulham fans were taunting the Addickted with 'can we sing a song for you?' at Charlton Station after the game. There were times when the ground was very quiet in the first half, but as the superiority of the Addicks became more evident, the crowd started to become more animated. 7/10.
Charlton made a competent enough start to the game, but they were worrying the Bloke Beside Me who thought that the Addicks were not posing a sufficient threat. Certainly, there was little worth reporting in the opening minutes. However, a superb tackle by Matt Holland on the East Stand side freed up Luke Young to make an attacking run by the West Stand which produced a Charlton corner. Van der Sar had to save on the line from a header from the Herminator.
Fulham were indulging in a lot of niggling fouls and referee Steve Bennett showed what he thought of their tactics by giving Papa Diop a yellow card for a push on Shaun Bartlett. Unfortunately, he lacked the courage of his convictions later in the game when the Sengalese man mountain should have been given a second yellow and sent off.
A Fulham free kick posed momentary danger, but came off the Charlton wall. Throughout the game, Fulham only really looked like scoring from a set piece. Then the action switched to the other end. Good work between Bartlett and Murphy allowed the Springbok to put in a dangerous cross. Diop was unable to make contact and the ball found Thomas unmarked at the far post. Taking his time, he calmly slotted past Van der Sar into the corner of the net to make it 1-0 on 27 minutes.
Deano made a good stop from a fierce Fulham shot, although it was probably going just wide. After pushing a Fulham player out of the way, Thomas won Charlton a corner, but the effort ended in a goalmouth scramble and a goal kick. In time added on, Fulham won a corner, but Kishishev cleared and went on a great run which unfortunately ended in a poor pass.
Half time: Addicks 1, Cottagers 0
After a poor Fulham cross was followed by a dangerous one, Deano had to make a save along the crossbar. There was yet another foul on Thomas, but no yellow card was produced. Charlton won a corner and had two opportunities to score in the follow up, but it was not to be. Having been issued with the discount vouchers for their Harrods Christmas hampers at half time, the Fulham fans woke up and started to sing.
A throw in from the Herminator won Charlton a corner, but Van der Sar was judged to have been fouled. Danny Murphy launched on a teasing run, evading one defender after another, and it was disappointing to see his effort come off the post. Malbranque was pulled off in favour of Radzinski as the Welsh wizard tried to weave his magic.
Thomas was fouled on the edge of the penalty area. Murphy send his free kick towards El Karkouri who evaded Brian McBride to make it 2-0 for the Addicks on 66 minutes.
Diop had to be warned once again by the referee about his fouls. Cole managed to evade the Herminator but with Deano stranded he could only put the ball into the side netting. On 79 minutes Jeffers replaced Bartlett. Fulham won a free kick on the edge of the 'D' and Diop's effort hit the Charlton crossbar.
Kishishev won the ball fairly, but referee Bennett explained to him that his new aggressive haircut would mean a yellow card. With eight minutes to go Fulham won a corner. Murphy managed to block a header from McBride, but in the ensuing scramble Radzinski scored from close range to make it 2-1. It turned out to be only a consolation, but for a few minutes there were signs of panic in the Charlton ranks. Konchesky was brought on in place of Rommedahl to steady the ship.
Charlton won a corner but the Herminator's effort was off target. Euell had a half chance, but missed. After a Fulham corner had been cleared, Jeffers fumbled an opportunity when he should have shot or passed. Three well won points for the Addicks and the realistic prospect that the home games against Everton and Arsenal will be real contests.
Match analyst Monty Martin is an excitable spaniel at the best of times, but he had two reasons for additional excitement on Monday. First, he moved into a new home in Blewbury, Oxon. Then, invited to The Valley as guest match analyst, he was able to present the first ever Silver Bone to Danny Murphy for his overall contribution to the game. Only the post stopped Murphy from scoring. Deano was not put under a great deal of pressure by the Harrods attack, but did what he had to do well. He can hardly be blamed for the Fulham goal which was rather fortunate. Fortune was not prominent, but did what he had to do he did competently. El Karkouri is fast becoming a Valley favourite. He was stalwart in defence, his trademark long-range free kicks can be a real threat to the opposition, and he scored a crisply taken goal. Young was particularly threatening in attack down the wings, but also performed his defensive duties well. Hreidarsson also contributed considerably to Charlton's attacking moves, as well as performing his defensive duties well. He also demonstrated a traditional Icelandic Christmas greeting when he grabbed Malbranque round the neck. Kishishev showed some touches of real genius and anchored the midfield well. In a night when there were many contenders for the Silver Bone, Jerome Thomas was very much in the running, his name chanted by the Addickted as he left the pitch at the end of the game. Perhaps he should have had it, but he has received so many recently that perhaps he deserves a special issue golden bone. Matt Holland was also in commanding form, making some key interventions in the match. Rommedahl showed plenty of pace and determination, but some of his inspired moves didn't succeed. Playing the lone striker role is not easy, but Bartlett fulfilled it with his usual professionalism, also providing the assist for the first goal. Konchesky came on towards the end and steadied any last minute nerves. Once again Jeffers did not have much time to show what he can do, but fluffed his best chance. Euell was granted a cameo role and the unsettled player was greeted with chants of his name by the Covered End.
Juneau the Soccer Cat has given the Hiss of the Match to persistent fouler Papa Diop.
Crowd rating Fulham fans were taunting the Addickted with 'can we sing a song for you?' at Charlton Station after the game. There were times when the ground was very quiet in the first half, but as the superiority of the Addicks became more evident, the crowd started to become more animated. 7/10.
posted by Wyn Grant at 9:01 AM
1 Comments:
The best home performance since Chelsea on Boxing Day 2003, I reckon. All the best Charlton attributes - aggression, commitment, strength - combined with a level of skill and fluidity we've not seen for a long time. Kish was at the heart of it all - tackling, getting things going, setting the tempo. Is he the new Scotty P? Keep it quiet or Abramovich will be reaching for his chequebook...
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