Score draw but no bore at Boro
Charlton led Middlesbrough twice at the Riverside with a 14th minute goal from captain Matt Holland and a 80th minute goal from Shaun Bartlett writes Blackfen Addick Paul May. However, despite a string of excellent saves from Deano in both halves, Charlton were unable to stop the home side equalising twice. The final score of 2-2 puts the Addicks level on points with Spurs but behind them in the table because of their poor goal difference.
Many of us were pleased to see Chris Perry back at the heart of the defence, hoping that his grit, determination and experience would benefit the Addicks. Charlton served early notice of their intentions when the Herminator got into the box after six minutes to take advantage of a Murphy free kick from the right, but unfortunately his free header went wide of the post. The Icelandic marauder looked like a real menace, however, as the Boro bench issued frantic instructions to mark him.
On 14 minutes El Karkouri put in one of his trademark long balls from inside the Charlton half. The ball was received by Bartlett who chested it under control and turned provider for Holland. The Charlton captain, who had been well up for it in pre-match interviews, put in a right footed shot. This deflected off Queudrue and past Carlo Nash who was deputising for the injured Schwarzer in the Boro goal. 1-0 to the Addicks.
With a minute Hasselbaink and Nemeth had combined for a one-two, but Deano delivered a superb reaction save, going down to smother the shot. Later the Slovakian international made use of a flick on from Nemeth, but his header went straight at Deano who had no problem in making the save.
Deano then had to make another save from Doriva as Charlton soaked up the pressure, before more danger arrived four minutes before the break in the form of Downing who had supposedly been on the injury list. Ineffective up to that point, Downing put in a pinpoint cross. Hasselbaink connected and headed towards goal, obliging Deano to back pedal and tip the ball over the bar.
Half time: Boro 0, Addicks 1
Boro intensified the pressure after the break but, although they were camped out in Charlton's half for much of the time, they could not get past Deano. Konchesky made a good interception of a volley from Doriva. An effort by Zenden from the edge of the area was tipped over by Deano. From the resultant corner, Boro claimed that they should have had a penalty off Luke Young's headed clearance.
A Hasselbaink free kick from 30 yards was not far off target, then he turned provider for Riggott. But the alert El Karkouri was on hand to make a vital interception and head the ball away for a corner. From the corner Riggott put in a powerful header, but Deano pushed the ball over the bar.
A free kick was nodded into the box by Queudrue and the Herminator's intervention could have led to an own goal if the alert Deano had not been on hand to palm the ball away. An attempt by Southgate led to yet another Boro corner. This gave Queudrue another header, but his effort was cleared off the line by Kishishev.
On 74 minutes Boro went ahead with a goal that was almost certainly offside. Southgate drew a good save from Deano but Riggott took advantage of the rebound to put the ball inside the post. Riggott was offside when Southgate had the initial shot.
It was the Herminator who created the opening for Charlton's second goal. He raced down the left wing and put a cross into the penalty area. It failed to connect with Jason Euell, who had come on as a substitute, but Bartlett was lurking behind him and used his right foot to smash the ball into the back of the net to restore Charlton's lead.
On 86 minutes Queudrue put a hopeful ball down field. Teenage substitute Graham was on hand to escape the offside trap and headed the ball over the stranded Deano for his first Premiership goal. Graham then had to receive attention after a kick in the mouth from Chris Perry and had to change his blooded shirt.
It was feared that the six minutes of time added on might have helped the home side, but it was Charlton who came nearest to scoring, a shot from Euell being fumbled by Nash.
The result was one we would have taken before the match but a disappointment after we had been ahead twice. Critics of the 4-5-1 formation might like to note that it does boost our chances of controlling the midfield and does enable us to absorb pressure.
Many of us were pleased to see Chris Perry back at the heart of the defence, hoping that his grit, determination and experience would benefit the Addicks. Charlton served early notice of their intentions when the Herminator got into the box after six minutes to take advantage of a Murphy free kick from the right, but unfortunately his free header went wide of the post. The Icelandic marauder looked like a real menace, however, as the Boro bench issued frantic instructions to mark him.
On 14 minutes El Karkouri put in one of his trademark long balls from inside the Charlton half. The ball was received by Bartlett who chested it under control and turned provider for Holland. The Charlton captain, who had been well up for it in pre-match interviews, put in a right footed shot. This deflected off Queudrue and past Carlo Nash who was deputising for the injured Schwarzer in the Boro goal. 1-0 to the Addicks.
With a minute Hasselbaink and Nemeth had combined for a one-two, but Deano delivered a superb reaction save, going down to smother the shot. Later the Slovakian international made use of a flick on from Nemeth, but his header went straight at Deano who had no problem in making the save.
Deano then had to make another save from Doriva as Charlton soaked up the pressure, before more danger arrived four minutes before the break in the form of Downing who had supposedly been on the injury list. Ineffective up to that point, Downing put in a pinpoint cross. Hasselbaink connected and headed towards goal, obliging Deano to back pedal and tip the ball over the bar.
Half time: Boro 0, Addicks 1
Boro intensified the pressure after the break but, although they were camped out in Charlton's half for much of the time, they could not get past Deano. Konchesky made a good interception of a volley from Doriva. An effort by Zenden from the edge of the area was tipped over by Deano. From the resultant corner, Boro claimed that they should have had a penalty off Luke Young's headed clearance.
A Hasselbaink free kick from 30 yards was not far off target, then he turned provider for Riggott. But the alert El Karkouri was on hand to make a vital interception and head the ball away for a corner. From the corner Riggott put in a powerful header, but Deano pushed the ball over the bar.
A free kick was nodded into the box by Queudrue and the Herminator's intervention could have led to an own goal if the alert Deano had not been on hand to palm the ball away. An attempt by Southgate led to yet another Boro corner. This gave Queudrue another header, but his effort was cleared off the line by Kishishev.
On 74 minutes Boro went ahead with a goal that was almost certainly offside. Southgate drew a good save from Deano but Riggott took advantage of the rebound to put the ball inside the post. Riggott was offside when Southgate had the initial shot.
It was the Herminator who created the opening for Charlton's second goal. He raced down the left wing and put a cross into the penalty area. It failed to connect with Jason Euell, who had come on as a substitute, but Bartlett was lurking behind him and used his right foot to smash the ball into the back of the net to restore Charlton's lead.
On 86 minutes Queudrue put a hopeful ball down field. Teenage substitute Graham was on hand to escape the offside trap and headed the ball over the stranded Deano for his first Premiership goal. Graham then had to receive attention after a kick in the mouth from Chris Perry and had to change his blooded shirt.
It was feared that the six minutes of time added on might have helped the home side, but it was Charlton who came nearest to scoring, a shot from Euell being fumbled by Nash.
The result was one we would have taken before the match but a disappointment after we had been ahead twice. Critics of the 4-5-1 formation might like to note that it does boost our chances of controlling the midfield and does enable us to absorb pressure.
posted by Wyn Grant at 4:58 PM
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