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Thursday, March 17, 2005

Judas, Judas, what's the score?

This was the chant that rang round The Valley last night as the Addickted taunted Jermain Defoe during Charlton's 2-0 defeat of Spurs which propelled them into 7th place in the table. The victory was given an added poignancy by the fact that Charlton's goals were provided by former Gooner Jerome Thomas and by Danny Murphy who decided that Charlton would be a better team to play for than Spurs. It was one of the best footballing performances I have seen by Charlton this season. An excellent match was only ruined by the incompetence of referee Chris Foy who almost lost control at one stage because of his reluctance to deal with the fouling tactics employed by the Haringey side.

It was six weeks since a home league match at The Valley and I was up for it as announcer 'Boycey' declared that 'It's showtime at The Valley' and the team came out rather than the troupe of dancing girls one might be led to expect.

Four minutes into the game Paul Konchesky released Thomas on the left and the youngster put in a cracker of a shot that took a slight deflection off King to end up in the top right hand corner of the net.

Charlton were very quickly in danger as Keane evaded Murphy and El Karkouri to connect with a cross from Reid, but his header went went wide of Deano's post. Thomas and Konchesky continued to combine well and the Addicks won a corner, but Murphy's delivery was too deep.

Spurs continued to look dangerous with the ball flashing across the front of Deano's goal. Another Charlton corner was unproductive. Murphy forged through impressively but he should have passed to the available Thomas and all that resulted was a Charlton corner.

Jerome Thomas was fouled again and referee Foy deigned to tell Reid that it looked as if the weather was taking a turn for the better. Kanouté went on a break, but was challenged by the Herminator. Deano was able to scramble off his line to block the ball and an attempt by Reid to follow through sent the ball soaring high into the Jimmy Seed Stand.

Konchesky provided good defensive work. A Rommedahl run won the Addicks a corner, but Spurs surged forward again and El Karkouri covered well. By this time, Foy was losing control of the game with yet another foul leading to a Charlton free kick but no yellow card. The Addicks were cheered off the pitch, but Foy and his linos were roundly booed.

HT: Addicks 1, Spurs 0

Often when the Addicks have secured a lead in the first half, their opponents come out with renewed determination having been told that they are up against a small club who should be an easy three points. However, Spurs were more lacklustre and uncertain in the second half, although credit must be given to the authoritative way in which Charlton kept control (despite the screams of the Bloke Behind Me that Spurs were running the game).

Rommedahl went down injured and was replaced on 54 minutes by JJ. Referee Foy, having found his yellow cards at half time in the sandwiches his wife had packed for him, finally managed to book charm merchant Andy Reid. Eventually the tally of Spurs yellow cards came to four, but why none were given in the first half remains a mystery.

As Jermaine Defoe warmed up on the touchline, he was greeted with chants of 'one greedy bastard'.

I thought the Herminator had been given a yellow card, but it turns out it was Thomas, just as well as that would have meant a one match suspension for the left back. On 61 minutes Defoe replaced Ziegler and was greeted by chants of 'If you hate Defoe, stand up', an invitation which received a good response.

Brown was given a yellow card for a cynical foul on Defoe. Chris Perry made a great defensive block to stop a Spurs attack. Spurs got a free kick in a dangerous position just in front of the 'D', but all it yielded for them was a corner.

The unimpressive Carrick was substituted by Sean Davis on 70 minutes. Having been brought down, the injured Bartlett was replaced by Euell on 73 minutes. Jerome Thomas had been hacked to pieces and was replaced on 76 minutes by Feesh. Konchesky continued to impress with his contribution.

Euell received a yellow card for kicking the ball away, leading one Addick to shout 'Just like the police, take the easy option.' El Karkouri had to receive treatment after being brought down by Keane.

The Herminator was brought down in yet another foul and Danny Murphy made excellent use of the resultant free kick to put the ball past Robinson to make the score 2-0. Spurs fans started to leave in droves and all that remained was for Charlton to stay in control for the rest of the game which included four minutes of time added on.

Spurs fans on the train back were insisting that they would finish about Charlton. There is probably no group of fans who show a greater dissonance between their actual record in the Premiership and their expectations.

Match analysis

With Hooch the Pooch on holiday it fell to Homer the Cherry Hound from Harwell, Oxon to present the Silver Bone to Jerome Thomas not just for his goal, but also for his overall performance in the face of persistent fouls. Deano was not that much tested by the Spurs attack, but made two vital saves to give him another clean sheet. Chris Perry had a superb game at the heart of the defence, demonstrating why Spurs made a mistake in letting him go. The same applied to Luke Young who some of the players think should be Player of the Year. El Karkouri was also formidable, just a shame that his late free kick went so far astray, but it didn't matter then. Hreidarsson was also a tower of strength who contributed in attack and defence. Konchesky had a very strong influence on the game from the middle of the park and was a serious candidate for the Silver Bone. Questions remain about the unsettled Rommedahl who has recently become a father. He certainly has pace, but what can he deliver with it? Murphy made a strong contribution to the game apart from his goal, although unfortunately one or two of his passes went astray. Holland was as usual a quiet but nevertheless effective presence, in the right places at the right time to make his contribution. Bartlett was as committed and as energetic as ever, but this was not a game in which he made a decisive contribution. Once he arrived on the pitch, JJ applied himself with his usual energy, but not to any great effect. Euell tried to look interested, but failed to contribute very much. The arrival of Fish attracted a series of oaths and curses on Alan Curbishley's head from the Bloke Behind Me, allowing him to return to his favourite theme of the ineptitude and incompetence of the supremo. However, the Springbok, who has an interest in going into politics in South Africa, made a series of effective defensive interventions.

Hiss of the Match

Juneau the Soccer Cat has arrived to sit beside me to make it clear that she wants a very loud hiss of the type of which only a large Maine Coon is capable to be delivered to inept referee Chris Foy. Foy gives a low average of cards per game believing that he can keep control with the force of his own personality. Not! Paradoxically, though, we have always won this season when he is in charge. There is a now a lot of controversy about managers criticising officials, but the fact is that the standard in the Premiership remains appallingly low.

Crowd rating For the first time I am giving 10/10 to the Addickted. They really got behind the team and gave the lie to the chant coming from the so-called big club from North London that stated that Charlton's support is excrement.

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