Defeated but not disgraced
Charlton's 0-2 defeat by Premiership leaders Chelsea at The Valley on Saturday reflected the gap in quality between the two teams, but the Addicks were by no means disgraced. They fought hard in the first half to keep the score at 0-0, albeit with some help from the home side's goalpost, but Chelsea's superiority told in the second half with two goals scored in the space of five minutes. The difference between the two sides was particularly evident in midfield with Charlton feeling the absence of Chelsea loan player Smertin. Without him Charlton played a more conventional 4-5-1 rather than the 4-3-3 variant we have seen in some matches with Murphy able to forge forward. On the evidence of this performance, it is difficult to see who can beat Chelsea who have played all six league games this season without conceding a goal.
The day was rather a frenetic one because of the media focus on falling football attendances. I did a slot on Radio 5 just after 7.30 a.m. and this was heard by Central Television who sent a crew round and insisted on filming us getting into our car to go to The Valley and then recording the departure of the Warwickshire Rickshaw. Sky News then arranged for me to be picked up at Marylebone to do a short slot on their news programme. Leaving the studio at 2 p.m., I was whisked to London Bridge and was at The Valley by 2.40.
Chelsea dominated possession in the early part of the game and won an early corner. The corner was taken short in and when played in flashed across the front of the Charlton goal. Rommedahl was in energetic mood and showed good skill in winning the ball back. Kishishev released Murphy who played in a good ball to Darren Bent, but the striker, shephered by defenders, was not quite able to connect. The Herminator put in a good header across the face of goal, but the effort by the well psoitioned Thomas was poor and went wide.
Good work involving Murphy won Charlton a corner, but it was weakly taken by the midfielder. Chris Powell was held back and pulled down and the Addicks were awarded a free kick but Murphy's effort came off the wall. Charlton started to apply some pressure, but Chelsea were very dangerous on the break. Kishishev was dispossessed and Essien powered through the middle, releasing Crespo, but his shot hit the post.
Charlton were showing a worrying tendency to give the ball away, Thomas being the culprit this time. Chris Powell showed his mettle with a good tackle. A shot by Duff was well held by Andersen. 'RK again' in my notes meant that the Bulgarian had surrendered possession.
With Chelsea threatening again, Luke Young made a good clearance. Thomas made a break, but it led to nothing more than a Charlton throw in. A free kick was awarded against Gallas for hand ball, much to the indignation of Lampard. Bent was fouled and Charlton were awarded a free kick. Duff went down dramatically when he was tackled by Murphy. Given all the skill and talent in the Chelsea team, why is it necessary to resort to such cynical tactics?
Danny Murphy was tackled on the edge of the area and Terry received a yellow card. The free kick went off the wall. A Chelsea break was dealt with effectively by Luke Young. Dennis Rommedahl put in a shot that was only inches wide. As the half drew to a close, the Addickted broke into a chant of 'Champions League, you're having a laugh.' Charlton had contained the visitors well and had been able to apply some pressure of their own.
Half time: Addicks 0, Pensioners 0
Chelsea looked dangerous right from the start. On 48 minutes a corner from Lampard went to the far post and Gallas hit the post. Kishishev managed to give the ball away from a throw in and one started to wonder why he had not been taken off. This time Chris Powell had to retrieve the situation. Darren Bent put in a speculative shot from distance that sailed over the bar. A cynical dive by Robben won Chelsea a free kick, but it was cleared. A free kick from Lampard was deflected, but Andersen adjusted his position well to save on the ground.
Kishishev gave the ball away yet again, allowing Chelsea to win a corner. Then the inevitable happened. Kishishev dallied in a dangerous position, Essien took the ball off him and his pass flew to Crespo who headed the ball powerfully into the back of the net on 55 minutes.
Bent burst through but was the victim of a marginal offside decision. Robben then increased the lead on 60 minutes with a world class goal from 18 yards. Shortly afterwards Wright-Phillips came on in place of Duff. One felt that from here onwards Charlton were seeking to prevent a rout rather than attempt the difficult task of getting back into the game. They started to lose their shape even more than had been apparent earlier.
Chris Powell was able to deal with a dangerous situation at the expense of a corner. Andersen made a good save from Wright-Phillips to prevent it going to 0-3. Crespo was taken off on 67 minutes and replaced by Drogba which says something about the quality of the side.
The error prone Kishishev was at last withdrawn on 67 minutes along with Thomas, Ambrose and Holland coming on. Some of the Addickted would like to have seen them on the pitch from the beginning. Rommedahl burst away down the right and was cynically checked by Makelele who received a yellow card. On 70 minutes Powell was replaced by Spector making his first appearance for the club.
Hughes gave the ball away, but Rommedahl won the ball well. On 79 minutes Robben was replaced by the reportedly unsettled Cole. A Charlton corner allowed Perry to put in a shot that was just wide. With Charlton building up well in the middle of the park, Rommedahl was left standing unmarked out on the wing waiting for the ball and eventually had to come into the centre.
Luke Young once again offered good defensive work to deal with a Chelsea break. As the match came to an end, Darren Ambrose had a go.
I had actually forecast 0-2 before the game, but my text didn't reach the pub so there was no consolation money. We did have the consolation of seeing a penalty by Judas Defoe saved at Villa to chants of 'How's your mother's house?' We also ran into some Oadby Town fans, the team that Leamington faces in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup next Saturday.
Match analysis
Canine reporter Hooch the Pooch awarded the Silver Bone to Chris Perry. He could have won it at Birmingham last week if the honour had not gone to Curbs to commemorate his 600th managerial appearance with the club. Perry, as far as could be seen, did not put a foot wrong and made some decisive interventions. Andersen could not have stopped the second goal which was world class and got a hand to the first. He made some good saves. Hreidarsson also had a good game and even looked as if he might do something in attack. Young was solid and contributed well to the defence. For the first time this season Powell looked slow against the fast paced Chelsea players. Kishishev made a series of errors in terms of giving the ball away in midfield, eventually leading to the decisive first Chelsea goal. Hughes was competent enough, but did not contribute a great deal.
Thomas started showboating again and faded as the match went on. Murphy was very much in evidence, but was unable to create anything from kicks and free corners. Rommedahl did give the Chelsea defence some problems, although he also lost the ball to defenders a few times. Bent was left to forage around on his own up front with as many as three defenders in attendance, doing his best to make something of the long balls sent up to him. Holland ran around a lot when he came on, but did not make a decisive difference. Ambrose was relatively anonymous apart from a late attempt at goal. Spector has some work to do before he is the finished article.
Juneau the Soccer Cat gave the Hiss of the Match to the East Stand linesman who, disappointed at his failure to secure a 'before and after' Grecian 2000 contract, gave every marginal decision to Chelsea.
Crowd rating: Often rather quiet, although the Bloke Beside Me described it as a 'tense quiet waiting for the inevitable' rather than 'a dissatisfied quiet.' Luke Young tried to urge the East Stand on at one point in the second half. 6/10.
The day was rather a frenetic one because of the media focus on falling football attendances. I did a slot on Radio 5 just after 7.30 a.m. and this was heard by Central Television who sent a crew round and insisted on filming us getting into our car to go to The Valley and then recording the departure of the Warwickshire Rickshaw. Sky News then arranged for me to be picked up at Marylebone to do a short slot on their news programme. Leaving the studio at 2 p.m., I was whisked to London Bridge and was at The Valley by 2.40.
Chelsea dominated possession in the early part of the game and won an early corner. The corner was taken short in and when played in flashed across the front of the Charlton goal. Rommedahl was in energetic mood and showed good skill in winning the ball back. Kishishev released Murphy who played in a good ball to Darren Bent, but the striker, shephered by defenders, was not quite able to connect. The Herminator put in a good header across the face of goal, but the effort by the well psoitioned Thomas was poor and went wide.
Good work involving Murphy won Charlton a corner, but it was weakly taken by the midfielder. Chris Powell was held back and pulled down and the Addicks were awarded a free kick but Murphy's effort came off the wall. Charlton started to apply some pressure, but Chelsea were very dangerous on the break. Kishishev was dispossessed and Essien powered through the middle, releasing Crespo, but his shot hit the post.
Charlton were showing a worrying tendency to give the ball away, Thomas being the culprit this time. Chris Powell showed his mettle with a good tackle. A shot by Duff was well held by Andersen. 'RK again' in my notes meant that the Bulgarian had surrendered possession.
With Chelsea threatening again, Luke Young made a good clearance. Thomas made a break, but it led to nothing more than a Charlton throw in. A free kick was awarded against Gallas for hand ball, much to the indignation of Lampard. Bent was fouled and Charlton were awarded a free kick. Duff went down dramatically when he was tackled by Murphy. Given all the skill and talent in the Chelsea team, why is it necessary to resort to such cynical tactics?
Danny Murphy was tackled on the edge of the area and Terry received a yellow card. The free kick went off the wall. A Chelsea break was dealt with effectively by Luke Young. Dennis Rommedahl put in a shot that was only inches wide. As the half drew to a close, the Addickted broke into a chant of 'Champions League, you're having a laugh.' Charlton had contained the visitors well and had been able to apply some pressure of their own.
Half time: Addicks 0, Pensioners 0
Chelsea looked dangerous right from the start. On 48 minutes a corner from Lampard went to the far post and Gallas hit the post. Kishishev managed to give the ball away from a throw in and one started to wonder why he had not been taken off. This time Chris Powell had to retrieve the situation. Darren Bent put in a speculative shot from distance that sailed over the bar. A cynical dive by Robben won Chelsea a free kick, but it was cleared. A free kick from Lampard was deflected, but Andersen adjusted his position well to save on the ground.
Kishishev gave the ball away yet again, allowing Chelsea to win a corner. Then the inevitable happened. Kishishev dallied in a dangerous position, Essien took the ball off him and his pass flew to Crespo who headed the ball powerfully into the back of the net on 55 minutes.
Bent burst through but was the victim of a marginal offside decision. Robben then increased the lead on 60 minutes with a world class goal from 18 yards. Shortly afterwards Wright-Phillips came on in place of Duff. One felt that from here onwards Charlton were seeking to prevent a rout rather than attempt the difficult task of getting back into the game. They started to lose their shape even more than had been apparent earlier.
Chris Powell was able to deal with a dangerous situation at the expense of a corner. Andersen made a good save from Wright-Phillips to prevent it going to 0-3. Crespo was taken off on 67 minutes and replaced by Drogba which says something about the quality of the side.
The error prone Kishishev was at last withdrawn on 67 minutes along with Thomas, Ambrose and Holland coming on. Some of the Addickted would like to have seen them on the pitch from the beginning. Rommedahl burst away down the right and was cynically checked by Makelele who received a yellow card. On 70 minutes Powell was replaced by Spector making his first appearance for the club.
Hughes gave the ball away, but Rommedahl won the ball well. On 79 minutes Robben was replaced by the reportedly unsettled Cole. A Charlton corner allowed Perry to put in a shot that was just wide. With Charlton building up well in the middle of the park, Rommedahl was left standing unmarked out on the wing waiting for the ball and eventually had to come into the centre.
Luke Young once again offered good defensive work to deal with a Chelsea break. As the match came to an end, Darren Ambrose had a go.
I had actually forecast 0-2 before the game, but my text didn't reach the pub so there was no consolation money. We did have the consolation of seeing a penalty by Judas Defoe saved at Villa to chants of 'How's your mother's house?' We also ran into some Oadby Town fans, the team that Leamington faces in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup next Saturday.
Match analysis
Canine reporter Hooch the Pooch awarded the Silver Bone to Chris Perry. He could have won it at Birmingham last week if the honour had not gone to Curbs to commemorate his 600th managerial appearance with the club. Perry, as far as could be seen, did not put a foot wrong and made some decisive interventions. Andersen could not have stopped the second goal which was world class and got a hand to the first. He made some good saves. Hreidarsson also had a good game and even looked as if he might do something in attack. Young was solid and contributed well to the defence. For the first time this season Powell looked slow against the fast paced Chelsea players. Kishishev made a series of errors in terms of giving the ball away in midfield, eventually leading to the decisive first Chelsea goal. Hughes was competent enough, but did not contribute a great deal.
Thomas started showboating again and faded as the match went on. Murphy was very much in evidence, but was unable to create anything from kicks and free corners. Rommedahl did give the Chelsea defence some problems, although he also lost the ball to defenders a few times. Bent was left to forage around on his own up front with as many as three defenders in attendance, doing his best to make something of the long balls sent up to him. Holland ran around a lot when he came on, but did not make a decisive difference. Ambrose was relatively anonymous apart from a late attempt at goal. Spector has some work to do before he is the finished article.
Juneau the Soccer Cat gave the Hiss of the Match to the East Stand linesman who, disappointed at his failure to secure a 'before and after' Grecian 2000 contract, gave every marginal decision to Chelsea.
Crowd rating: Often rather quiet, although the Bloke Beside Me described it as a 'tense quiet waiting for the inevitable' rather than 'a dissatisfied quiet.' Luke Young tried to urge the East Stand on at one point in the second half. 6/10.
posted by Wyn Grant at 8:03 PM
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