Bentless Charlton can't straighten it out
Charlton's appalling home record in the Premiership against Bolton Wanderers continued at The Valley on Saturday with a 0-1 defeat. My optimism about finally breaking the jinx was shattered in the pub beforehand when I heard that Bent was out ill. The point has been made by many of the Addickted that we have no adequate back up for our star striker and so it proved with a performance by replacement Bothroyd that suggested he is not match fit. However, with both Lisbie and Bartlett (who can at least hold the ball up) unfit, the options were limited.
In the first half the two sides were evenly matched. After the break Bolton came out far more determined and the balance of the game went into their direction. When Nolan's goal came in the 72nd minute it was the result of an error and bad fortune, but it had a certain inevitability about it.
I was not happy when the sides changed ends at the beginning of the game as this has been a bad omen for Charlton in recent matches. In the opening minutes, the Addicks twice found themselves in danger in front of their own goal.
When Kevin Davies fouled Spector yet again, referee Clattenburg decided it was time for a word. His refereeing performance throughout the game was not helpful to Charlton. I think that was because he is one of those referees who in order to demonstrate that he is not a 'homer' (a constant source of complaint in Jimmy Seed's notes on away games) ends up actually favouring the away team in his efforts to be scrupulously fair. One also suspects that he is a bit like a Battenburg cake, quite nice to look at, but crumbles into pieces very quickly.
Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal went down and required a long period of treatment. A good move was started by Kishishev and Ambrose turned provider for Bothroyd, but the striker, described by one Addick as Carthorse Cole without the skill, was unable to control the ball in front of goal.
Charlton were in combative mood and edging the game, but an Ambrose goal was disallowed by a handball by Bothroyd in the build up. Ambrose was looking lively on the left.
The first half hour passed without a corner for either side. When Charlton won one on 32 minutes, Murphy's effort was caught by the keeper. Then a sharp move released Ambrose and I thought for a moment that he was going to score but his effort went into the side netting, a golden opportunity missed.
Spector showed that he can contribute by putting in a good tackle. A Bolton corner was only partially cleared and Charlton were in trouble, but eventually were awarded a free kick. Danny Murphy was given a yellow card for nothing in particular, certainly nothing more serious than had been done by Bolton, but Clattenburg probably realised that it was nearly half time and he hadn't booked anyone.
Half time: Addicks 0, Wanderers 0
Charlton seemed to be very casual at the start of the second half and Bolton piled on the pressure. The visitors were awarded a free kick in a promising position and Andersen had to make a good save from it. The Herminator had to put a good defensive header over the bar to avert danger and the resultant corner was caught by Andersen.
Rommedahl won the Addicks a corner, but it was taken short (which hardly ever pays off) and Murphy's eventual effort went over. Smertin was replaced by Hughes, the former having presumably picked up a knock. Smertin went off and Hughes was not allowed on immediately. To the puzzlement of the Addickted, Rommedahl was replaced by JJ on 63 minutes. It might have been better to get Rommedahl forward more to test Bolton's far from mobile defence.
Taking advantage of a long ball from Bothroyd, JJ evaded N'Gotty and put in a fierce shot which drew an excellent save from the keeper. Then a shot by Faye took a wicked deflection off Spector. Steffie reacted well and made a one handed save, but the ball went to Nakata who moved it across to Nolan who put it past the stranded Andersen. Kishishev was pulled off in favour of Holland.
Charlton were awarded a free kick on the left after Bothroyd was fouled and Murphy's effort found the head of the 'journeyman' Hughes. His header was powerful, but once again the keeper made an outstanding save to put the ball over the bar.
There were only three minutes of time added on (and only two in the first) which seemed well short of the time there was no play. Luke Young burst through, but there was no one to connect with the cross he put across the goal.
Results elsewhere saw Charlton slump to 5th, but it is still very tight among the teams below Chelsea and the next game is away from home.
Match analyst Hooch the Pooch has awarded the Silver Bone to Hermann Hreidarsson who showed passion, skill and commitment throughout the match. Andersen was not really at fault for the goal and otherwise played well. Perry had another good game, providing reliable cover at the back. Young was one of the most effective players, forging forward well. The left back position remains an issue. Spector simply isn't the finished article and some of the other players seem to lack confidence in him. He tried his best and did do some things well, but consistency was lacking. Kishishev did make some mistakes, but, on the whole, he had one of his better games. Ambrose didn't really do enough to retain a starting place in the side. Smertin showed some moments of sublime skill. Murphy was not at his best, although there were moments of influence. Rommedahl did contribute, but not at his highest level.
Bothroyd is no Bent, at times he seemed to come to a complete halt and in the second half he spent far too much time defending. JJ did at least draw a save from his fellow Finn Jaaskelinanen. Hughes was not much in evidence after he came on, apart from the header from which he nearly scored an equaliser. Holland seemed uncertain what to do when he came on, but played competently and reliably after that.
Juneau the Soccer Cat has given the Hiss of the Match for the first time to the fourth official, M Russell, for messing up the substitutions and also for obstructing the view of fans in the front rows of the lower west.
Crowd rating: Rather poor for much of the match. OK, the team didn't give the fans much to shout about, but this is when you need an atmosphere. It might help our home performances. 5/10.
In the first half the two sides were evenly matched. After the break Bolton came out far more determined and the balance of the game went into their direction. When Nolan's goal came in the 72nd minute it was the result of an error and bad fortune, but it had a certain inevitability about it.
I was not happy when the sides changed ends at the beginning of the game as this has been a bad omen for Charlton in recent matches. In the opening minutes, the Addicks twice found themselves in danger in front of their own goal.
When Kevin Davies fouled Spector yet again, referee Clattenburg decided it was time for a word. His refereeing performance throughout the game was not helpful to Charlton. I think that was because he is one of those referees who in order to demonstrate that he is not a 'homer' (a constant source of complaint in Jimmy Seed's notes on away games) ends up actually favouring the away team in his efforts to be scrupulously fair. One also suspects that he is a bit like a Battenburg cake, quite nice to look at, but crumbles into pieces very quickly.
Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal went down and required a long period of treatment. A good move was started by Kishishev and Ambrose turned provider for Bothroyd, but the striker, described by one Addick as Carthorse Cole without the skill, was unable to control the ball in front of goal.
Charlton were in combative mood and edging the game, but an Ambrose goal was disallowed by a handball by Bothroyd in the build up. Ambrose was looking lively on the left.
The first half hour passed without a corner for either side. When Charlton won one on 32 minutes, Murphy's effort was caught by the keeper. Then a sharp move released Ambrose and I thought for a moment that he was going to score but his effort went into the side netting, a golden opportunity missed.
Spector showed that he can contribute by putting in a good tackle. A Bolton corner was only partially cleared and Charlton were in trouble, but eventually were awarded a free kick. Danny Murphy was given a yellow card for nothing in particular, certainly nothing more serious than had been done by Bolton, but Clattenburg probably realised that it was nearly half time and he hadn't booked anyone.
Half time: Addicks 0, Wanderers 0
Charlton seemed to be very casual at the start of the second half and Bolton piled on the pressure. The visitors were awarded a free kick in a promising position and Andersen had to make a good save from it. The Herminator had to put a good defensive header over the bar to avert danger and the resultant corner was caught by Andersen.
Rommedahl won the Addicks a corner, but it was taken short (which hardly ever pays off) and Murphy's eventual effort went over. Smertin was replaced by Hughes, the former having presumably picked up a knock. Smertin went off and Hughes was not allowed on immediately. To the puzzlement of the Addickted, Rommedahl was replaced by JJ on 63 minutes. It might have been better to get Rommedahl forward more to test Bolton's far from mobile defence.
Taking advantage of a long ball from Bothroyd, JJ evaded N'Gotty and put in a fierce shot which drew an excellent save from the keeper. Then a shot by Faye took a wicked deflection off Spector. Steffie reacted well and made a one handed save, but the ball went to Nakata who moved it across to Nolan who put it past the stranded Andersen. Kishishev was pulled off in favour of Holland.
Charlton were awarded a free kick on the left after Bothroyd was fouled and Murphy's effort found the head of the 'journeyman' Hughes. His header was powerful, but once again the keeper made an outstanding save to put the ball over the bar.
There were only three minutes of time added on (and only two in the first) which seemed well short of the time there was no play. Luke Young burst through, but there was no one to connect with the cross he put across the goal.
Results elsewhere saw Charlton slump to 5th, but it is still very tight among the teams below Chelsea and the next game is away from home.
Match analyst Hooch the Pooch has awarded the Silver Bone to Hermann Hreidarsson who showed passion, skill and commitment throughout the match. Andersen was not really at fault for the goal and otherwise played well. Perry had another good game, providing reliable cover at the back. Young was one of the most effective players, forging forward well. The left back position remains an issue. Spector simply isn't the finished article and some of the other players seem to lack confidence in him. He tried his best and did do some things well, but consistency was lacking. Kishishev did make some mistakes, but, on the whole, he had one of his better games. Ambrose didn't really do enough to retain a starting place in the side. Smertin showed some moments of sublime skill. Murphy was not at his best, although there were moments of influence. Rommedahl did contribute, but not at his highest level.
Bothroyd is no Bent, at times he seemed to come to a complete halt and in the second half he spent far too much time defending. JJ did at least draw a save from his fellow Finn Jaaskelinanen. Hughes was not much in evidence after he came on, apart from the header from which he nearly scored an equaliser. Holland seemed uncertain what to do when he came on, but played competently and reliably after that.
Juneau the Soccer Cat has given the Hiss of the Match for the first time to the fourth official, M Russell, for messing up the substitutions and also for obstructing the view of fans in the front rows of the lower west.
Crowd rating: Rather poor for much of the match. OK, the team didn't give the fans much to shout about, but this is when you need an atmosphere. It might help our home performances. 5/10.
posted by Wyn Grant at 7:18 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home