By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions. We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Town 1-1 Charlton - Updated Thursday, 2nd Jan 2014 16:16
Charlton skipper Johnnie Jackson came off the bench to net a 90th minute equaliser as Town and the Addicks drew 1-1 at Portman Road. The Blues had gone in front via Richard Wood’s 24th minute own goal with David McGoldrick coming off the bench in the second half and having a penalty saved by Charlton keeper Ben Alnwick.
Boss Mick McCarthy made three changes to his side having named the same XI for the previous five matches.
Top scorer McGoldrick, Frank Nouble and Luke Hyam dropped to the bench with Paul Taylor, who was making his first Blues league start since September 2012, Paul Anderson and Jay Tabb returning to the team as the Blues switched back to 4-4-2 with the Addicks employing the same system.
As the wind swirled and rain continued to fall on an already very wet pitch, with water cascading from the roof of one section of the East of England Co-op Stand, Town had a very decent third-minute shout for a penalty.
Taylor played in Daryl Murphy and the Irishman got ahead of centre-half Wood - a Town target during Jim Magilton’s time as boss - who appeared to bundle him to the ground. The Blues players and fans protested but referee Stuart Attwell and his assistant weren’t interested.
At the other end, Dean Gerken claimed a Dale Stephens freekick from the left on seven, the ball having beaten everyone and bounced just in front of the Town keeper.
Anderson’s curling 20-yard shot forced Addicks keeper Alnwick to save to his right in the eighth minute with Town settling into the difficult conditions better than the visitors.
On 13 Murphy hit a powerful left-foot strike wide from the right, then Aaron Cresswell’s scuffed an effort through to Alnwick with the Blues regularly looking to shoot from distance, presumably to try to make the most of the keeper-testing conditions.
Four minutes later, Gerken made the save of the game so far when he tipped Yann Kermorgant’s deflected 20-yard low shot round the post at full stretch to his left.
Blues skipper Luke Chambers volleyed Murphy’s left-wing cross over in the 22nd minute with the home side continuing to have most of the ball, at times playing some very good football, particularly so given the surface and wind.
The goal which McCarthy’s men deserved came in the 24th minute. Murphy crossed low from the left but too far ahead of Jay Tabb, but Wood behind him turned it into his own net.
Murphy miscued wide on 35 with the Blues still on top but without threatening to add to their lead too often having gone in front. At the other end, Tommy Smith superbly blocked Marvin Sordell’s 25-yard effort.
Charlton believed they should have been awarded a penalty in the 40th minute when Cameron Stewart got in behind Chambers on the Addicks’ left. The Blues’ right-back tried to get back and the on-loan Hull man went to ground appealing for a penalty.
Referee Attwell immediately whipped out his yellow card and booked the winger for a dive. On initial viewing the Blues, like Charlton earlier, were probably fortunate not to have conceded a spotkick and then lost a man to a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Christophe Berra was subsequently added to Attwell’s book for an earlier foul on Kermorgant.
Sordell shot wide for the visitors then as the half moved into injury time slowly made his way off with a hamstring problem, Jordan Cook replacing the on-loan Bolton frontman.
Moments later, Tommy Smith was somewhat harshly booked for a foul on Cook, Kermorgant sending the freekick wide of Gerken’s right post.
The Blues deserved their lead at the break having been on top for the most part with Taylor, Skuse and Anderson particularly influential.
However, the scoreline might have been very different with both sides likely to feel they ought to have been awarded penalties which would probably have seen their opposition reduced to 10 men.
Town started the second period brightly, winning two early corners. On 50 Wood was lucky to get away with pulling Anderson back just outside the area, referee Attwell failing to spot the foul.
Stephens shot wide for the Addicks in the 53rd minute after the Blues had been unable to clear a corner, then two minutes later Taylor hit a low shot which failed to test Alnwick. Soon after, Skuse bravely blocked a Stephens strike from the edge of the box with his face.
Charlton had had the better of the second half played in improved conditions, although without creating much significant in front of goal. The Blues had similarly rarely threatened but in the 65th minute Skuse sent Murphy away on the Town right. With Taylor and Anderson having broken into the area, the Irish striker cut in but his shot was blocked.
Blues top scorer McGoldrick replaced the lively Taylor and Luke Hyam took over from Tabb in the 68th minute, then two minutes later, the visitors switched one-time Blues trialist Lawrie Wilson for an additional striker, Simon Church.
Alnwick saved Murphy’s low shot in the 77th minute after good work from McGoldrick and from the resultant flagkick the Blues won a penalty. Cresswell’s delivery from the left was sent into the air and as Anderson looked to get on to the loose bouncing ball he was shoved by Jordan Cousins. This time referee Attwell pointed straight to the spot.
McGoldrick stepped up and hit his kick to Alnwick’s left, the keeper pushing it on to the post, back across goal and wide before anyone could get to the loose ball.
Cousins hit a low shot through to Gerken following a corner in the 89th minute with the Addicks continuing to put the Blues under pressure. However, as at the Valley in November, Chris Powell’s men had been unable to make much of an impact Town’s backline.
Then, just as the fourth official’s board went up indicating four additional minutes, the visitors equalised. Rhoys Wiggins’s cross was nodded back by Kermogant, Church laid it off and skipper Johnnie Jackson, on as an 80th minute sub, hit a bouncing shot which deflected off Berra and past Gerken and into the net.
The Blues, who had largely been happy to sit back on their lead, now went about looking for a second they ought to have scored earlier in the game.
As injury time ran out Town sub Nouble was booked for kicking the ball at Addicks right-back Chris Solly as he tried to hurry him up at a throw-in, before referee Attwell blew his whistle for the final time.
Having been in front and having had a golden chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot, the result can only be viewed as two points lost.
The Blues, who defended so resolutely in the 1-0 win at the Valley in November, looked to pull off the same trick again in the second half but were made to pay for missing earlier opportunities. Before the break Town had been well on top and a lead of more than a single goal wouldn’t have flattered them.
Over the three festive fixtures, however, Mick McCarthy is likely to be reasonably happy to be unbeaten, to have picked up five points and with his side still in sixth place.
Talking in the car on the way home, there have been so many games this season when we've been 1-0 up and drew 1-1 (or lost). Of the last 4 games, 3 have been 1-1 draws after we'd lead 1-0. I wish Brenner on Radio Suffolk would ask Mick in his post-match interview the questions we all want answers from, instead of kissing up to him. "Did you send the team out in the 2nd half to defend what we have"? - that's the question. Mick again says "Another point" - well, with 90 minutes played at home to a 5th-from-bottom side, leading 1-0, this was very, very much 2 points dropped. Fact. I know my comments are negative, but no more negative than our 2nd half display ...yet again. Same as Barnsley match, Birmingham, Leicester, Leeds, etc, etc, etc - 1-0 up and cruising, but then we go deep and lose a goal eventually, or two.
Some of you just don't stop moaning.Be happy where we are considering we have not any money to spend.This team is good and with a few additions if the owner will cough up will be a force .COYB
@TimmyH - I don't personally believe it is that straightforward to get over the kind of era we've just been through. One year under Mick can't be expected to undo four years of rubbish - and frankly it's a miracle that it almost looks like he has. I will stay as grounded as possible until he's been here for at least three seasons. Accuse me of lacking ambition if you like but I am keeping my expectations low, and frankly enjoying where we are as a result.
Kirbmaster - so I have to spell it out do I? I (me) was taking the mickey by continuously moaning (not accusing you because you probably havn't got it in you) and I will continue to moan while we play totally negative football and try to sit on a one goal lead. Chronically stupid!
Leicester looking likely to be top 2, apart from them everyone is dropping pts. Derby have just had a great run but today lose at home to Wigan, Leeds lose at home today to Blackburn who we beat 3-1 Donny only lost 2-1 away at QPR today, Bournemouth draw away at Brighton. Nxt two leauge games QPR home (draw) Millwall away (Win)would probably keep us top 6
Just checked - 9 games this season we lead 1-0, only to draw 1-1 (6 times) or lose 2-1 (3 times). Then of course there's Derby away where we lead 4-1 at half time ...and ended up drawing. Again, I know this is being negative, but there are parallels in that respect to our displays in the 2nd half of all those games.
.... one word describes this afternoons episode - DIRE.
The sensible people kept their money in their pockets, and listened to it on Radio Suffolk. Only good thing about today was listening to the sense spoken by the Legend Mick Mills on the Radio on the drive home.
Please don't condone such an inept performance (you know who you are) - the usuals. Hit the minus button - sums everything up well.
To put things into perspective, the conditions were atrocious and both teams did their best. We had the better of the first half and went ahead with a quality well worked goal. Poor conditions or not, we are not a very creative side and Charlton worked their way back into the game and were the better team in the second half and deserved a share of the spoils. We are a hard working side with plenty of team spirit but at least 2 or 3 players short of having the quality to be serious promotion contenders? I don't believe that quality players are available to us and Mick is doing his best with what he has available? Some people aspirations are unrealistic and at the moment we should be happy that we do not look relegation candidates!
..... I guess many of the positives on here came from people tucked up warm in front of the fire - instead of braving the collective torture of the day at PR - nothing changes there then.
Without a shadow of a doubt its def 2 points dropped today which is a shame bearing in mind we let charlton off the hook. I would also echo the sentiments of many regarding sitting back on a 1 nil lead and going 4 5 1 at home against a team low in the league is negative football. We are still 6th but have to kill off teams like charlton having dominated the first half. Of the changes i think taylor proved he is a class player and deserves a run in the team, we certainly moved the ball around better with him in the side, thought anderson also played well along with skuse. Think the missed pen def affected dids and didnt do much there after. Shame we dropped 2 points today but we go again
..... a point yes - but seriously we have to be capable of putting on a much better performance (at home remember) than this garbage today - otherwise a totally false position in being 6th, and that won't last long.
Really enjoyed some of the first half football. But again we were out- managed at half time. Second half we didn't push on and got punished. We should've won comfortably but it wasn't to be. Taylor was effective and it was good to have some new ideas on the pitch. Anderson faded again. Can't believe we are in the play offs!!
Sindre94 - Taylor played well whilst on - always looking to make that penetrating forward pass (not sideways or backwards as the preferred option) - he also linked up well with Murphy in my opinion.
McGoldrick hadn't been on long and just didn't look up for taking the penalty - was one of those days when aTommy Smith penalty hit hard straight down the middle needed to be the order of the day.
How many times do we do this, try and cling on to a one goal lead! we just sat back and defended, and got seriously punished for it!
This is what we have all come to expect, the writing was on the wall that they would score, 90th minute for christs sake, Its sunday league stuff, just keep hold of the ball! how difficult can it be? Absolutely gutted!! two points just thrown away yet again!!!
Felt like a loss in the car on the way home. Im sure Mick doesnt send them out 2nd half to sit back and invite pressure on themselves.The question is why do they do it? We have it in our locker to kill poor teams like Charlton off but bottle it instead. Still i would have taken 6th on new years day in a heartbeat if youd offered it me in August. One negative for me again was Anderson.Im sorry but hes just an awful player. How he gets selected ahead of Edwards i'll never know.
thebeat - no brainer really - Edwards has to be a better option than Anderson, but MM thinks / knows better !!
Crying out for someone down that side again today with something to offer - me must be known for being a / the team with 'nothing to be afraid of' down the right. Thus easier to plan against.
Thought we played well first half and deserved the lead. Second half we sat back which disappointing and overall the draw was perhaps fair, from a poor game played in terrible conditions. However we sit 6th in the league, so surprised some are moaning about that. Thought Murphy had a good game, along with Skuse and cresswell. Personally I still don't share others opinions on Taylor. I saw nothing today which suggests he should be a regular and automatic starter. Often selfish and looked uninterested at times. Sorry, know that wont be popular!
jason0999 - ... not aware of anyone moaning about being 6th - surprised yes - and maybe even more so if we stay there or better it,based on todays performance.
Dozzells Bobblehat - ..... proves just how wrong someone can be in that assumption - but will take it as a compliment as I agreed with much of his / her posts - and maybe I have copied the style somewhat.
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
