This is what some people call "winning ugly." I tuned in to BBC London Sport this evening for the live commentary from Ian Hand and Brett Angel. The game was boring to listen to so at least the hardy visiting fans got a win to celebrate.
A poor first half from a tired-sounding Charlton came to life on 40 minutes when Andy Reid made a rare contribution in knocking a long ball into the box. Three Charlton players went in to challenge but Hull goalkeeper Myhill got there first but only managed to punch the ball onto the back of one of them and it fell to Luke Varney to stroke home. That was the spark for a tetchy game to ignite; Charlton had been getting more than there fair share of the 50:50's and the referree was getting full volume abuse from the home crowd. On Charlton's next foray forward, Lloyd Sam clashed with Ian Ashbee and Ashbee kicked out as both players fell to ground. The inexperienced Sam retaliated and the fate of both players was inevitable as both sides flew into the melee. Jon Fortune and Dean Windass (no surprise there) were both in quickly and as the referree restored order Sam was already on his way. Ashbee followed and the frustrated Hull fans gave vent to their anger in 4 minutes of added time.
In the second half Hull seemed to lose the initiative and were unable to create any of the attacking pressure they had managed earlier. Mills was booked for a foul on Pedersen and also managed to drive an angled shot off the top of the Hull bar. Nicky weaver tipped an effort onto the top of the goal and Chrissy Powell put his head in the way of the Hughes free-kick that concussed him for a couple of minutes. Nothing much else to report until Reid found Zheng Zhi on a break after 88 minutes. Zheng burst through the Hull back line and crossed for Big Chris who beat Myhill to kill the game. McPhee managed a consolation in the last minute. Alan Pardew will be very pleased to have done what all promotion winning sides do by winning away from home without play particularly well.
The Addicks stay second behind Watford but remain three points clear of Barnsley and Coventry, safe in the knowledge that they can distance themselves from Barnsley at the Valley on Saturday which would achieve SAP's aim of a top-two position after 10 games. West Brom now know that they have to win at home to Stoke tomorrow night to reduce their five point deficit.
Saturday's match beginning to look exciting already!
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