Charlton Athletic 0 v Sheffield United 3

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit that you were beaten by a better side on the night and tonight was one of those for me. Sheffield United came to play and they counter-attacked as well as anyone at the Valley for a long while. They defended with spirit and ultimately wore us down.

Charlton started very quickly with Thomas and Sam attacking with pace and directness. Both were being backed superbly by Mills and Basey but our chances were limited to shots on the burst from both of them. Chris Iwelumo lead the line again but his head-ons and chest-offs from crosses were invariably to no-one as he was isolated up-front. Zeng Zhi and Semedo were contributing but Andy Reid was nowhere to be seen. The back four had a decent first half with the painful exception of the penalty that Sodje conceded with what looked like an unecessary far post push as a cross was whipped in. Nicky Weaver dived with everything he had but James Beattie's far too good not to score from the spot. So, 1-0 down at half-time with lots to do against a team who were breaking quikcly and supporting in numbers when they got the opportunity.

Alan Pardew made the switch to 4-4-2 at half time with Varney coming on for Sam and Semedo unfortunate to be subbed for Holland, but I guess Pards was hoping for more attacking midfield impetus to support the front two. For 25 minutes it looked like it was going to pay dividends as we began to up the tempo and stretch Sheffield at the back. Varney was providing more speed upfront and creating more space for Big Chris. Danny Mills was bombing forward and played a big part in our best two chances, one of which should have gone in. The first saw Zheng Zhi chase a long ball into the box taking two defenders with him. He played a neat ball back into the path of Danny Mills who skipped inside the first challenge and fired in a low hard shot which Paddy Kenny could only parry at the far post. The ball fell to the looming Iwelumo but his shot was somehow blocked again by the scrambling Kenny. Several minutes later Mills overlapped on the left wing and advanced towards the box before threading a pass in to Luke Varney. Varney took it in his stride beating the first man and careering in towards the near post. With everyone committed he rolled it back to Zheng Zhi but he blasted over with the goal gaping.

Basey was subbed for Madjid Bougherra and I can only assume he was hurt; he certainly took his time leaving the field.

Sheffield United were continuing to counter and Beattie had a goal disallowed for a close offside having finished off a three man move in the Charlton box. Not unlike the QPR game the warning signs were flashing brightly. United's second duly arrived on 75 minutes following our failure to clear a corner properly. The ball looped up to a United player who took it passed the first Charlton player and rolled it in to the six yard box where I thought Weaver had made it his own but somehow Cahill got a foot to it and poked it over the line.

Charlton huffed and puffed in the last ten minutes but you could tell the belief had gone and it was no surprise when United scored their third. Another swift breakout from their half and Beattie streaked clear on the right, he centred and his pass was knocked into the path of Armstrong who was clear on goal and beat Weaver with ease from 20 yards.

I'd certainly like to know what was wrong with Andy Reid tonight; he was even a yard slower than normal, anonymous in the first half and only marginally more effective in the second. Not sure what Alan Pardew does next. Maybe he perseveres, maybe he starts 4-4-2 at home on Saturday and goes for it? Burnley will certainly have their tails up after winning at Watford tonight. We've also handed West Brom the incentive they need at Plymouth tomorrow night. It's going to take another away win or two to make-up for this slip-up and we simply can't afford another blank on Saturday.