Charlton Athletic 1 v Stoke City 0

Charlton came face-to-face with a determined Stoke City side this evening on Shrove Tuesday, a traditional "mob football" day in England. When I say, determined, I mean determined not to be beaten and the mob football reference is relevant too, as they packed their box and got men behind the ball for almost the entire match. It was an epic struggle but we eventually got the goal we needed and the three crucial points. This victory could be the start of an important few weeks for the Addicks as we enter the make or break stage of the season in relation to any hopes of automatic promotion.

Charlton opened with Weaver in goal and Moutaouakil, McCarthy, Bougherra and Youga in the back four. Holland and Zheng Zhi again held the central midfield with Sam and Ambrose on the wings. Pards went for Iwelumo and Gray upfront from the off.

Charlton started brightly enough and quickly tried to raise the tempo. We were passing and moving across the midfield and I, for one, was certainly surprised by how well Andy Gray does indeed hold the ball and bring other players in. I wasn't convinced by Pardew's comparison of Gray to Todorov, but it was plain to see this evening. Stoke were defending in depth and it was difficult for Charlton players to get any time in or around the box and they were very quick to charge down anything that looked like a shot.

Lloyd Sam had the best early chance when he advanced on the box from inside right and then, with Moutaouakil providing a diversion on the overlap, Sam cut inside his man again and got a good shot off but it took a deflection and whistled wide of the far post. From the resulting corner, Darren Ambrose picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired in a similar shot to Sam's which was also blocked. Stoke looked comfortable coming out of defence but were loathe to commit too many forward and inevitably most of their forward play was directed to, and almost limited to, the rampaging Ricardo Fuller who does a good impression of Nicolas Anelka. He had their best chance of the half when he cut inside Moutaouakil and fired a snap-shot just over Weaver's bar and into the 500 travelling Stoke fans.

Back at the other end Charlton won a number of corners, the best of which Paddy McCarthy met 10 yards out but his downward header bounced up and wide of the far post. McCarthy had a good game, especially in the first half when he looked very assured and made some very nice touches in amongst the heading and stretching.

Stoke started the second half in a more adventurous mood and Fuller had their best chance of the match to score when he ran into the Charlton box with three players around him but slammed his shot straight at the advancing Weaver. Darren Ambrose made several strong runs down the left flank winning a couple of corners and getting another decent effort in on Simonson. It was good of Simonson to even be at the Valley this evening as he obviously missed a funeral to play; at least he moved at funerial pace out of respect to take most of his goal-kicks and was particularly annoying for the first hour.

Fuller managed another one man burst and shot, but this time the Valley breathed a sigh of relief as his shot flashed wide of the back post. Chris Iwelumo had been clattered several times in succession and was no surprise at being first man subbed after 65 minutes when Luke Varney came on to lead the charge. Varney brought more immediacy to Charlton's pace but no more clarity and we proceeded to find space around the Stoke defence but it was all too flustered and ultimately frustrating. Zheng Zhi over-ran one or two good chances and Lloyd Sam mis-passed and mis-controlled three good balls in succession. We then got a lucky break when a Stoke clearance struck rebounded through their back line to Andy Gray who reacted quickest and forced his was into the box and one-on-one with Simonson. Unfortunately he got a fraction too close and the keeper was able to make a save. It was looking like 0-0 and Thomas was brought on for the tiring Ambrose.

With 8 minutes left, Varney latched on to a cross but had to steer it wide of the keeper and battled to keep it in as he turned back toward goal. His cross was deflected back over the keeper and there was Lloyd Sam two yards out to head home for the lead. Stoke hit back quickly and it took a host of red shirts and a sprawling Nicky Weaver to keep the equaliser out. The Valley atmosphere had been good all evening and the roar following the save went on for another 20 seconds as Thomas broke quickly from the save and ran the length of the pitch to threaten a second which was eventually lost by Zheng Zi.

Things got heated in the last few minutes of normal time and four of added as Stoke took their frustration out in series of rash tackles. Nicky Weaver showed admirable respect for his counterpart Simonson by taking equally long to play several of his last goal-kicks in the dying minutes, much to the appreciation of the home crowd. At the final whistle, Paddy McCarthy and several others ran 30 yards to embrace Weaver which showed precisley what they thought of his late save.

All-in-all, a good result against a promotion contender. Scunthorpe is looking very promising for Saturday and then we face match number two of the five biggies at home when we go in search of another double against Palace. The Valley announcer won't need all that "make more noise for the boys" nonsense for that one. I can't wait.