Cup fever got me down to the Valley this evening for a non-first team fixture for the first time in a number of seasons (since the last "youth" team cup run). Sorry to report that we were beaten by a Sunderland side that just about deserved the win.
The first half was pretty nondescript and not what we had been lead to expect from reports of the last couple of rounds. Sunderland were restricted to a Martyn Waghorn shot which hit the post and Charlton nearly opened the scoring in the added minute of time when Scott Wagstaff finished a fine piece of inter-passing with Danny Uchechi and Rashid Yussuff but he couldn't get enough pace or angle on his shot to beat the keeper.
Things livened up in the second half after Martyn Waghorn volleyed home after a good Sunderland move. Scott Wagstaff hit the upright after bursting clear in the box minutes later before he managed to work some space on the edge of the box to set-up Rashid Yussuff to slam home inside the right hand post from fully 20 yards for the equaliser. Charlton then had a spell in which they might have taken the lead but the closest they came was a Godfrey shot which came back off the post from a tight angle. Sunderland remained a threat up front with Waghorn (has made his Premier league debut) but it was a clever lob from Jordan Henderson that won the game late on with extra time looming.
It was refreshing to watch players from both sides eager to get on with the game. Players bounced up from hard tackles and there was none of the nonsense we get from the big-time Charlie's. It was also really good to see a player clapping his team-mates and urging them on as he was substituted - well done Ben Godfrey. Chris Solly had a good game at right-back - he's strong in the tackle and gets forward.
The lower tier of the west Stand was pretty full, save the first section and it looked a good 3,000 to me. I appreciate it's hard to tell when you can't see the whole stand but it certainly looked bigger than the official 1800.....
Oh yes, and I shouldn't forget the hundred or so Sunderland fans who had made the effort. Especially the dozen or so loud 50-year's who, embarrassingly, managed to sing for most of the second half. I'll be kind and assume they were proud fathers who had been drinking rather than die-hard, hot-bed, "Sunnerlan" fans who seemd to think this game was of major consequence. I had to smile at "Andy Reid, he's on the wing, he loves McDonalds and Burger King, he loves a pint and he loves a pie, he makes us laugh and he makes us cry." They've obviously sussed him out quickly, although stripes don't do anyone any favours!
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