Charlton Athletic 0 v Southampton 0

Ten (10) games now without a win. Three points adrift in the relegation zone. Most gifted player loaned (sold) to Championship rivals to pay-off Alan Pardew. Caretaker Manager in charge with a draw from two games. The turmoil continues. However, I think there is real hope. The players responded well at QPR despite the result and we got an improvement on that today. I hope the Board aren't too hasty with regard to a permanent appointment because Parky's earned his chance.

We started the game with a surprising four changes from Tuesday. Therry Racon was carrying a knock so Nicky Bailey returned to central midfield. Deon Burton was started upfront in place of Martyn Waghorn and Jay McEveley made his debut at left-back in place Kelly Youga. That left Jonathon Fortune to come in for Linvoy Primus. Burton's start was a surprise given the fact that Waghorn's on a short tenure and I was surprised that Fortune was preferred to Primus, but if I am honest, Primus was nowhere for QPR's goals in midweek. Youga has been inconsistent this season, so McEveley's start wasn't a huge surprise.

We got off to a flyer and Andyn Gray could have scored inside two minutes. Our first real attack saw a ball flighted over the Saints defence and three Charlton players competed for it. It fell to Gray who was furthest forward but he caught it on the wrong side of his foot and spooned it wide. Gillespie went close after that when he attacked the box and fooled the Southampton defence into thinking he was going to lay the ball off. Instead he fizzed a low shot wide of Kelvin Davis's right hand post. 

Charlton continued to dominate possession and create chances throughout the first half. Davis was in inpsired form and saved brilliantly from Gillespie, Bouazza twice and Deon Burton as the Addicks piled on the presure before the break. Southampton battled back in the second period, particularly when the Addicks tired and could have nicked a winner of their own. However, that would have been unjust and they probably deserved to escape with their point, although we would have seen them off if we had gone in ahead at half-time.  Parkinson introduced Todorov for Gray, Sam for Gillespie and Holland for Semedo before the end but to no avail.

Bottom-line for me is that the results will come if the performances are ok, and we've had two performances  out of two so far.  Weaver was well protected today but did what he needed to well enough. Fortune was quiet but effective whilst Hudson was everywhere.  Cranie took a lot of stick for his Pompey connections and looked rattled first half but responded very well in the second. Jay McEveley had a determined debut. He reminded me instantly of Danny Mills; quick to tackle, committed and fast to break. He plays the ball yards into space to chase and careers on into the opponents half. His delivery is similarly full-blooded to Mills' own and two of his driven crosses nearly produced goals. Like Mills, he also got the obligatory booking.

Bailey responded well to being dropped in midweek, but he and Semedo didn't look as fluid as Semedo and Racon. Bouazza had a cracking first half but faded in the second period as he is prone to. Gillespie played an intelligent game even if he failed to create as much as at QPR in the week.

Up front Gray toiled again but you have to wonder when he can't beat Chris Perry in the air throughout the game despite a four or five inch height difference. Deon Burton was more impressive than I had feared but he is all about laying the ball off and helping those around him; I'm not sure that's what we need and surely he doesn't offer us anything longer term.

Southampton didn't look a poor side and I will be surprised if they are still in a relegation scrap come the end of the season. Their fans were largely muted and they were well short of the predicted 3,000. I'd call it two, but I guess that's not bad in the circumstances. There were more police on duty today than I have seen in eons and they had a strange road-block in operation on Charlton Church Lane between Wellington Gardens and Floyd Road; maybe they were expecting a suicide car-bomb on the Con Club!

I hope all of the other views are positive because there was little to complain about today other than the result and much to praise. Sometimes you have to be patient.