Charlton Athletic 2 v Watford 2

The proverbial game of two halves yesterday. In the first 45 minutes Charlton picked up pretty much where we left off against Palace. Solid at the back, busy in midfield and looking dangerous up front. In the second half we were caught cold by two goals in a minute and were unable to fight-back. Paul Taylor, the referree, was dire and favoured Watford in many of his decisions. Call me petty, but coming from Hertfordshire hardly inspires a view of neutrality.

Anyway, to the game. I was disappointed to see us set-up with the same eleven that scraped a draw in Sheffield on Tuesday. I am assuming Bougherra is still injured as I believe he deserves a place ahead of Jon Fortune if fit. Fortune had a reasonable game yesterday but is playing at his peak and Bougherra will develop into a more consistent performer. I thought Ambrose and/or Sam deserved to be dropped following a number of games where they have not done enough, especially in the second half. With Cook and Thomas as the options, I would had Ambrose on the bench.

Nonetheless we set about the task with some determination and the opening goal was a well-worked gem. Halford played up to Gray who knocked on for Varney to collect in space before pulling the ball back through the turning Watford defence for Darren Ambrose to ram home from 8 yards. It all looked so easy and we continued to make the running before going two-up after 36 minutes. This time Halford burst down the right and fired in a low and hard cross which was curling back towards the on-rushing Varney and Gray. A desperate lunge from Danny Shittu was all it needed to divert the ball passed Lee and it looked all over. Charlton strolled off in the winter sunshine at the break and everyone in red looked happy.

Watford obviously took a rollocking at half time because they were out and ready to kick off fully five minutes before Pardew's men ambled back. The Watford tempo had quickened and they were visibly concentrating better than in the first period. After ten minutes they got the bit of good fortune they needed. The accomplished Tommy Smith picked up a Charlton clearance and turned back against the tide of on-rushing players. He cleverly played the ball through a gap behind the Charlton defence and O-Toole was clear to beat Weaver unopposed. From my vantage point in the East Stand I couldn't be sure, but O'Toole and another yellow shirted player looked offside. It was pointless looking to the referree as he hadn't seen anything all game. He missed a blatant corner in the first half when Lee palmed an effort wide and was reluctant to penalise several tackles which had merited bookings. As Charlton re-started I commented to a mate that we had to keep possession for three minutes to settle the game and get going again. Watford went straight downfield and won a corner. The ball in was met by Danny Shittu head and shoulders above the nearest challenge and he atoned for his earlier own goal. No further chorus of "there's only one Danny Shittu" from the North Stand.

The game was still there to be won. Level-pegging having scored twice with home advantage and fully half-an-hour to play. What was disappointing was we failed to fightback. We battled well enough but when we needed an inspirational run from someone, there was no-one to do it. I can't help thinking Andy Reid might have made a diference in the second half. Holland and Zheng Zhi were too busy scampering around the midfield to breakout. Lloyd Sam had enjoyed a decent first half but was again mis-firing and Darren Ambrose had dropped out altogether. Varney and Gray were still fighting up front but were short of support. It was time for a substitution but we waited another 13 minutes before Lee Cook eventually came on for Ambrose.

Cook got a noisy reception - from the Watford fans who clearly haven't forgotten his acrimonious transfer when he left them to join his beloved QPR in 2004. He was given the privilege of two men marking him for the rest of the game but still managed an impressive showing. He was fouled reepeatedly but delivered half-a-dozen decent crosses which were all well- defended.

Thomas came on for Sam and Iwelumo for Gray but we still couldn't find the urgency we needed and we actually spent the last ten minutes playing in our own half. If anything, Watford might have snatched the winner and it look a great last-ditch block from Jon Fortune to earn the point.
Paddy McCarthy was excellent today and good enough in his position to be able to pay attention to supporting Jon Fortune and Greg Halford. Apart from Cook's lively home debut there wasn't a great deal from the rest to comment on.

For me, it's time to stop dreaming about automatic promotion and concentrate on getting the points we need to finish with a play-off place. Looking at the table this morning, there is a far bigger risk of losing our play-off place than winning automatic promotion. A finish outside the top six will be unacceptable with the squad we have and the opportunities we have already missed.

Bah humbug!

West Bromwich Albion 2 v Charlton Athletic 2 (WBA win on penalties)

An anticipated defeat at The Hawthorns ended Charlton's interest in the F A Cup for another year, although the manner of the defeat was anything other than anticipated.

In a bold move, Alan Pardew sent out an unchanged side which was something of a surprise bearing in mind the challenge awaiting at Watford on Saturday. Tony Mowbray rested or rotated four players, depending on your view of the quality of the respective individuals; for me, Gera, Teixeira, Albrechtson and Bednar are equal replacements for Brunt, Koren, Robinson and Phillips.

The Addicks competed for most of the first half. Roman Bednar put the Baggies ahead after 14 minutes and Luke Varney missed our best chance of the half on the stroke of half-time when he put the ball over the bar from 8 yards having been set-up by Izale McLeod who had broken from 40 yards to create the opportunity.

The second half started positively as Charlton put West Brom under pressure, but it was from a Charlton corner that West Brom scored their second after 51 minutes. A Holland shot was charged down and Teixeira broke clear of Zheng Zhi to play Morrsion in for a drive which beat Nicky Weaver. Charlton continued to plug away and a persistent Chris Iwelumo (on for McLeod) forced an error from Dean Kiely which fell for Darren Ambrose to convert just after the hour. Charlton then threw everything at Dean Kiely and were unlucky not to score again five minutes later when Kiely saved from Holland and several Charlton follow-up attempts were blocked desperately as West Brom fought to preserve their lead.

With 15 minutes left Lloyd Sam burst clear of Albrechtson but his shot skimmed passed the post. Jerome Thomas and Chris Dickson came on as Alan Pardew pressed all the buttons in an attempt to find an answer. BBC Radio London commentator Clive Walker kept saying this game was not beyond Charlton the way we were playing and he was proved right. West Brom created a couple of chances in the last ten minutes to seal the game but it was Chris Dickson who laughed last as he opened his account at the back post after a cross was played on by Lloyd Sam. Having not wanted the extra 90 minutes, we now found ourselves with an additional 30.

West Brom started the first period of added time brightly and Nicky Weaver pulled off a terrific save from a Bednar break. Madjid Bougherra was struggling (with cramp?) and Charlton survived a mini-onslaught as West Brom tried to land a knock-out punch. McCarthy made a good block on a Brunt shot and then did well to beat Pele to the incoming corner.

As in the first 90, Charlton started the second period of added time the stronger. Iwelumo was inches away from heading in a Varney cross and Chris Dickson lifted the ball over Kiely and claimed to have been impeded in trying to finish it off but the referree was having none of it. Thomas had a good run into the box but sliced his shot in typical fashion. Chris Dickson then had a chance to sew it up; he beat Pele for pace but his shot was tipped onto the post and safety by Dean Kiely. West Brom were tiring fast but hung on for penalties.

Penalties

Luke Varney missed the first penalty hitting the bar. West Brom scored to go 1 up.

Chris Dickson equalised and Nicky Weaver saved from Greening, 1-1.

Jerome Thomas stepped up to make it 2-1 to Charlton. Koren equalises, 2-2.

Zheng Zhi's penalty saved by Kiely and Morrison puts West Brom 3-2 up.

Madjid Bougherra kept Charlton hopes alive with a cheeky roller but Bednar won it 4-3.

A brave effort and one which will give us a lot of confidence (and determination) that we can beat West Brom at the Valley later in the season. Alan Pardew must take some credit for going for it here tonight and I only hope we don't look tired at Watford on Saturday. We battled well and created enough chances to have won this in 90 minutes. Chris Dickson made the sort of impact we have been hoping for and all of a sudden everyone looks like they want to know. A great time to bring in a couple of new faces and to get Andy Reid back amongst it. We really need a result at Watford to keep us in contention and maintain momentum.

Up the Addicks!

Charlton Athletic 3 v Ipswich Town 1

A thoroughly entertaining game this, which Charlton won by half time and yet Ipswich contested for the 95 minutes. At half-time it looked like the thrashing we've been promising someone all season and yet you knew Ipswich didn't deserve it based on their home form. So it proved with Town rallying in the second half to make a contest of it.

Ipswich were poor for the first 45 minutes. Charlton were allowed to dominate possession and it lead to the opener when Matt Holland over-lapped on the right and drove a fine cross into the heart of the box for ex-Townite, Darren Ambrose, to power home the first. After the number of ex-Addicks to score against us so far this season, it was sweet revenge. Big Chris bundled home a strange second when least expected and all of a sudden the Valley breathed easy. Better was yet to come when Ambrose stroked home a third before half-time after being served on a plate by the quick thinking Reid.

So, 3-0 at half-time and Ipswich looking vulnerable to a tonking. Er, no, this is the Charlton, this is the Valley! Not sure what the half-time instructions were but "hang on" was probably the message. I was looking for the 4-4-2 switch to up the ante, but no, we stuck at it. The Ipswich half-time talk was obviously shorter, more direct and probably louder. As a consequence they bossed the second half, missed a penalty, hit the crossbar and managed a fine consolation through an exquisite Counago back-heel. They left themselves too much to do, however, and the points were secured.

Nicky Weaver had a fine game and capped it with another penalty save. The back four stood up to some real pressure; Fortune was excellent and Sodje answered everything asked of him; Powell was ok but was put under a lot of pressure, and Mills had his quietest game of the season, although things hotted up for him in the last 30 minutes.

Andy Reid was nearly back to his best; Matt Holland had a decent game and his cross for the first was perfect; Zheng Zhi held his own and, I thought, had a better game than of late. Lloyd Sam did ok but has much more to offer. Save a place then, for the man of the match for me, Darren Ambrose. If only he played like this every other week instead of twice a season, I wouldn't be calling him lightweight and asking for his dismissal. He arrived with perfect timing and was also on hand to dispatch the killer third after a quality build-up and lay-off from Reid.

Iwelumo was less effective up front and had to watch lots of won headers being steered away from goal. I would have switched to 4-4-2 at half-time and got Varney introduced early. Unfortunately, Semedo was first sub for Sam before Varney came on for Reid. Too late.

In between times Ipwsich rattled the woodwork and generally did all they could to get back into it but the game had been lost. Their fans though were superb; they brought the biggest visiting allocation so far this season by 1000 and were vocal throughout despite being three down at half-time. Our professional performance was spoiled at the finish by an unseemly brawl in which Jonaton Fortune managed to get red carded. I hope Pardew smacks his arse too because this was completely unnecessary and the sort of thing that better teams limit.

West Brom snatched a last minute winner at Leicester to keep us in third but we will leap-frog them next Saturday with a win at the Hawthorns and could catch Watford too if results go for us.

All-in-all we really can't complain. We have every chance of going into the New Year in pole position and, frankly, there isn't a lot to beat. What we need is some overdue home form and to stick at battling away from the Valley. Not too much to ask for is it?

Off to bed now so I am awake and ready to throw punches for Ricky at 4am! There's only one, R-I-C-K-Y H-A-T-T-O-N!