This is what some people call "winning ugly." I tuned in to BBC London Sport this evening for the live commentary from Ian Hand and Brett Angel. The game was boring to listen to so at least the hardy visiting fans got a win to celebrate.
A poor first half from a tired-sounding Charlton came to life on 40 minutes when Andy Reid made a rare contribution in knocking a long ball into the box. Three Charlton players went in to challenge but Hull goalkeeper Myhill got there first but only managed to punch the ball onto the back of one of them and it fell to Luke Varney to stroke home. That was the spark for a tetchy game to ignite; Charlton had been getting more than there fair share of the 50:50's and the referree was getting full volume abuse from the home crowd. On Charlton's next foray forward, Lloyd Sam clashed with Ian Ashbee and Ashbee kicked out as both players fell to ground. The inexperienced Sam retaliated and the fate of both players was inevitable as both sides flew into the melee. Jon Fortune and Dean Windass (no surprise there) were both in quickly and as the referree restored order Sam was already on his way. Ashbee followed and the frustrated Hull fans gave vent to their anger in 4 minutes of added time.
In the second half Hull seemed to lose the initiative and were unable to create any of the attacking pressure they had managed earlier. Mills was booked for a foul on Pedersen and also managed to drive an angled shot off the top of the Hull bar. Nicky weaver tipped an effort onto the top of the goal and Chrissy Powell put his head in the way of the Hughes free-kick that concussed him for a couple of minutes. Nothing much else to report until Reid found Zheng Zhi on a break after 88 minutes. Zheng burst through the Hull back line and crossed for Big Chris who beat Myhill to kill the game. McPhee managed a consolation in the last minute. Alan Pardew will be very pleased to have done what all promotion winning sides do by winning away from home without play particularly well.
The Addicks stay second behind Watford but remain three points clear of Barnsley and Coventry, safe in the knowledge that they can distance themselves from Barnsley at the Valley on Saturday which would achieve SAP's aim of a top-two position after 10 games. West Brom now know that they have to win at home to Stoke tomorrow night to reduce their five point deficit.
Saturday's match beginning to look exciting already!
Showing posts with label sam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sam. Show all posts
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Coventry City 1 v Charlton Athletic 1
Lethargy and a need for Brownie Points meant I stayed in South-East London this afternoon and followed the game on BBC Radio Kent (always better than Radio London). On reflection I'm glad I did, as again, it sounded frustrating and we appeared vulnerable. Ultimately, we need to improve away from the Valley if we harbour realistic hopes of automatic promotion.
We started well enough settling quickly in defence and Lloyd Sam gave us the lead on 15 minutes after picking up a reverse pass from Danny Mills, cutting into the box and firing home from 8 yards for his first league goal. We should have had a penalty five minutes later when Luke Varney was clumsily pulled down but referree Swarbrick waved play on. Coventry managed a brief spell of pressure before the break forcing three successive corners but Charlton were good value for the half-time lead.
An open-mike at half time gave us the naffest "club-song" I've heard in years - a razzmattazz Sky Blue something-or-other. At least they followed this with Amarillo which would have had the 2,000 Addicks fans singing along.
Coventry upped the tempo in the second half and forced a series of corners. Weaver saved well from Mifsud and Powell cleared under pressure from Tabb. Adebola was introduced to maintain the momentum and Danny Mills had to clear off the line from him almost immediately. Varney and Iwelumo were being caught offiside as Charlton tried to break and Varney was replaced for fresh-legged McLeod on 65 minutes. The game became heated for a while; Zheng Zhi came in for some rough treatment, Mills clattered Mifsud and Pardew and Parkinson were warned on the touchline.
A mixup between Fortune and Weaver nearly cost us the equaliser after 76 minutes but we cleared our lines and Zheng Zhi immediately broke to feed Lloyd Sam in space but his shot went wide. Danny Mills was booked for a challenge on Mifsud and with six minutes left, Mifsud got his revenge. Adebola collected a long ball and played him in to beat Weaver and set-up a frantic finish. Charlton then went closest to taking all three points as Reid whipped in a cross which Iwelumo met inside the six-yard box but somehow managed to miss the target.
On balance, the draw was a fair reflection of the play and with everyone else in the top 8 also drawing, our second place is safe at least until West Brom play QPR tomorrow. We will need another point at least on Tuesday at Hull, if we are to have a chance of being in an automatic promotion spot after 10 games as per Alan Pardew's plan.
We started well enough settling quickly in defence and Lloyd Sam gave us the lead on 15 minutes after picking up a reverse pass from Danny Mills, cutting into the box and firing home from 8 yards for his first league goal. We should have had a penalty five minutes later when Luke Varney was clumsily pulled down but referree Swarbrick waved play on. Coventry managed a brief spell of pressure before the break forcing three successive corners but Charlton were good value for the half-time lead.
An open-mike at half time gave us the naffest "club-song" I've heard in years - a razzmattazz Sky Blue something-or-other. At least they followed this with Amarillo which would have had the 2,000 Addicks fans singing along.
Coventry upped the tempo in the second half and forced a series of corners. Weaver saved well from Mifsud and Powell cleared under pressure from Tabb. Adebola was introduced to maintain the momentum and Danny Mills had to clear off the line from him almost immediately. Varney and Iwelumo were being caught offiside as Charlton tried to break and Varney was replaced for fresh-legged McLeod on 65 minutes. The game became heated for a while; Zheng Zhi came in for some rough treatment, Mills clattered Mifsud and Pardew and Parkinson were warned on the touchline.
A mixup between Fortune and Weaver nearly cost us the equaliser after 76 minutes but we cleared our lines and Zheng Zhi immediately broke to feed Lloyd Sam in space but his shot went wide. Danny Mills was booked for a challenge on Mifsud and with six minutes left, Mifsud got his revenge. Adebola collected a long ball and played him in to beat Weaver and set-up a frantic finish. Charlton then went closest to taking all three points as Reid whipped in a cross which Iwelumo met inside the six-yard box but somehow managed to miss the target.
On balance, the draw was a fair reflection of the play and with everyone else in the top 8 also drawing, our second place is safe at least until West Brom play QPR tomorrow. We will need another point at least on Tuesday at Hull, if we are to have a chance of being in an automatic promotion spot after 10 games as per Alan Pardew's plan.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Charlton Athletic 4 v Stockport County 3
As if Saturday's dramatic 3-2 win the Valley wasn't enough, Charlton went one better this evening by losing a two-nil lead and then going on to win the match in the last couple of minutes.
Increasingly, early round League Cup games take on the form of handicap matches with the "bigger" club usually deciding to rest players and field a team that they hope should be good enough to get the result, usually with some big gun reinforcements on the bench. That was precisely what happened tonight.
Randolph started in goal, with a back-four of Semedo, Fortune, McCarthy and Powell. You could add Faye to that but I think he was supposed to playing in midfield with French debutant, Thierry Racon, Zheng Zhi and Lloyd Sam with Todorow and McLeod up top.
The side acquitted themselves well in the first half and were unfortunate not have scored earlier than Todorov's opener from 20 yards which was a quality strike and a reminder of some of the class difference on show. McLeod was very busy and the front pairing were supported well from Zheng Zhi, Racon and Sam who was thriving on strong and quick raiding support from Semedo, who looked even more comfortable at right-back than he did at left-back on Saturday. Indeed it was Mcleod who was brought down after turning and wriggling free in the box that lead to a twice taken penalty for the second goal just before half-time; Zheng converting after the initial effort was missed by McLeod.
The second half started much as the first had, a reasonable League Cup crowd (8,000-ish) were looking for the third to kill the game. Unfortunately, this was the signal for Stockport to dominate for a 15 minute spell during which they scored three times and forced a superb reflex save from Randolph in the process. The back four, and probably the centre-back pairing, in particular, went to sleep during this period. They were not helped by a careless back-pass from Faye which lead to the equaliser or by McCarthy failing to cut out a secondary ball from a corner for the lead. I don't think this did much for fledgling Randolph's confidence either. Stockport's noisy 400 following could barely contain themselves on taking the lead and the Valley faithful took a deep breath and braced themselves for the finale.
Charlton stepped up a gear at this point and created a string of chances, the best of which was a 50-yard, three man inter-passing and running move involving Sam, Zheng and Todorov. Todorov's deft flick over Adamson just missing the post. Todorov also clipped the bar with a delightfully curled shot from out left. Lloyd Sam was having the best ten minutes of his career in his best Charlton performance to date. He was up-ended after another powerful run and from the resulting free-kick exacted his revenge. He struck a perfect low and hard shot which looked to have moved slightly around the wall before streaking in at the keeper's left hand post. The Valley was buzzing and Charlton pressing for the winner to avoid 30 minutes of extra time.
Iwelumo was on for McLeod and Ambrose came on for Racon. Iwelumo was threatening and had one header ruled offisde for pushing before Ambrose fired narrowly wide after a burst through the box. With two minutes remaining Paddy McCarthy finally jumped to head a ball and his delight was obvious as his header crashed home our last corner of the game.
Alan Pardew's post-match comment will be interesting. Plenty more positives but the centre-back pairing is not right yet. I sincerely hope someone comes in for Amdy Faye. He's had plenty of opportunity to prove his worth and tonight was the straw that broke the camel's back for me; I can forgive a player without the ability but not one who repeatedly doesn't try his best. Unless Pards has a good explanation, he was playing nowhere this evening in between defence and midfield. He was by-passed with ease and failed to make any telling contribution other than handing Stockport the equaliser. Ten men wouldn't have fared any worse.
For my money, Lloyd Sam was man of the Match. Another couple of performances like this and he will begin to emerge as the talent we hope he is.
Next stop Norwood Junction!
Increasingly, early round League Cup games take on the form of handicap matches with the "bigger" club usually deciding to rest players and field a team that they hope should be good enough to get the result, usually with some big gun reinforcements on the bench. That was precisely what happened tonight.
Randolph started in goal, with a back-four of Semedo, Fortune, McCarthy and Powell. You could add Faye to that but I think he was supposed to playing in midfield with French debutant, Thierry Racon, Zheng Zhi and Lloyd Sam with Todorow and McLeod up top.
The side acquitted themselves well in the first half and were unfortunate not have scored earlier than Todorov's opener from 20 yards which was a quality strike and a reminder of some of the class difference on show. McLeod was very busy and the front pairing were supported well from Zheng Zhi, Racon and Sam who was thriving on strong and quick raiding support from Semedo, who looked even more comfortable at right-back than he did at left-back on Saturday. Indeed it was Mcleod who was brought down after turning and wriggling free in the box that lead to a twice taken penalty for the second goal just before half-time; Zheng converting after the initial effort was missed by McLeod.
The second half started much as the first had, a reasonable League Cup crowd (8,000-ish) were looking for the third to kill the game. Unfortunately, this was the signal for Stockport to dominate for a 15 minute spell during which they scored three times and forced a superb reflex save from Randolph in the process. The back four, and probably the centre-back pairing, in particular, went to sleep during this period. They were not helped by a careless back-pass from Faye which lead to the equaliser or by McCarthy failing to cut out a secondary ball from a corner for the lead. I don't think this did much for fledgling Randolph's confidence either. Stockport's noisy 400 following could barely contain themselves on taking the lead and the Valley faithful took a deep breath and braced themselves for the finale.
Charlton stepped up a gear at this point and created a string of chances, the best of which was a 50-yard, three man inter-passing and running move involving Sam, Zheng and Todorov. Todorov's deft flick over Adamson just missing the post. Todorov also clipped the bar with a delightfully curled shot from out left. Lloyd Sam was having the best ten minutes of his career in his best Charlton performance to date. He was up-ended after another powerful run and from the resulting free-kick exacted his revenge. He struck a perfect low and hard shot which looked to have moved slightly around the wall before streaking in at the keeper's left hand post. The Valley was buzzing and Charlton pressing for the winner to avoid 30 minutes of extra time.
Iwelumo was on for McLeod and Ambrose came on for Racon. Iwelumo was threatening and had one header ruled offisde for pushing before Ambrose fired narrowly wide after a burst through the box. With two minutes remaining Paddy McCarthy finally jumped to head a ball and his delight was obvious as his header crashed home our last corner of the game.
Alan Pardew's post-match comment will be interesting. Plenty more positives but the centre-back pairing is not right yet. I sincerely hope someone comes in for Amdy Faye. He's had plenty of opportunity to prove his worth and tonight was the straw that broke the camel's back for me; I can forgive a player without the ability but not one who repeatedly doesn't try his best. Unless Pards has a good explanation, he was playing nowhere this evening in between defence and midfield. He was by-passed with ease and failed to make any telling contribution other than handing Stockport the equaliser. Ten men wouldn't have fared any worse.
For my money, Lloyd Sam was man of the Match. Another couple of performances like this and he will begin to emerge as the talent we hope he is.
Next stop Norwood Junction!
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