After what I and many others thought was a below par performance, Charlton took three points against MK Dons last night with a 2-1 win. The match turned on two incidents just before the break which gave the Addicks penalties neatly slotted home by skipper Johnnie Jackson.
With the visitors down to ten men, Charlton did not really press for the third goal after the break but seemed content to hang on to their lead. Their play was often casual, careless and complacent. Inevitably, MK Dons got one back, but we managed to hang on, in part because of a couple of great saves by Hamer.
Elsewhere, the Massives went down 0-1 at home to Stevenage. As I anticipated, Sheffield United won at Huddersfield, meaning that they move into the second slot eight points behind us.
The teams changed ends at the beginning of the game. Dons won an early corner, but it was cleared. Hamer made a good save. Solly but in some good work, but the team as a whole seemed rusty after their enforced break and the tempo was rather slow. Charm merchant Gary MacKenzie received a yellow card which should have served as a warning to him.
Wright-Phillips won a corner for Charlton but it was caught by the keeper. An effort by Wright-Phillips was caught on the line by the keeper. The Covered End seemed to think it might have gone over the line, but I am sure that it didn't.
Hollands put in a good run, but he was cynically fouled. No yellow card was awarded. Jackson was not far wide with the free kick.
The visitors had a real scoring opportunity, but Hamer dealt with the situation well. Good work by Green and Wright-Phillips won Charlton a corner.
I was watching play going forward when it became apparent that Scottish charm merchant Mackenzie had Kermorgant in a headlock. The referee was alerted by the noise from the Covered End and the East Stand lino spotted what had happened. Mackenzie was shown the red card for the second time this season, although he was none too happy about and appeared to be ready to strike the referee. Jackson stepped up calmly and slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.
Then Smith brought a Charlton player down in the box (I am not sure who it was and others give different accounts) and a second penalty was awarded, Jackson putting it into the opposite corner of the goal from his previous effort to make it 2-0.
Half time: Addicks 2, Dons 0
Immediately after the break the Dons took off Charlie MacDonald, who was thus unable to score his birthday goal and replaced him by lomg-standing player Kouo Doumbe.
Solly won Charlton a corner. Stephens received a yellow card for a foul. The free kick led to a Dons corner which was eventually cleared.
An effort by Wright-Phillips was wide. A rather dubious free kick for the visitors led to an equally dubious corner. Jackson was taken off and replaced by Haynes. An effort by Wright-Phillips was wide. The visiting fans started a conga in the Jimmy Seed stand, not a very impressive one given their small numbers.
Some of the Addickted were becoming frustrated by the way in which Charlton were trying to play possession football which invariably involves playing the ball backwards rom time to time. Hamer saved a Dons corner, but then Bowditch broke through and put in a good strike which provided Dons with what turned out to be their consolation goal.
The closing minutes of the game were understandably nervous ones for the Addickted, but we held on, surviving a Dons corner in the three minutes added on.
Match analysis
Ivy the Terrible did not find it easy to award the Silver Bone as no one player had an outstanding game. However, despite the fact that he conceded a goal that a top class goalkeeper might have saved, Ben Hamer receives the award. He made one outstanding fingertip save and at least one other excellent one. Our two centre backs had a less good game than usual. Taylor made some agricultural clearances and Morrison wanted too much of the ball at times. Wiggins was also below his best, conceding one foul throw and, with a few exceptions, not getting forward as effectively as he usually does. Solly gave his all as always, although sometimes he was caught out of position. Jackson took the two penalties well, but had to go off quite early, possibly because of a niggle. Hollands was very active, but he didn't see that much of the ball. Despite a shot that set up the second penalty, Green had a bit of a 'mare. Stephens had an effective game. Wright-Phillips certainly made an effort and contributed a good deal in that respect, but he has still not found his scoring boots, although two opportunistic efforts were not that far wide. Kermorgant had a few sparkling moments, but did not make his presence felt as much as I would have liked. Haynes apparently made a big impact at the Bury game with his energy, but he didn't see much of the ball this time. Pritchard was limited to a cameo: his energy might have been useful earlier in a team that seem to be lacking it.
Rescue cat Reg has given the Hiss of the Match to charm merchant Alan Smith.
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