Birthday boy stands firm for Charlton

Charlton maintained their momentum with a 2-1 win at Sunderland this afternoon, their first defeat at home since January 19th.  Ryan Inniss created an own goal in the first half and Alex Gilbey scored in the second.  It was an outstanding performance by birthday boy Ben Amos.  Lennie Lawrence said he was man of the match and Curbs agreed.

Lennie Lawrence said it was an enormous physical and mental effort from Charlton.  It could be the start of an exciting finale.  Curbs said it was such a big result.

Ben Amos said that the team had a way of playing that everyone was happy with and comfortable with now.  Everyone knew their roles and what was expected at different stages of the game.  That made it more straightforward.

Lennie Lawrence said that Charlton won because the manager got the strategy right, the tactics right and made the changes at the right time.

Nigel Adkins said it was a big win, the players showed great resilience, we gifted them a goal.  We could have scored some more goals.   It was pleasing that things that had been talked about in training had been achieved.   We had to try and get our shape right.  Great credit to the players.   Sunderland put the ball in the box more than anyone else in the division.

Curbs said that Adkins had come in and giving everyone a lift, it sounds like the training ground is a happy place.

Charlton are still 7th, but are just two points off 4th.

Match report

After a bright opening, Charlton looked shaky in the first ten minutes.  O'Brien was just wide after he got between two defenders.   Sunderland were putting pressure on the Charlton right.

Pratley lost out to Wyke, but Amos made a great right-handed save. Charlton hit the post.  Amos made another great save, although it was an attempt to push the ball into the net.   Sunderland had a free kick near the corner flag, but Amos punched the ball out.

DJ won Charlton a corner taken by Forster-Caskey.   Inniss got a free header and for some reason the defender slammed the ball into his own net.   Amos had to make a save down to his left.

The virtual attendance at half time was 14,553.

HT: 0-1

Forster-Caskey got a yellow card for disrupting a throw in.  On 59 minutes Stockley hit the post after DJ turned provider.

On 60 minutes from a Charlton throw in Stockley made a good flick on with a header and Gilbey scored at the second attempt.

Sunderland made four substitutions.  Maatsen went down and had to be replaced by Millar.  A shot from DJ was saved.   Gunter replaced DJ on 72 minutes.

Amos came out of his goal rather recklessly, but made a double save, but the ball fell to Sunderland in front of an open goal scored with a header.

Charlton were getting a bit too deep, but at least we weren't trying to play out from the back.   The players were tiring, but Matthews put in some good defensive work in the closing minutes.

Amos claimed from a Sunderland corner.   Millar advanced, but the defenders made two good blocks.

In five minutes on, extended to six, Amos had to save again.