A Valley Hero Departs

Its been a long, long time since Charlton Athletic has owned a player as skilful, passionate and well-loved as Yann Kermorgant. His footballing ability has made him a Valley legend over the course of the past two seasons, but we've seen his final appearance in the red shirt. Inexplicably, he's been sold.

The Charlton career

On a Tuesday night in September back in 2011, Charlton lost a Carling Cup match at home to Preston. Fans were greeted with the announcement on the official website after the game that a player called Yann Kermorgant had been signed on a free transfer. Despite the traditional apathy with which news of this nature is greeted with, it signalled the start of a very special relationship.

Yann made his debut for Charlton coming off the bench against Chesterfield, with the home side 2-1 up in the second half. Its a debut that many might not recall, instead remembering his first goal for the club to equalise late in the game three days later against the MK Dons, but his first intervention was hugely encouraging. The ball was played to him in the air, with his back to goal, where Yann chested the ball, controlled it, and spread it out wide to the right, where a cross was put in to the back post for Bradley Wright-Phillips to score. It was a piece of play that demonstrated Kermorgant's class for the first time, and almost certainly not for the last.

The aforementioned goal to salvage a point in Milton Keynes was a powerful header, and similarly, just a few days later, another header helped the Addicks win away at Sheffield United. After a tricky couple of matches, the team started trouncing their opponents regularly, with Kermorgant notching two goals in a demolition of Carlisle. A header against Huddersfield ended their 43-game unbeaten run, and confirmed to Charlton fans that promotion had become more than just a distant hope.

As the season progressed, Yann kept popping up with vital goals. But he was far more than just a goalscorer. His aerial ability was important in defence, and his strength and skill meant he was instrumental in creating as many goals as he scored.

At Yeovil, and later at home against Rochdale and Wycombe, he demonstrated his phenomenal set-piece skills, scoring three free-kicks. So not only was he a warrior, but a technician capable of fantastic individual brilliance.

His winning goal in the Oldham away game, helping defend with 9 men thanks to Trevor Kettle's card-happy performance, was one of his most heroic, securing a vital three points against the odds. He has a knack of putting in brave performances when the going gets tough.

At the Carlisle game, the joy on his face at promotion was clear for all to see. The whole squad was together as one, and seeing him become an integral part of that squad was wonderful. In the game that sealed the title, he scored an exquisite free-kick, and then he rounded off a perfect first season with an outrageous volleyed goal from the by-line against Hartlepool. Despite strong suggestions that it was a fluke, we weren't having any of it. The technical ability of the man was far greater than any player to have pulled on the red shirt for a number of years.

The happiness of those celebrations after lifting the trophy will stick with us for a long time. It was clear that Kermorgant owed his resurgence to the faith of Chris Powell, who himself had a huge willingness to see Yann succeed. It seemed like the perfect, unbreakable relationship between a player and a manager, and it flourished the following season during the side's first year back in the Championship.

With largely the same squad, and the addition of a couple of new faces including Ricardo Fuller, Charlton came through a tough campaign to finish an incredible 9th position, a testament to the team spirit Chris Powell had created. Kermorgant's initial role was limited due to injury, but that came after one memorable night in SE7 during the game against Leicester.

Kermorgant had been vilified, and cast into the wilderness by Leicester following a chipped penalty that went wrong in a playoff semi-final shoot-out. He unfairly became the scapegoat due to the limited role he'd been given with the side. Two years after that fateful day, following a spell abroad and a glorious renaissance with Charlton, Kermorgant buried the ghosts of the past. Pouncing on a ball into the box, he fired home a powerful shot, and turned to run towards the Leicester fans with his finger on his lips. Most were going to crazy in the crowd to notice, but it was the perfect way to silence all of those doubters.

Kermorgant ended his Charlton career (it still sounds painful saying that) with a perfect record against Leicester. Three 2-1 victories, with Yann scoring in each one. Magnifique. He chipped for a laugh.

He returned to action after injury in late November, sliding in at the back post to poke home and ensure victory over Peterborough. The team suffered a poor run of form, until Yann teamed up with Ricardo Fuller once more to tear Watford to shreds at Vicarage Road. New Year's Day of 2013 was one of the finest I've had as a Charlton fan, and it was largely down to two outstanding performances from Kermorgant and Fuller, who were dominant in the air and technically brilliant on the floor. Yann scored twice, the second of which levelled the game at 3-3 just seconds after Watford had retaken the lead. Johnnie Jackson headed home the winning goal to make it 4-3, and send the travelling Addicks wild. As with so many other games, Yann had proven instrumental in victory, and his celebrations along with the rest of the side showed once again how brilliant Powell's team spirit had become.

Kermorgant continued to endear himself even further with the Charlton faithful, heading home to win the away game at Blackburn a couple of weeks later. He celebrated with such a joyous rage that it was clear for all to see how much it meant to him.

The Birmigham home game was the greatest demonstration of why we all love Yann. With the game locked at 0-0, but with the home side knocking on the door, a ball to the back post was emphatically headed home by Kermorgant, sending the crowd into raptures. The joy of his celebration was contrasted by his despair at the full-time whistle, as the defence had leaked a goal and thus dropped two points. Kermorgant sat on the ground looking devastated. Having almost single-handedly hauled Charlton into a winning position, the win had been taken when it was agonisingly close. His passion for the side was clear. Not winning had hurt him.

Soon after, he was to enjoy another instance of revenge, scoring one and assisting the other in Charlton's second 2-1 victory against Leicester of the season, this time in front of the fans who had blamed him for their sides playoff failure. A thoroughly satisfying result. A tough run of games followed, and with the side 2-0 down at home to Bolton, a relegation battle seemed an unpleasant but real prospect, until Jackson hauled his side back into it. From a free-kick, Kermorgant hit the post, with the rebound slotted home by Dervite. Soon after, the Addicks had a penalty. To the shock of the crowd, it was Yann himself placing the ball on the spot. His first penalty since That Day. The nerves inside the ground were heightened. Up strode Yann, thumping a powerful shot into the bottom corner to put the Addicks ahead. He'd well and truly banished those demons in emphatic style.

A fantastic run of results ensued, a testament to the way Powell had kept the squad together. Yann scored the third in a six goal hammering of Barnsley at Oakwell, a result that shocked every single one of us. Arguably he hadn't scored a 'great goal' all season - he'd said so himself. That was until the final day of the campaign, when he fired a thunderous volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the area, to help round of Charlton's season in emphatic style. It would be churlish to suggest the team's success was entirely down to him, because it wasn't. Powell had built a fantastic team spirit, and the attitude of the players to keep going in adversity helped them to maintain belief and eventually achieve consistent results. You would, however, be foolish to suggest that Yann was not an integral member of the side. He may not have done it all the time, but he had an ability to score important goals, as well as put in brave, heroic performances when the team needed him. Furthermore, it was once again a pleasure to see the happiness of a man who has not always been lucky in life. We were certainly lucky to have both him and Chris Powell at our club.

This season has been more of a struggle, and once again Kermorgant suffered an autumn injury setback, but that has not meant we've not seen any of Yann's magic on the pitch. Far from it, as he's been the club's top scorer. On the opening day of the season at Bournemouth, he adjusted himself well to fire home a scissor-kick volley into the bottom corner, although it proved insufficient and couldn't prevent eventual defeat. He headed home from a corner against Leicester to complete the Triple Crown of victories against his former side, providing those at the Valley with another fantastic reason to sing the Frenchman's name. At Watford, he once again stepped up to take a penalty, showing great composure to fire the ball high into the roof of the net to put the Addicks in front. He received a knock to his leg early in the second half, and despite valiant attempts to continue playing, he was eventually withdrawn. He had to wait over a month until his return at home to Wigan, where he seemed to suffer a recurrence of the injury, further delaying his return. 

He made his return in the 2-0 win against Doncaster, but had to wait until mid-December before scoring again, this time away at Bolton early in the game. Watching from that away end, it was a majestic sight, as Wiggins skipped past two players on the left hand side before delivering a fine ball, which Yann swept home with a lovely side-footed shot. The game would be drawn, but in my view, Kermorgant had been the best player in red that day, thanks to his constant ability to win the ball in the air, control it, and spread the play. This is one aspect of his game that we'll really struggle to replace.

In what will now be regarded as his swansong in effect, Yann had one last magical day at the Valley. Brighton were the visitors on Boxing Day, and took the lead after 20 minutes. Two goals from Lawrie Wilson either side of half-time put the Addicks back in front, but it was Kermorgant stealing the hearts and minds of the crowd. Often he lays the ball for others to run on to, but this time we were greeted to the sight of Yann sprinting with the ball from half-way, only to be scythed down by a defender. Soon after, another free-kick was awarded, this time much closer to the edge of the box. Yann eyed the goal, before curling a perfect strike into the top corner, with the goalkeeper absolutely motionless. I'll never forget the hush felt in the stadium as that ball was sent on its way. Time seemed to slow before it nestled perfectly in the top corner. I've not celebrated a goal that much for a long time. It was a truly special moment.

It was not the last time Yann was to grace the Valley turf in a Charlton shirt, but he had one more goal to offer. He was once again the scorer of a scissor-kick volley, to draw Charlton level in the FA Cup against Oxford United after a nightmare first half. In the subsequent replay, he struck a magnificent free-kick into the top corner with more pace and power than he had done against Brighton. It will remain his final goal for Charlton.

The Departure

The bad team performance at Doncaster left many feeling down, but Yann was to approach the away fans following the full-time whistle in order to wave goodbye. The finality of the gesture was said to have been evident. If I'd been there, I may well have broken down in tears. That night was a horrible one, fearing the departure of an all-time favourite player. 

The situation, as I view it, was thus: following the disastrous final year of the Slater and Jimenez era, a large proportion of first-team players were coming up to the final months of their contracts. With Roland Duchatelet's takeover, there came hope that the situation would be sorted out, but only Rhoys Wiggins has signed an extension. Kermorgant had stated that he wished to know the future of Powell before deciding his own, given the manager's deal expired in the summer as well. These assurances were not given to him. Furthermore, Kermorgant was offered reduced terms, despite not being an expensive player at all by Championship standards. With bids from Bournemouth and Celtic arriving, it was decided by the hierarchy that the best financial decision would be to sell him. This would make perfect "business sense", getting around £400,000 for a 32-year-old striker coming to the end of his contract. But he was Charlton's top goalscorer, and most influential attacking player, in a season where goals had been hard to come by and the team were in the relegation zone. Offloading your best player in January, with relegation threatening, is not a wise move. How can you guarantee that the replacements will settle? Can you even afford to offload a prized striking asset? The situation facing Kermorgant was one where he was being pushed out of the door. He'd wished to stay at Charlton for the rest of his career and his family was nicely settled in the Greenwich area. And yet, he was forced to move on, thanks to the derisory terms offered by Duchatelet forcing his hand. With a limited career, footballers sometimes have to be pragmatic. As much as he wanted to stay, I cannot hold it against him for moving on to more secure terms, especially with the fate of Chris Powell still shrouded in doubt.

Accusations that he deserted us are wide of the mark. He didn't want to leave, but he was forced to. The new owners have brought in replacements unfamiliar with English football, at the expense of a man who was one of our best players, and at a time when we need his fighting spirit on the pitch more than ever. Relegation is likely to be avoided despite his departure. But that does not mean his presence would have negative connotations - far from it. His skill, fighting spirit and close relationship with Chris Powell acted as a key pillar in the tight dressing room dynamic that was built up. His performances, as well as the support he gets from the crowd, would have been hugely useful in difficult times such as these. 

Sadly, we are helpless to intervene. Despite phenomenal support for Yann on twitter, with hordes of Charlton fans begging the club not to sell him, he has moved on. A very sad day, that leaves a lot of people feeling inconsolable. 

The Man Himself

Yann Kermorgant had to beat the odds to even become a professional footballer. At the age of 14, he was diagnosed with leukemia, and told he wouldn't be able to play football in future. Despite that, he came through the disease, and rose tom prominence in France, scoring some wonderful goals in the process. The story of his career seems to have been one in which he's had to overcome obstacles. Charlton seemed like a club at which he'd finally found a home. With a fantastic friend in the form of the manager, who really trusted his abilities and gave him his chance of redemption in England, as well as a fan-base who clearly loved the man to pieces. Many will react differently to the transfer news, but its been a long, long time since there's been such an outpouring of emotion about the loss of a single player.

What made us love him? The flair. The passion. The quality. The desire. He had the lot. A true fighter, rarely ending games with a clean shirt. One of his early games saw him fight on through a head wound and a nosebleed, looking more like an Arab sheikh than a footballer by full-time. That sort of heroism doesn't go unnoticed at clubs like Charlton, where we seem to take to players who have a lot of heart and show passion for the team. Kermorgant had all of those, but above all else, it was his wonderful technique that caught the eye, and resulted in the love for him.

Yann has scored some truly wonderful goals, which will be remembered for years to come. But it wasn't always just those special goals that meant so much. Seeing him roam the pitch for 90 minutes against Birmingham before heading home what we thought was the winning goal was such a satisfying moment. His industry and build-up play won't have been recorded statistically, but won't be forgotten. His aerial strength combined with that technical brilliance on the floor made him a fantastic player to watch. The downside to his strong build-up play was that it meant he wasn't on the end of the eventual cross into the box, because he'd had to create the opportunity for it to be played in the first place.

To me, he formed one of the three key pillars of the Chris Powell era, with the manager himself being one, and Johnnie Jackson the other. The trio have such a passion for the club, and seeing them happy will have filled many Charlton fans with the same feeling. From a personal perspective, and I probably speak for others here, seeing these people doing so well for our club has helped drag me through difficult times. They truly have been inspirational individuals. One of the key pillars of our club has been lost.

The loss of Yann, and the potential departure of Chris Powell and Johnnie Jackson in the summer, means that the Powell era might be coming to a close before it had a chance to fully develop. Yann was a hero to me, and watching him perform every week for the team was joyous. Without him, and potentially the other two, I won't be able to help avoiding the thought that things just aren't quite the same without him. 'Our Charlton' was developing into something special with Powell in charge, before the financial struggles made themselves felt on the pitch this season. Watching this generation of player has been special over the past two and a half years, and hopefully this does not represent the end. That said, it will be very hard to come to terms with losing a genuine Valley legend from the club. We love Yann, and he loves us. That we are now separated will take a long time to accept.

Times change, but they don't have to do so with the urgency and lack of remorse that the board have shown. Far from being past it, we've lost a truly great man who loved this club. The fact that he's said as much himself in an interview with Bournemouth upon signing shows just how heart-broken he must have felt to call time on his Charlton career.

Kermorgant: "I'm a Charlton fan as well. I had a very, very good relationship with the fans and I love them. The club have been taken over by a new owner, and he maybe wants to do something which I'm not involved in."

That interview was incredibly difficult to listen to. This transfer has felt incredibly saddening, given the way its developed and the importance of the player in question. It'll remain hard to stomach for some time.

Kermorgant is comfortably my favourite player ever. We've enjoyed two years of heroic, outstanding performances from a man who'll always be a Charlton legend. Its cruel that we've been denied the years of 'Yann magic' to come.

Super Yann is gone, but not forgotten.

Huddersfield Town 0-1 Charlton: Third Time Lucky

A completely forgettable game of football, but a great result for the Addicks, whose fighting spirit saw them weather the Huddersfield storms and progress to the Fifth Round for the first time since 2006.

Huddersfield away. Third time lucky, surely? A defeat in the Capital One Cup in August, followed by a loss in the league in September, left the Addicks with bitter memories of the John Smith Stadium. A cruel twist of fate saw Charlton drawn to play Huddersfield once again in a cup competition, much to the displeasure of both sets of fans. The FA Cup has an ability to produce exciting ties that capture the imagination. Huddersfield against Charlton is pretty much the antithesis of this.

Despite the mutual apathy about the fixture, I was quite excited. A chance to get to the 5th Round; a chance to see my heroes battle it out; a chance to travel to a distant Northern outpost to watch football. It's the FA Cup - what's not to like?

The sense of anticipation built gradually as the morning progressed, as various trains carried me North.

Arriving in Huddersfield ridiculously early meant there was time to kill - more time than could be spent looking at the fine statue of Harold Wilson. Having sampled the delights of the town centre very briefly, I made my way to the John Smith Stadium.

All sorts of famous faces arrived, with the home players trickling in dressed in sharp suits. FA Chairman Greg Dyke was equally as excited about the fixture as I, so was in attendance. Alan Wiley, ex-referee, also made his way into the club entrance, presumably there to see just how bad a referee Stuart Attwell is.

Just as a huge raincloud approached the ground, the Addicks arrived. They streamed off the team coach in club hoodies, with Chris Powell passing just yards away from me. Ajdarević was rocking a hipster hat, Jackson seemed jovial, but most importantly, Yann was there.

After the Addicks had disappeared, it rained. A lot. The wind whipped around as well, adding to the deserved stereotype that it's grim Up North.

Eventually we found shelter inside the ground. Then the team news arrived. Yann had been rested. Disaster.

An instant feeling of devastation passed through me. All that way to Huddersfield and no Yann!

The starting XI was actually encouraging enough. Ajdarević got his first start for the club in central midfield, alongside Dale Stephens and captain Johnnie Jackson. Harriott was on the left, with Church deployed wide right and Marvin Sordell alone up front. The back four of Wilson, Morrison, Dervite and Evina was not the strongest given the absence of Solly and Wiggins, but it was hoped that they'd do a job.

As the game got underway, it became quickly evident that the absence of three key players was severely impacting on the quality of Charlton's football, particularly going forward. We were suffering from not having the two full backs getting forward and delivering quality crosses. Equally, holding the ball up was proving too difficult without Kermorgant's skill and calm.

A couple of attacks were launched, but the first 15 minutes was more notable for the sense of reality that struck this delirious Addick. For all the build-up, hope and expectation, I'd forgotten that matches between these two sides tend to lack a significant amount of quality. The games are always close, but only because neither side ever seems capable of stitching together a polished 90-minute performance. The magic of the cup couldn't even inspire these two teams to cast aside their inhibitions and frailties in favour of a free-flowing, attacking style.

A quick break down the right flank saw Wilson flash a cross to the near post, but Sordell's stabbed effort went comfortably over the bar. After that early cause for optimism, Charlton struggled, and were lucky not to be behind at the break.

The Terriers threatened regularly, capitalising on Charlton's inability to hold on to possession when past the halfway line. Particularly worrying was Evina's positional play - he was often caught too far infield, unable to close down the wide player when he was fed the ball. A number of crosses flashed across goal, with Alnwick, Morrison and Dervite just about dealing with most of them. When the ball did fall to a Huddersfield player, Norwood headed over. Nervous times.

Vaughan looked to have worked an opportunity on goal, but just as he was about to shoot, Michael Morrison made a crucial intervention, clearing the danger with a well-timed standing tackle.

The defensive frailties continued when Huddersfield broke through the middle. A simple through ball cut Dervite out of the play, whilst Evina struggled to track his man. Clean through on goal, the shot from Danny Ward was superbly stopped by Alnwick, making himself big by diving to his left, and he was quickly up onto his feet to collect the loose ball before a home player could slot it home.

It was a pretty poor showing from Evina. He made a clumsy tackle and appeared to pick up a dead leg after colliding with a Huddersfield player. Inexplicably referee Attwell awarded Charlton a free-kick. It wasn't the only time his decision making favoured the Addicks...

Stephens was fortunate to stay on the pitch

Having failed to tackle one player, Dale Stephens chased the ball determined to make amends. He left his feet and launched an extremely robust challenge on Adam Hammill, following through with his second leg and appearing to clatter the Huddersfield player. He got some of the ball, but it was an ugly tackle, and the home crowd was increased. Huddersfield lobbied Attwell to produce a red following an unsavoury mini-brawl between a few of the more heated players. Fortunately for Charlton, Stephens escaped with a yellow. When he made a similar challenge five minutes later, this one less violent but still a foul, it was clear that Powell either needed to have stern words with him at half-time, or withdraw him from play altogether. Hammill was forced off injured minutes later, clearly showing that the challenge had been a nasty one. Adam Clayton managed to catch Stephens with a tackle of his own, sparking more anger from both sets of players.

Another couple of chances came for the home side, with one shot blazed over the bar and a header flying wide.

Evina was forced off after half an hour, having put in a performance only Djimi Traore would've been proud of. His replacement - making his first-team debut - was young centre-back Harry Lennon. "He's better than John" sang a pocket of vocal away fans. Lennon faced a tough task dealing with Huddersfield's wide threat, especially as he was playing in an unfamiliar position at a level never experienced before. But he acquitted himself very well indeed, performing far better than the man he'd replaced.

The issues Charlton had experienced early in the game continued through to half time. Jackson had done his bit defensively, but he's have been disappointed with the way his side were playing in attack. Harriott and Wilson crossed too deep when forward. Ajdarević skewed a shot so badly that it went out for a throw. The problem was the inability to hold on to possession. Sordell deserved his chance after a couple of cameos, but he didn't help himself by being too soft in possession - he tried to skin past the right-back but ended up running straight into him. The lack of a target for aerial balls was evident, but so was the quality in wide areas that we've become reliant upon when Solly and Wiggins play. Ajdarević looked a little lethargic in possession despite his calm head and clinical passing.

Half-time arrived, the visiting side relieved not to be behind, or indeed down to ten men. Surprisingly, Stephens emerged for the second period with the rest of the side, despite Jordan Cousins warming up at half time.

Charlton were brighter after the restart, able to put together more confident passing moves round the back and into midfield.

From Harriott on the left, the ball was played into Sordell, who passed with his back to goal to Stephens near the halfway line. He fed the ball across to Ajdarević, who moved it on to Wilson on the right flank. Instead of trying to beat his man on the outside, Wilson cut inside and found space. He slotted a straight ball in behind the defence along the right hand line of the six-yard box, where Church ran to meet it. He waited, took the ball closer to goal before slotting the ball past Smithies in the Huddersfield goal. The ball trickled towards the far post, where it nestled in the corner of the net. A goal!

Scenes of jubilation were sparked in the away end, coupled with a lovely feeling of surprise. It was the first shot on target registered by the Addicks. For once, we'd been clinical when the opportunity presented itself.

A jubilant Astrit Ajdarević celebrates with Simon Church

Huddersfield once again showed they could create chances, but they were now up against a Charlton side with something tangible to defend, and they'd redoubled their efforts. Alnwick did well to cling on to a stinging shot from the right hand side soon after the goal.

Mark Robins decided to introduce the lively Sean Scannell, making Lennon's task at left-back even more challenging. The debutant did his best but was twisted and turned, before Scannell teed up Norwood close to the penalty spot. He tried to sidefoot home coolly, but inexplicably aimed wide. He should've levelled the match due to his proximity to goal, even though Wilson had managed to get back inside the post in an attempt to block a shot.

Another glaring opportunity missed came when Stephens lost the ball in midfield, allowing Scannell to break forward again. He beat a defender to give himself a clear sighting of goal, but dragged his shot wide. Alnwick was advancing, but should at least have been forced into making a save.

Despite these occasional moments of panic, Charlton were far more confident and comfortable in defence and on the ball than they had been in the first half. Ajdarević had settled into the pace of the game and made very calm and composed passes, allowing the Addicks to keep hold of possession. Jackson was doing a fantastic job of disrupting the play, whilst making clinical passes and generally being a hero like he always is. Stephens had calmed down and contributed to this passing play. Church had done a fine industrious job once again, and continued to work well down the right hand side.

With 70 minutes gone, Sordell was replaced to cheers from the away fans - a little harsh, but hadn't helped his cause with the poor quality of his play. Green's introduction saw Church moved to the centre, where he was far more successful in winning the ball and feeding it back into midfield. Ajdarević was withdrawn too, replaced by Cousins to help sure up the defence.

A rare Charlton attack down the left saw Harriott find Church, whose mazy run into the area gave him the perfect opportunity to lay the ball off to the edge of the area, but he chose to shoot on his left foot from an angle, scuffing tamely wide.

The weather had closed in, with torrential rain and a strong swirling wind making conditions difficult. Huddersfield were growing increasingly frustrated, with long diagonal balls drifting out of play instead of finding their man. Charlton were weathering the storm.

Its Grim Up North

One final period of Huddersfield pressure resulted in Holmes poking wide with the goal at his mercy. For a corner soon after, Smithies joined his 10 outfield friends in the Charlton penalty area. Alnwick initially punched clear, but Smithies remained as the ball was twice recycled and thrown back into the mixer. Eventually, Charlton cleared. Don't panic.

Four minutes of injury time eventually elapsed after Harriott had irritated the crowd by going down with a soft injury. A clearance by Alnwick allowed Attwell to blow his whistle and end the game, to the delight, joy and relief of the away supporters. 'We've bloody won!'

Not only that, but we'd actually beaten Huddersfield in a cup competition.

A blurred picture, but who cares

There was much happiness in the away end, with the heroic Johnnie Jackson leading the players' celebrations and thanking those fans that had travelled. I bloody love that man, and I'm probably not alone...

Powell gave a very generous and heartfelt tribute of applause before traipsing down the tunnel. The travelling Addicks filtered out of the ground, happy.

The Union tap up their reports

The Bloggers Union walked back to the station, ready to share our views of the day. My comrade was so eager to do so that he ended up talking to Ian Payne on LBC. Only a tweeted response from captain fantastic Johnnie Jackson could top that - and it did. He wants his beloved Arsenal away when tomorrow's draw is made.

Then things actually sunk in. We're in the Fifth Round!

-

In truth, it was a pretty poor game of football between two sides that seem to inspire incompetence from each other. We've played far better than that this season and lost. With a bit of good fortune, and a huge amount of hard work, we'd manufactured a winning performance.

So often we talk of the fighting spirit of this group of players, and once again it shone through. Given our relative lack of quality, we often have to rely on industry, and today was another fine example of that.

One man typifies this fighting spirit more than anyone else, and that's Johnnie Jackson. The people's captain. Today his organisation was sound, and his effort unrelenting. He's not going to win awards for being a technically brilliant player, but he's the perfect man to lead this side. He embodies the fighting spirit we need and want in order to stay up.

Simon Church is another whose industry often goes unnoticed and unrewarded. Today he was asked to play out wide, and he did so without a fuss. When he did find himself with a chance to score, he took it superbly. He struggled in front of goal before losing his place in the side over the Christmas period, so it's great to see him score a tough chance. Hopefully it'll restore some confidence in his finishing ability.

Morrison, Dervite and Alnwick performed superbly as the crucible in defence. In the first half, Morrison especially was to be thanked for keeping the scores level, having made two vital interventions just as it looked like a Huddersfield player might get a shot away. Dervite too was dominant in the air, and even went on the odd foray forward. Alnwick saved well when required, ensuring that it was tough for the Terriers to break down the Charlton side.

Inevitably, attentions will turn back to the league, and more specifically how this performance relates to our attempt to avoid relegation. The signs are once again positive.

This season has been a struggle; a story of what might have been. Rarely have Charlton been outclassed, but key moments, big decisions and ultimately results have gone against us. We've forever been set to turn a corner, without ever quite managing to do so. The takeover, combined with the last two results and the possibility of quality additions to the squad, might finally make that hope a reality.

Without arguably our best three players, we found a way to grind out a victory in difficult circumstances. Huddersfield aren't a top quality side but they are doing well in the Championship, so are hard to beat. Add quality to our industry and results will improve further. More importantly, goals will come.

Today, we learnt a few things:
1) This Chris Powell side is capable of grinding out results.
2) Ajdarević promises to dictate play, and could well form a vital link with Yann Kermorgant.
3) We haven't heard the last of Harry Lennon.
4) Johnnie Jackson remains a Charlton legend and everyday hero.
5) We are actually capable of going on a Cup run.

A great away day which promised a lot of good to come. Doncaster on Tuesday is a huge game, and represents the renewal of our efforts to turn this season around.

Chris Powell once again proved that he is the right man for that task. Give him a contract, sharpish.

And the best thing about being in the Fifth Round draw? We can't be made to play Huddersfield again.

Up The Addicks.

Huddersfield, and the 'Magic' of The FA Cup

The greatest trophy in football.

How often have we heard that the FA Cup is 'magical? This is not to suggest it isn't, merely that it has been seized upon by everyone's favourite media outlets and branded as such a special competition. In a football world dominated by the TV revenue in the top division, the attempt to label the Cup as magical is rather defeated by the selection of games, which end up being regulation Premier League matches. Chelsea can Stoke is being televised this weekend. Thrilling. The media are telling us he Cup is magical, whilst televising run-of-the-mill games involving big clubs. It's no wonder people will start to question the competition.

With regard to this magical nature of the FA Cup, Jonathan Liew in the Daily Telegraph wrote that 'the more you have to keep saying it, the less it is probably true'. It was a light-hearted article suggesting that all it is seen as these days is an obstruction to the Premier League campaign, or a means by which you can kick-start a run of form. But the constant attempts to suggest the Cup is magical contributes to undermining it. What's magical about watching the reserve teams of top clubs play a mid-table opponent? ITV and BT pick these sorts of fixture because they gain access to the large audiences that clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea bring with them. Are these games what the Cup is about? Not for the majority of men on the street.

The FA Cup has always been a competition in which small clubs can randomly be drawn against the titans. The underdog spirit, and the hope of a long Cup run, is what brings fans to games from the early rounds onwards. This is why the Cup is great, but the majority of fans lose sight of this in this age of endless media hype and constant televised action.

So, the Cup is all about those exciting, rare and unlikely match-ups. By definition, then, Huddersfield Town vs Charlton Athletic is the antithesis of an exciting Cup tie. Never has there been a greater example of mutual apathy towards a fixture than in this one. Both fans were tired of the fixture last year, but this season it has reached alarming levels.

There was much relief when the Third Round draw was made, and Charlton were drawn at home to Oxford United - itself an oddity, as the two had met in the Capital One Cup earlier on in the season. However, when it came to the Fourth Round draw, we weren't so lucky...

The first few ties had been drawn, before ball number 29 emerged.

"That's Huddersfield Town."

Come on, number 16. It simply has to be.

"Number 16."

Surely not again...

"Charlton Athletic or Oxford United."

Cue absolute chaos on the internet. Of the three most common words used, one was 'Huddersfield', another was 'off', and the final one was unutterable... Johnnie Jackson only had one word of his own to offer: "Unbelievable." The Charlton media department tweeted their Huddersfield counterparts and said for them not to bother with security passes because their faces would be sufficiently well known. It was carnage, with numerous fans from both clubs simply bemoaning the seeming inability of the two teams not to draw each other in cup competitions.

Charlton made a meal of the first leg, but a 3-0 win at the Kassam set up the Addicks' date with destiny. Huddersfield away, in the cup, again. Magical.

At this point, I am going to make an impossibly irrational statement: There is a romance about this fixture.

If you're still with me, I'll explain.

Two mediocre sides that have absolutely no geographical or historical relation with each other, yet there is such a sense of apathy between them. There is no antipathy or anger from one set if fans towards the other. It is just a fixture that has become unavoidable. Whenever there's a Cup draw, we all say 'I hope it's not Huddersfield', and those sentiments are echoed from our northern counterparts, who'd quite like to try and beat a different opponent for once. Once you reach a point where something is so unlikely, but it keeps happening, it develops a certain charm.

Well I quite enjoy this fateful connection, anyway.

Saturday's game will be the 6th meeting of the two clubs in the past 15 months, and this will be the fourth consecutive match to take place in Huddersfield. With a potential replay to come, and Charlton set to host the Terriers in the league in March, this blossoming friendship could grow even more.

It is a match I'm looking forward to. Yes, I'm mad enough to think this is an enticing away fixture. Even madder when you consider that I've already seen us lose 2-1 in the league at the John Smith's Stadium this season. But, its the FA Cup. A chance for Charlton to play a match which doesn't actually have any bearing on the league. People will suggest it has an influence, but in terms of a direct impact on league positions, it has none at all. The relation to the league is what has dragged the Cup down a few levels, as if it is somehow an unwanted distraction. It isn't. Its the perfect distraction. It just happens that we've ended up playing Huddersfield again.

What would mean more in Wigan Athletic's history? Another season in the Premier League,
or that moment of pure joy upon winning the FA Cup?

The Cup is all about stories. Think of how excited the grandchildren will be when we tell them that we once got knocked out of the early rounds of cup competitions three times in twelve months by Huddersfield. The subplots make it a great tournament. We might be sick of playing each other, but the unpredictable nature of the draw has meant that its happened this way. Whilst neither side can hold completely realistic ambitions for Wembley, it is nice that a game takes place in which the aim is not to grind out another three points to add to the total in the league. The winner might play at home to Manchester City, or away at Kidderminster. That is the joy of the Cup - the unpredictability that comes with every round. 

Sadly, the Cup's excitement has been softened and even obscured by the media's continued focus on what it all means in the Premier League title fight. Hence, you get the rubbish televised matches such as Chelsea vs Stoke, and not something that might show you the true passions expressed lower at clubs lower the league ladder. Furthermore, the Wembley semi-final hasn't helped, as its no longer that ultimate prize for reaching the final. And I'd much rather see games played at Villa Park anyway.

In arguing that the magic of the FA Cup is not dead, I've probably undermined it, and then I've made it even worse by suggesting that the way it insists on making Huddersfield and Charlton play each other is charming.

But as a competition, it is unparalleled in pitting small teams against the big ones. With such ambivalence from those in the Premier League towards it, though, it's no wonder that he Cup gets a bad press. Those people ignore the fact that the competition has lasted for months even before the big teams are allowed in it, so they don't appreciate what it means for the fans who have waited years for their side to make the Third Round.

It would be pushing it to suggest we've been waiting for years for the chance to play Huddersfield in the FA Cup. Instead, its more like we've been waiting for years for the chance to play somebody other than Huddersfield... Still, tomorrow, one of the clubs will reach the Fifth Round, and take with them the hopes and dreams of great days to come. It is a great competition that is in a far healthier state than the media and the top clubs seem to realise. 

Apart the glorious triumph of 1947, Charlton have never really been very good in the FA Cup. I can't say I remember it that well... One day, perhaps, that drought might end. We can only dream... And that's what the Cup is all about. 

Bring on Huddersfield. Again.

"Charlton have won the FA Cup!" Once. 67 years ago. But what a win...

Charlton 3-2 Brighton: "It just felt like Charlton today"

Following the encouraging draw at Bolton, Chris Powell's men were able to successfully defeat a strong Brighton side thanks to a heroic team performance. 

On the long journey home from Bolton following Saturday's draw, my thoughts rarely deviated from the performance of Yann Kermorgant. The combative Frenchman - such a rare commodity - had put in an archetypal performance, hinting that he could reach and surpass the heights of his exploits last season. This obsessive focus was partly as a consequence of my love of the man, but that was not all. The dynamism that a fit-and-firing Kermorgant brings to the side gave real reason for optimism. The pieces were falling in to place on Saturday, and whilst we'd rather have returned south with three points instead of one, Yann's performance in that role gave hope of better things to come.

Fast forward to Boxing Day, skipping out the ritual festivities, and that hope remained. Brighton promised to pose a stern test for this Charlton side, but one that they were capable of passing should the performance be of the required standard.

An early kick-off gave the Addicks a chance to secure points before fellow strugglers had the chance, perhaps instilling a bit of worry into their subsequent performance. Rarely should another team's score factor into match preparation, but you can't rule it out. Far from focussing on others, though, the Addicks had to concentrate on the task at hand. Two home games in four days provided a great chance to ease those relegation fears.

Chris Powell retained the same players that started the game at Bolton, meaning Chris Solly was making his first home appearance since his injury lay-off. Alnwick continued in Hamer's absence, whilst Richard Wood was back at the heart of defence with Michael Morrison. Wilson's more advanced role would give him more freedom to venture forward, whilst Kermorgant partnered Church up top once again.

A strong contingent had travelled up from the south coast, ready to cheer on a side which had won three of their last four away games.

The Valley surface was heavy, meaning many of the early passes were a little short of pace. Once the sides adjusted, the contest began in earnest...

Brighton looked a strong side. Close control of the ball enabled them to put together a few clinical passes to shift the ball out of areas of danger and into space. Ulloa's return up front gave their attack a focal point, and a few swift moves enabled them to trouble the Charlton back line. He threatened to set up an opener, but his cut-back was too far away for the oncoming attacker to connect with.

A dangerous Brighton move down the left saw a Will Buckley shot blocked on the edge of the area. The rebounding ball fell towards Stephens, who was nudged in the back by Crofts, but no foul was given. The header fell to Ulloa, who twisted, turned and struck a low shot into the right corner of the net. Alnwick was unable to adjust and dive in the muddy goalmouth. Goal for the Seagulls.

Far from feeling sorry for themselves after the goal, Charlton were energised, and sought an immediate response. Cameron Stewart cut inside and fired a shot towards goal, but it kept on rising and was comfortably over the bar by the time it reached the goal.

An incisive pass from Stephens found Kermorgant, moving towards his own goal away from his marker. He controlled, turned and fed through Church, who was slightly too far away from goal, his curled effort blocked.

A couple of half-chances followed, one for each side. Crofts had a shot comfortably held by Alnwick, whilst Stephens arrowed a long range free-kick over the bar and into the crowd.

Cousins and Stephens in the middle weren't sitting as deep as they had been at Bolton, and their industry combined with heart saw many Brighton moves thwarted. Wood and Morrison were winning the contest in the air, whilst Solly and Wiggins were standing firm against the threat of Buckley and Lopez.

Another promising attack was created down the left hand side thanks to some positive play by Rhoys Wiggins. His cross into the box didn't quite fall for Kermorgant, deflecting off the defender close by. Yann instinctively stabbed the ball through into space on the right side of the area, where Lawrie Wilson had advanced. The right-midfielder had a free shot, which he powered past Brezovan in the Brighton goal, hauling the Addicks level.

It was a deserved goal. After going behind, the response had been positive. Charlton were looking to put together moves using Kermorgant aerial strength, as well as by overlapping down the flanks.

"He used to be shite, but now he's alright" sang the Upper North contingent. I was confused by the implied criticism of Wilson, who's done a great job every time he's been asked to by Powell. After adjusting to the demands of the Championship, he's been a strong and versatile player down the right for us. He deserves a bit more than being labelled 'alright'!

Few clear-cut chances were created before the break. Wilson broke down the left but Church couldn't divert the cross on target. Bridcutt fired a powerful shot narrowly wide for the visitors. Wiggins charged down the left, but his cross came to nothing.

The interval arrived, greeted by applause from the home fans. A chance for Powell to refocus the players' minds and renew their purpose.

What followed was one of the best spells of high-intensity football I've seen this side play since that blitz against Cardiff 13 months ago. The midfield pressed with more conviction; unrelenting Addicks pressure followed. Stewart broke down the left and reched the by-line, but Upson rose to prevent Kermorgant heading towards goal.

A counter-attack resulted in Kermorgant sprinting clear from the half-way line. He looked to continue the run beyond El-Abd, shifting his angle of attack towards the corner flag. A cynical challenge from El-Abd denied the Frenchman any chance of moving towards goal. Despite the clear absence of any intent to play the ball, referee Russell deemed that only a yellow was required. By the letter of the law, a correct call, but too often players can make professional fouls and escape with a yellow. From the free-kick, the ball was played wide to Solly in space, who crossed into a flock of Seagulls defenders, and the ball was cleared.

After yet more pressing, and yet more pressure, Charlton put together another great attack. Stewart crossed towards the edge of the box, behind Kermorgant. He tried an acrobatic shot to divert the ball into the net, but it was mis-kicked. Wilson had again advanced into the box, and he collected the ball, knocked it out wider into a bit of space, before firing high into the net once again. For the second time, Brezovan was beaten by power, and for the second time Wilson stood with hands behind his ears, a sign that he had answered those critics.

Charlton attacked again. Church and Kermorgant broke from half-way, with the former charging down the left wing. Only a defensive leap could prevent Kermorgant from heading at goal once again.

Brighton calmed the game down with some slow passing around the back, which enabled them to regain a foothold. A few pot-shots failed to trouble Alnwick in the Charlton goal, but the threat of a few well-placed passes releasing Ulloa had not disappeared.

Church once again covered a lot of ground to take the ball down the left. He knocked the ball past El-Abd and attempted to run beyond him, only to be pushed to ground cynically once again. Surely another foul worthy of a yellow, and a deserved sending off. Referee Russell, however, baffled the home crowd by waving away protests for a free-kick. Shambles.

Barnes, brought on to give Brighton some impetus up top, and immediately found himself unmarked at a corner, but couldn't adjust to the flight of the ball and headed over. Soon after, Ulloa gave the Addicks cause for alarm, heading a Brodcutt corner past Alnwick towards the front post. Fortunately, Dale Stephens was positioned to nod the ball clear, and preserve the home side's lead.

Down the other end, in front of the North Upper, Wiggins beat two players and shaped to cut inside. His run took him across the edge of the area, where he was scythed down by El-Abd in the process of passing to Wilson on the right. After an advantage, the referee awarded the free kick to Charlton.

The ball was a few yards to the left of the D, just outside the line of the post. The referee failed to move the wall back ten yards, so just gave up. Yann was standing over the ball, narrowing his eyes to focus on finding the top left corner. The wall encroached gradually as Kermrogant waited for the whistle. It was blown and a hush fell over the Valley.

Yann stepped up to the ball and struck the ball over the wall. It curved, it dipped. Brezovan stood motionless. The crowd stared. Whilst the ball was in the air, time seemed to slow. The ball was destined for the top corner. It found the target. A goal for Kermorgant!

Pure unbridled joy in the Covered End. It was as cleanly struck as they come. The perfect free-kick from a man who had battled hard all day to create and deny at both ends of the pitch. His first set-piece goal since scoring against Wycombe in the game where the League One title was secured. A fitting finish from a man capable of footballing perfection.

With 15 minutes still to play, Powell looked to secure the three points that were there for the taking. But Brighton were able to apply some pressure, and came very close to scoring with 10 to go. A shot hit one post, before another hit the other. Narrow escapes for the home side.

Stewart was replaced by Evina to strengthen the defences down the left hand side, whilst the hard-working Church was replaced by Dervite. Once again he'd run himself into the ground up front, chasing scraps. An important role but an under-appreciated one.

Charlton dug deep, with Solly, Wilson and Kermorgant combining admirably with little support in an attempt to keep the ball away from their own goal. Solly had been superb, displaying strength in defence and energy in attack. But there was only so much they could do before Brighton stole the ball and launched another offensive.

90 minutes had elapsed before the seemingly inevitable goal came about. Stephens made a rash challenge that could've conceded a penalty, but Brighton played on, with the ball crossed to Barnes. His first shot was blocked, but a second bounced through to Ulloa, who tapped home despite a hint of offside.

Charlton clung on thanks to some unsubtle time-wasting, but the job was done. Three points!

Yann was covered in mud, showing just how good his performance had been. He was applauded off the park a hero, along with all the other players. To witness Powell's tunnel jump once more was a welcome moment of happiness after a tough season up to this point. The man himself was thrilled as well.

That was a proper Charlton performance. One we can all be proud of.

Wilson will rightly win many plaudits for his performance, one that was undoubtedly among his best for Charlton. The two goals will grab the headlines, but it was not the only aspect of his play that impressed. Both goals were taken clinically, struck with power and accuracy that strikers would be proud of. He was a threat on the right as well, often combining with Solly to piece together dangerous attacks. The song does him a disservice, as he's settled into the club extremely well. Another 'Powell player' who makes up for any potential shortcomings with energy and desire.

Solly also caught the eye, with his defending strong and that darting attacking instinct back on display. On one occasion he span past a player and cut inside to set up a chance, delighting the crowd. The sight of him charging down the flank is an inspiring one. A true Charlton lad, his heart well and truly devoted to the cause.

Morrison and Wood were excellent at the back, with the latter particularly strong. He adds an extra organisational element to the backline, and whilst he might not be the polished ball-player like Dervite, he adds solidity at the back. The first goal will have frustrated, but otherwise the pair were strong and repelled a lot of danger.

Wiggins had a superb game. He is a real threat going forward down the left, combining with Stewart, swinging crosses in and sometimes even cutting inside on his own individual run. Powell's flat 4-4-2 system requires strong full-back assistance going forward, and that's exactly what Wiggins provides. Earning the free-kick for Yann to score was among his best moments.

Stephens showed a marked improvement on his Bolton display, accurately feeding the ball to Kermorgant on occasion. A lot of his best work was done in defence, alongside Cousins, who once again covered a lot of ground and protected the back four on numerous occasions. We are benefitting not only from a settled midfield pairing, but also the contrasting roles the two play. Stephens can involve himself more in attack thanks to the defensive cover that Cousins provides. The latter is growing in confidence and skill with every game.

Stewart had one of his quieter games, but he still caused trouble down the right hand side. He forced Salter to concede foul and collect a yellow card for a cynical shirt pull after he'd been beaten. A couple of crosses caused alarm, and a couple of shots almost found their way towards goal.

Church's role was one that could easily go unnoticed, but his tireless efforts up front are vital to Charlton's attacking play. He had to chase a few balls over the top and into the channels, and did so with success. He couldn't always find his man with the crosses, but his industry allows Charlton to win the ball high up the pitch, and commit men forward. He is starting to click in his partnership with Kermorgant, which is hugely encouraging.

Now, on to Yann himself. The Gallic genius was back to his heroic best. His battling, warrior-like display was characterised by his muddied shirt and shorts at full time. He had thrown himself around in both attack and defence to win the game for his side. His headers in defence were almost as important as his headers in attack. He dropped deep, played others in, took the running up himself at times, looked to score when he could. Everything. Oh, and that free kick. It was as well struck as is humanly possibly. Perfection. He was everywhere for the team today. Back to his best. A vital component of this Charlton side, and one who can win us games on days like this.

Chris Powell rightly kept faith in those that played at Bolton, as they rewarded him with three points. A fantastic team performance which showed real cohesion, particularly after half time in that spell leading up to the second goal. Given the lack of resources we have, the team spirit has become a priceless commodity, as it is strong enough to lift all involved to play as well as they did today. Kermorgant typified the brilliance of the Addicks. Brighton were no pushovers, and it needed a collective effort to overcome them.

The win eases the pressure in this relegation scrap. Furthermore, results went Charlton's way in the subsequent kick-offs, meaning a gap of four points has been opened up.

Games like that live long in the memory. In the words of Powell himself, "it just felt like Charlton today". A team of heroes pull together to put in a superb collective performance and take all three points. It helps when those Charlton players show their quality. It wasn't just Yann who did that today. You could make a case to suggest that everyone was at the top of their game. Long may it continue.

With the encouragement of the Bolton performance, and now the uplifting success of the Brighton effort, attention now turns to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday. If we can maintain the same level of intensity and spirit, then we have a great chance of picking up another victory, and further easing the fears of relegation.

Once again, Powell shows he's capable of turning things around with a settled group of players. We don't have the ability to splash the cash on Premier League players, so his hands are tied. When you consider the contract situation, his efforts appear nothing short of miraculous. He makes up for perceived tactically conservativeness by instilling the players with enough self-belief and confidence to play as they did today. The man is worth his weight in gold.

Powell's delight was reflected by the Valley faithful. A fantastic Christmas present after a tough few weeks and months. His job now is to harness this feeling and keep up the momentum. He has dispelled the doubters once again, but much remains to be done.

A great victory. Chris Powell is a hero. And I bloody love Yann Kermorgant.

Bolton 1-1 Charlton: Battling Addicks Fight for Important Point

Whilst not quite at their best at times, each Charlton player gave everything to earn a deserved point against one of the league's biggest underachievers. 

'Could today be the day our fortunes finally change?'

The away trip to Bolton had all the hallmarks of one of those battling Charlton performances that were so often produced last season - underdogs nick three points thanks to a superb team effort. The scent of optimism was enough to tempt me into travelling to the Reebok for a second year running. A late Ngog brace had sunken us that day, leaving me with a feeling of unfinished business.

When you've suffered the pain of defeat at a ground before,  the thought process reaches a fork in the road - either its a bad ground, and we'll lose again, or this time we can get the right result. For most of the journey North, the mind kept venturing nervously up both paths. I couldn't decide if it was our day or not.

Traffic on the M6 distracted me from those mental wanderings. Every other car seemed to have Manchester United fans in them, heading to Old Trafford from down south. We support our local team, and all that.

Eventually the congestion cleared and we arrived at the Reebok to the joyous news of a Chris Solly return. Wilson has done an admirable job at right-back, but the return of the tenacious 5'3" defender was exactly the lift we needed.

Wilson pushed forward to right midfield, with Green dropped to the bench. Powell made two other changes, with Dervite and Pritchard being replaced by Richard Wood and Simon Church. It meant a return to the standard 4-4-2 formation; a risky move given Bolton's strength centrally.

Nerves built in the away end. The tumultuous experience of watching Charlton for 90 minutes was about to begin...

The game:

Charlton started by far the better of the two sides, playing some swift and clinical counter-attacking football.

Kermorgant immediately found himself in the game, exhibiting excellent control and flicking on headers with skill. Wilson broke down the right and the ball found its way to the Frenchman outside the box, and despite the scuffed shot, Lonergan had to dive to tip the ball around the post.

Soon after, Wiggins stole the ball up the pitch and skilfully beat two players. He advanced towards the box before clipping a cross towards Yann, the nearside of the penalty spot. He swept the bouncing ball towards goal on the turn with a clean left footed strike. It found the inside of the far corner. The Addicks were one up.

Unexpected joy in the away end. Yann had started with real intent and had his first goal since his return from injury. Only Charlton's 17th of the season, but one that gave them a great chance of taking three points away from the Reebok.

Bolton had been sloppy with their passing in advanced areas of the pitch, and the home crowd grew increasingly frustrated.

Charlton had further chances - Yann was inexplicably unmarked at the back post, heading a free kick across goal and winning a corner - but none as clear-cut, as Bolton finally grew into the game. Spearing, Danns and Moritz started to test the Charlton back line, with Joe Mason looking to get on the end of any loose balls.

The first couple of chances were blasted well wide and over the bar, but the warning signs were there for the Addicks. If anything, the midfield were sitting a little too deep, allowing Bolton time to build attacks.

Chung-Yong Lee came closest to scoring the equaliser. His header back across goal from the far post was diverted away by Richard Wood, skillfully avoiding a potential own goal, before Morrison was able to hoof the ball clear.

A cross to the front post was almost clipped in by Mason, but it was too close to Alnwick who was able to make the save. Cousins and Morrison were also forced to make key blocks to avert danger.

Charlton were struggling to relieve the pressure, and just before the half time whistle came the sucker punch. Having failed to clear, the ball found its way to right-back Kevin McNaughton, who jinked left before getting his body around the ball and curling a lovely shot into the top corner.

It was a painful end to the half but not something that was unforseen.

Charlton were an improved side following the interval, with periods of defensive solidity broken by forays forward.

The best chance was created by Kermorgant following a cut back from Cameron Stewart. Yann and Wilson both went to control the ball, but Wilson tapped it aside for Yann. As the ball fell down the Breton dinked a magnificent dipping shot towards the top corner, but Lonergan was able to tip the ball over the bar at full stretch.

Kermorgant again won the ball up the pitch and threatened to beat players. He made it to the by-line and curved a cross towards the penalty spot, only for it to be blocked by an outstretched arm. No penalty, despite it being in clear view of an incensed away end. Still no sign of any luck regarding refereeing decisions.

Bolton were spurred on again and once again controlled the game. Powell switched to a more defensive formation, replacing Church with Evina. The former had struggled to get on the end of flick ons for much of the game, despite his great industry. Kermorgant stood staring at the bench in disbelief at the move. He clearly wanted to try and win the game.

At that stage, it could've gone either way, but Bolton's attacking threat gave Powell a cause for concern.

The defending became a little more panicked, with tackles not cleanly winning the ball. Alnwick had to dive at full stretch to push a header around the post. Solly dived in recklessly and gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box, but Eagles' effort was headed away by Wiggins in the wall.

Given the amount of defending the Addicks had to do, they continued to put every effort into their performance. Nobody threw in the towel. Yann charged around after defenders, hoping to force an error.

Dervite replaced Stewart as 90 minutes approached; the forward had troubled but was limping after picking up a knock. The move meant all Charlton players ended up defending down the far end. Panic ensued in the away end, the potential torment of conceding a late winner too much to bear.

Charlton had no options up the pitch to clear to, but twice they were denied a counter-attack by cyclical fouls. Only one received a booking thanks to increasingly random officiating. Despite that, Charlton seemed content to let the game calm down.

One last chance fell to Mark Davies on the edge of the area, but his powerful shot flew narrowly over. Alnwick looked to have had it covered. Just.

The whistle eventually came, greeted by boos from the home crowd, and a huge collective sigh of relief from the travelling Addicks. It had been battling performance but the late onslaught left many feeling weary - both off the pitch and on it.

Yann was the most prominent player to thank the away fans, who responded with appreciative applause. He'd been by far the best Charlton player, constantly threatening and winning the ball.

Powell clapped the fans after most players had filed down the tunnel. He looked slightly apologetic for the team sitting deep late on, but appeared pleased with a point and appreciative of the support.

Once he'd gone, Yann ran over to the front of the away stand. Not pleased enough with his heroics on the pitch, he pulled off his shirt and handed it to a kid. He ran off to the dressing room having thanked the fans once again. Inspiration.

Analysis:

It wasn't Charlton's best performance in terms of pure football, but once again the fight and determination was there in spades.

At 0-1, another goal was needed but it didn't quite fall for us. Defensively we resisted but couldn't withstand the relentless pressure before half time.

Alnwick made a couple of fine saves to keep Bolton from going ahead, but the same could be said of Lonergan in the opposing goal.

Solly demonstrated how well he reads the game, making a number of crucial defensive interventions. Wiggins was more successful in attack but also defended well.

Richard Wood was a welcome presence, and made a vital headed clearance off the line, but a couple of errors almost resulted in goalscoring opportunities. He's still the right man to partner Morrison, though. Both won headers and tidied up at the back, despite the odd panicky moment.

Dale Stephens didn't have his best game. On a few occasions his touch deserted him, and in the first half a misplaced pass went straight to a Bolton player free to run at the defence. Cousins worked hard again, making plenty of tackles, but lacked consistent authority to protect the centre backs all game. That said, he was one of the best defenders, putting himself about attempting to nullify Bolton's dangerous midfield.

Wilson's crossing wasn't quite as clinical as hoped, and he spurned a great chance early on at the back post by firing wide. He was strong in defence alongside Solly. Stewart was largely prevented from cutting inside, but he gave McNaughton the runaround and threatened. His crosses were just a little too close to Lonergan.

Church fought hard to latch onto long balls over the top but couldn't find himself in genuinely threatening areas. The nature of our counter-attacking game means he only ever gets to feed off scraps.

Kermorgant was fantastic. Winning the ball in the air, exhibiting great control to create chances and chasing the ball down with hunger. It was an archetypal Yann performance - his best of the season. He scored a great goal and almost had a brilliant second. He looked desperate for the three points, shown by his reaction at the Church substitution and his disappointment at full-time. A fit and firing Kermorgant is a huge asset to Charlton, and hopefully he can continue to lead the team going forward.

One thing the Addicks missed today was the organisation and inspiration brought by Johnnie Jackson. He might not appear to be the most skilful player, but we needed his influence in defence today. A poor red card decision has cost us his presence, but whilst it was unlikely that the final result would've been affected, he could well have strengthened the defensive areas. His leadership inspires both players and supporters - hopefully he can come back into the side and make a positive impact.

Powell's tactics today were perfect in terms of nicking the goal, but ended up seeming overly defensive towards the end of the game. Bolton's strong midfield meant they were always going to dominate possession, but the midfield sat a little too deep, pushing the back four even deeper. Once Bolton grabbed a foothold in the game they were able to start threatening.

Powell placed more value on securing the point than risking none to grab three. Away from home against a side with a lot of quality in it, the decision was understandable.

As the horror of clinging on for a point subsided following the final whistle, the result appeared better than initially thought.

 It was a hard-fought team performance, with all eleven players giving it their all to secure the point. The performance typified the belief Powell instills in his players. With a little more ambition and confidence in the upcoming home games, the results really could start to come.

Yann's desire was great to see - his heart is in this club and he wants us to turn the corner more than any. It was uplifting and inspirational to see him back to his dominant best. His belief needs to be replicated in the stands for the remaining games.

Chris Powell is the man to lift us away from relegation, as performances like today's show. With continued faith, the growing confidence of these players will translate into more points.

There remains a lot of work to do, and the next two home games are vital. But performances like today's can fill you with nothing but hope. A hard-earned point against a good side away from home. There's more to come from these players.

And Yann is well and truly back.

Charlton 0-2 Derby: Victory Eludes Spirited Addicks

15th December 2008: Under the stewardship of caretaker manager Phil Parkinson, it looked like the Addicks might secure a vital three points to give hope of survival. 2-1 up in the 4th minute of stoppage time, Derby had a throw which bounced away from one defender, was flicked on by another and bobbled its way straight to an unmarked Nathan Ellington in the box, who fired home an equaliser. The only feeling I can remember is one of utter dejection. Whilst yesterday's game was slightly different, it resulted in a similar low following the full-time whistle. 

Saturday's game was always going to be a tough one. Derby arrived on the back of five straight victories, following a revival in fortunes brought about by the appointment of Steve McLaren. Charlton had failed to win in three, with a broader trend of 4 goals in 5 games suggesting reason for concern. Defeat was not a surprise, therefore, but the match left an unexpected feeling of misery and dejection - the pattern of the match again followed a similar trend to those of recent weeks, as the Addicks were competitive and full of energy, but again fell agonisingly short.

A shift in tactics saw Powell give another chance to Danny Green on the right-wing in place of the industrious Simon Church, whilst Pritchard returned centrally in the absence of Johnnie Jackson. It meant a 4-5-1 formation with Kermorgant on his own up front, and whilst the defensive approach is never completely welcome at home, it was understandable given Derby's strong recent form.

McLaren's impact on Derby was clear to see from the outset. Short goal kicks were taken to give the ball to the centre back, who worked with the full back to try and move the ball forward, shifting play to the other flank if the route was blocked. Charlton didn't press relentlessly, but they did their job sufficiently to force some long balls forward. The home side stole the ball in midfield and played it forward to Kermorgant on occasion, with the Frenchman distributing the ball to the wider areas.

Chances came. Morrison found himself in space 25 yards out, and whilst his powerful shot was on target, it was comfortably caught by Grant in goal. Stewart's cross found its way to Stephens in the area but his volleyed effort went over, with the timing made more difficult by the blustery wind. Green curled a free-kick towards the far post, and it ended up heading for the top corner, only to be tipped over the bar. Kermorgant was forced to improvise, given the absence of a strike partner, but Pritchard's advanced role meant he could collect a number of the knock-downs. Stewart was quiet, but Stephens and Green were positive, whilst Jordan Cousins was covering a lot of ground in an excellent defensive display.

Derby threatened too, but the game remained even. Chris Martin had a shot from outside the box delfected on its way wide, and Alnwick caught a header following the corner. Some neat play worked the ball forward outisde the area, where a clumsy Dervite intervention conceded a free-kick. Jamie Ward struck his effort towards Alnwick's left post, but as the keeper dived across, the shot flicked the head of Wiggins, deflecting it to the right of the keeper and into the back of the net. It was a sucker punch following positive Addicks play. Another example of luck deserting the Addicks.

Charlton didn't respond to the goal well, and Bryson found space among a number of red shirts who didn't close him down, striking his shot across goal towards the top corner. Alnwick was forced into a two-handed save high to his left to keep the score at 0-1 going into the break. A late half-chance fell to Kermorgant, 35 yards from goal following a headed clearance by the keeper, but he couldn't manage to reach the goal with his chipped effort and it was headed clear.

The response after half-time was much better, and almost immediately rewarded. Wilson broke down the right and crossed for Stephens, who couldn't connect cleanly and his shot bounced wide. Kermorgant had a chance to shoot through a clutch of players, but it bobbled towards goal, and Morrison failed to control on the turn to keep the chance alive.

Derby were attempting to control the game, taking time out whenever they could and making subtle fouls to kill any momentum the Addicks could build. The home side struggled to break down the well organised Rams but it wasn't down to a lack of effort. Dale Stephens was throwing himself about in midfield, riskily but bravely jumping into tackles in an attempt to win the ball. Cousins continued to mop up defensively alongside him. Green couldn't get into the game - a familiar tale - and was replaced by Simon Church, with Pritchard being hauled off to unfair sarcastic cheers, to be replaced by Callum Harriott.

Powell changed the formation to a rather lopsided one, with Harriott employed as an attacking midfielder just behind the strikers, whilst Stewart continued to play left wing. Initially, chances were hard to come by, but as Derby sat deeper and deeper, Charlton began to create. The best of them fell to Morrison, who found himself at the back post leaping to get on the end of an exquisite chipped cross from Kermorgant. His header went narrowly, agonisingly wide. A big miss.

Stewart threatened sporadically, whilst Harriott twisted and turned but couldn't beat enough players to get a clear shot on goal. The Addicks' attempts to score were summed up when Kermorgant struck a shot from a cross, which was blocked by Harriott standing just a couple of yards in front of him.

Charlton could have had a penalty if it weren't for weak, feeble refereeing. Kermorgant was marked from a corner by two players, both with arms around his chest. In attempting to free himself, the Frenchman went to ground, but was inexplicably penalised for an infringement, despite having been contained by the arms of the opponents. The decision was especially galling when Morrison was later deemed to have fouled Martin (who was backing into him) for putting his arms around his chest. It typified the inconsistent performance of the referee, and once again the Addicks didn't get the decisions. Kermorgant didn't get a decision all game, until late on when the referee finally gave him a free-kick. His sarcastic applause of the ref was thoroughly warranted, such was his incompetence, but out came the yellow card. Another jobsworth.

Derby continued to grind, wasting time and using their physicality to impose their defensive strength. The ref only waved his arm occasionally to encourage quicker play. They had to cope with spells of good pressure, but only one chance caused any great alarm. Kermorgant flicked on for Church, bursting through into the box alongside a defender, but his rushed effort from the angle was well saved. It was a tough chance.

In a late gamble, Powell hauled off Wilson and sent Sordell on up front, though all he managed was one overhit pass when a counter-attack beckoned. The gap at right-back allowed substitute Connor Sammon into space following a poor clearance, and he slid a through ball to Bryson who chipped Alnwick and put the game to bed. It was a sickening late blow but all too predictable given the recent run of luck endured by the Addicks.

All the passion and anger directed at the referee and the frustration at Charlton's lack of an equaliser was replaced solely by a feeling of deep resignation. The Valley fell flat. For all the fight they had showed, once again the Addicks had fallen short, and though the result had been predictable all week, the nature of the game meant that there was a lot of hurt.

--

There weren't really any players who could be singled out as having poor games, but I am increasingly inclined to think that we are better off with Richard Wood at the back instead of Dervite. He looked a bit clumsy in defence today, and whilst he is assured on the ball, the organisation and conviction brought by Wood is something we really need at the minute. Wiggins didn't quite hit the heights of his performance at Yeovil last week, whilst Green again struggled to come up with that well executed cross.

Cousins and Stephens again played well, the former in particular impressing thanks to his defensive exploits. We aren't being outplayed in midfield, but that is largely as a consequence of fielding an extra player centrally so as not to be overrun. That in turn is having an impact on our goal-scoring ability. Kermorgant did his best in isolated circumstances, but he was missing a player ahead of him who he could link with and create chances for. When someone clicks with him, it'll be a hugely profitable partnership, but it is something still eluding us. Stewart was kept quiet, but he is always a threat when cutting inside off the left, and can make ground to put in crosses as well.

Derby were strong, and you can see why they have been winning games. It is a confidence thing. Powell can only instill a certain amount of that in his sides, but the rest is down to results, which continue to evade Charlton. That tiny absence of conviction when critical moments arise is what is costing us at the minute. With the resources available we don't have a large array of tactical options open to us, and Powell is trying to make the most of what he has available. Its not easy, hence the struggles, but criticism of effort and desire is definitely a long way wide of the mark. Faith in these players is needed, as we are unlikely to be able to bring many others in. These are the players who will have save this club from relegation. Full backing them is crucial if we want to avoid a repeat of the last time we were relegated, and ended up sinking without trace.

Powell tried a new system against a side which needed to be contained, and it was largely successful. The only breaches to the defence were caused by a deflected free-kick and an absent right-back late on when chasing an equaliser. The players once again played well, but the failure to seize upon those crucial moments in the match is what is frustrating at the moment. Had Morrison's headed chance found the net, it could well have acted as a catalyst enabling Charlton to go on and win the game. Instead, it went wide, and further chances could not be taken either. Whilst the absence of goals is one of the major reasons we find ourselves struggling, again you got the impression that fortune was not on our side. Our league position cannot be blamed simply on bad luck, but fortune has definitely not helped recently. Decisions are more often than not going against us. More decisive performances are needed on the pitch, but also you sometimes need that rub of the green to help you out.

A few words on the relegation battle, and reactions after defeat: Again there has been widespread criticism of the performance, brought about largely thanks to the result. Powell's suggestion that the players gave it their all has been met with scepticism by a number of fans, but this feeling is simply born out of a frustration at the result. When times are tough, there is obviously anger at the situation, but many choose to channel this in completely the wrong way by vehemently criticising the players and the manager, when ultimately they put up a good fight. It indicates that many fans feel that Charlton have an obligation to them to win games, and that failure to do so justifies any form of criticism. Whilst everyone has a right to complain, in the aftermath of a defeat it is rarely constructive in nature, and the direct attacks on players and individuals is more likely to have negative consequences than positive ones. The existence of social media means that instead of calming down over a pint, or in the car on the way home, the immediate feeling of frustration is encapsulated in a series of tweets, often directly attacking the club's players. The atmosphere between fans of differing views can become poisonous, and particularly so given that many take a perverse pleasure in moaning after defeat. The dissenters are a vocal minority, but one that can clearly have an impact on player morale.

The critical, negative reaction comes from an inability to be objective about things, and view the wider situation that the club, players and manager are in. The game frustrated, but it didn't tell us anything we didn't already know about the situation that Charlton Athletic Football Club is in. The squad is weaker than it was last year thanks to the dire financial situation, and we have a co-chairman who is gambling with the contract situation which is creating a huge amount of uncertainty off the field. You cannot suggest that this doesn't impact on the playing staff in any way. Whilst commitment is visibly there, contractual uncertainty breeds doubt, which is not something that helps keep a group strong and resolute. Powell has no money for additions, thus must make the most of what he has available. What he has achieved so far is remarkable, and thankfully the majority realise this.

Powell is undoubtedly the man we want in charge, as his fighting spirit and resolve has often been embodied by Charlton in some of the more unlikely victories during his tenure. We must stick together and keep the faith, as the season ahead will be full of difficult times. Supporting a football club is not a one way street - the players need us to back them. Their effort is there. All that is lacking is that little bit of quality, and that little bit of luck.

Objectivity after defeat is difficult. I had to avoid social media last night due to the outpouring of emotion following the result, as I knew it would further increase the pain. We all feel the pain of defeat, but we need to accept that times are tough. I have always been one to have faith in the people I support, and I see no reason why these players, and this manager, cannot turn the current run of form around. It will be hard, but it can be done.

Keep the faith.

Yeovil Town 2-2 Charlton: Luck Deserts Addicks Again

A huge game for Charlton was going perfectly, until a mad few minutes saw hopes of victory crushed. Luck has completely deserted us. The team put in a great shift but just a couple of errors and again things conspired against them. Times are tough but the team need to be backed, and certainly don't deserve much of the criticism being levelled at them.

Following a tricky run of games against QPR, Ipswich and Reading, the trip to fellow struggles Yeovil was one of huge importance. It represented a great chance for Charlton to distance themselves further from the relegation scrap.

Powell selected the same team that had beaten Doncaster and lost to Ipswich, but he added a slight tactical slant to the XI. Instead of playing Jackson out on the left, he was deployed as part of a central midfield trio. Cameron Stewart switched from right wing to left wing at will, meaning the formation was somewhat lopsided - but not in a bad way.

The sun shone during a good first half for the away side

The first half an hour of the game saw both teams struggle to string together decent passages of play, but of the two sides Yeovil had marginally more success. Alnwick was forced into a couple of comfortable saves as Ishmael Miller made a nuisance of himself. One shot from outside the box looked destined for the top corner but it drifted over the bar.

Despite Yeovil having more attacks, Charlton had the best chance of the half. Cameron Stewart was given the ball out on the left and cut inside and aimed a shot at the far corner. Only a flying save by Dunn denied the Addicks an opener.

Soon after it was Yeovil again pressing, but Alnwick diffused the situation with a confident catch from a corner. He made a quick throw out to Stewart on the left wing, who only had a couple of defenders ahead of him. He carried the ball forward to the left corner of the box, once again cut inside and fired a shot from just inside the D. It curved away from Dunn, who was unable to divert the path of the ball with his despairing dive, and the ball buried itself in the bottom right hand corner.

Absolute joy in the away end. Before long there was even more cause for celebration. Again the ball was with Stewart on the left, but instead of cutting inside he shaped to beat the right back on the outside. His left footed chipped cross was too heavy for Church, but he knew Jackson was advancing towards the back post so cleared the way. The Addicks skipper headed the ball downward and past Dunn in the Yeovil goal. Double delight. Jackson was once again saluting the travelling support - he embodies the heart and the fighting spirit of this club more than anyone else.

For the first time in a while, we'd taken our chances, and the 2-0 scoreline was a reflection of the effectiveness of our counter-attacking play. Having watched Charlton for a number of years, though, we knew the job wasn't finished.

Yeovil made a double substitution but the impact on the pattern of play was minimal. Charlton were defending slightly deeper down the far end of the pitch, and that obviously causes nerves, but we actually enjoyed our best spell of the match as the hour mark approached. Some good passing football moved the ball up the pitch, and Cousins fired a shot narrowly wide from just outside the area.

Yeovil started to apply the pressure, and having worked an opportunity down the left. The cross from just outside the box was aimed across goal, deflecting off Morrison and into the net past the helpless Alnwick. The home crowd burst into life and and the momentum swung towards the home team.

Kermorgant challenged for a header but was harshly penalised due to the Yeovil player making a meal of it. Inexplicably, he was booked. It was a genuine challenge for the ball which Yann won, but as the defender went to ground he got the decision. From the long ball forward, Charlton failed to deal with a scramble outside the box, and with Miller having turned Dervite, he was brought down, and a penalty awarded. Difficult to tell from a distance but word is that the decision was indisputable. The incident that led up to it wasn't, however.

We never seem to save penalties, and there was no change here. Alnwick dived to right but Miller had drilled his spot-kick high down the middle into the back of the net. 2-2, Huish Park rocking.

Charlton hadn't defended the set piece well, but they still had a chance to win the game. That was until referee Dawson had his say. Hughes and Miller had collided going for a header, with the former lying injured on the floor as a result. The ball rebounded out to the left where Jackson made a strong challenge, winning the ball convincingly. However, the Yeovil player made a meal of it, and as there was a hint of aggression detected by the ref, it was deemed a foul. Whether it was two-footed was debatable. Pawson blew for the foul and gleefully reached for his back pocket, producing a red card. Tackling has increasingly been demonised in football, and Jackson certainly has reason to feel aggrieved.

The change in weather reflected the change in fortunes for the Addicks

Distraught. In the space of ten minutes a comfortable lead had vanished, replaced by a desperation to cling on to a point, and deny Yeovil a vital win. There was a sense of disbelief on the away terrace, with a combination of mistakes and misfortune conspiring to prevent victory.

Yeovil pressed for a winner. A quick break down the left almost saw the home side to break into the box, only for a superbly timed sliding challenge from Wiggins to deny them. Soon after, after a long ball and lots of headed contests, the ball fell to Miller, who seemed to have the goal at his mercy but placed his shot wide of the post.

Charlton held on, with Hughes having replaced Cousins after a knock, Church making way for Solly after the sending off, and Wood replacing Stewart in added time. Dawson added five minutes to try and allow his side to score a winner, but the game was drawn after a late but ultimately futile a track by the Addicks.

The players trudged over to thank the travelling support, who responded with their own applause. There was a feeling of defeat despite the point that had been secured. It took a while to shake off that feeling.

The refereeing performance was terrible. Dawson favoured the home side in the second half especially, with a couple of key decisions going against the Addicks. When will we finally get a good break...

Rhoys Wiggins had a fantastic game, with heroic defending and threatening attacking play down the left. Stephens played well centrally, whilst Church worked his socks off again without being created a clear cut chance. Kermorgant played really well in patches, particularly the early period of the second half, but he couldn't make enough clinical passes in the final third. Alnwick played well, particularly when he threw the ball for Stewart to score the opening goal, and claimed each cross with conviction. Stewart himself was the reason we took a two goal lead into half time.

Tactically, Powell's slant on 4-4-2 worked very well, largely down to the creative spark that Cameron Stewart gives us. He may not be the most consistent player but his importance to our side cannot be overstated. The liveliness of his play combined with the powerful right foot he has makes him a vital component of the side. We somehow need to keep hold of him beyond January.

The performance was once again valiant but the smallest of errors carried the dearest of consequences. Powell will undoubtedly take positives from the way we played, but in not closing out the game we displayed our vulnerability when our backs are against the wall.

It's undeniable that we are in a poor position in this league, but this bunch of players are trying so hard at the moment without getting any reward. Football is a results business, of course, but these players have proven capable of winning games, and with a bit more confidence and that rub of the green, our form will pick up. It's just a matter of sticking with the team through this tough spell and showing our full support for them. It's a two-way process, supporting a football club. Big tests lie ahead, and a lot of work needs to be done, but the players need us to keep backing them.