Leicester 3-0 Charlton: You Can't Win Them All...

Today was never going to be easy. Following the greatest weekend of Powell's tenure at Charlton, we were tasked with forgetting about the delirium of the FA Cup and focussing on an away trip to the league's runaway leaders. With the fatigue evident both physically and mentally, the result was no surprise. That said, a couple of the deficiencies that Powell has done so well to disguise of late made themselves known again. Yann Kermorgant scoring a hat-trick for Bournemouth was an apt if heartbreaking demonstration of that.

Powell's success at Charlton has come from his ability to get every ounce of quality and effort out of every single player at his disposal. It's resulted in some of the most unlikely victories we've ever seen, often at times when we've hit our lowest ebb. Unfortunately, overcoming Leicester after the exhaustion of last weekend was too tough an ask.

Wiggins started in place of Fox as the only change from the victory at Sheffield Wednesday, but by the end of the game his fitness level showed that the exertions of last week had taken their toll. He wasn't fully fit. But by the end of the game, he wasn't the only player showing they were knackered.

Leicester were clearly a very good side, with quality running all the way from defence to attack. On nine minutes, they demonstrated this in the most devastating way possible, by opening the scoring. The ball broke forward for Leicester, with Richard Wood putting in a clumsy but robust challenge. The ball bounced kindly for Nugent, who did well to beat Wiggins and find Vardy in the box. He shaped to shoot before cutting back and firing his shot past the helpless Hamer.

The goal didn't kill the game, but it flattened it. Leicester were very comfortable on the ball, occasionally taking it forward and creating chances in dangerous areas. Charlton looked tired already, with hopeful passes to the wide outlets almost always unsuccessful. Given we are forced to make things happen going forward, and can't rely on  an incosive passing game to open teams up, hopeful balls forward tended to be the order of the day. It meant Charlton struggled to get in the game for most of the half, as when they finally stole possession it was quickly lost again.

Ajdarević dropped deep just to get himself in the game, but with only Church to aim at it was a forlorn task. He had a pot shot from 35-yards in frustration, which was close but Schmeichel could comfortably watch it sail over the bar.

Leicester opened up Charlton with ease during the second half. Morrison had been forced off injured early in the game, meaning Wood and Dervite played alongside each other for the first time. They were pulled open a number of times by the strike duo of Nugent and Vardy. Hamer made a great save from close range before the rebound fell to Drinkwater to smash home. Two minutes into the half and the result was all but sealed.

Hughes replaced Cousins, who looked like he'd picked up a knock, whilst Marcus Tudgay came on for Ajdarević. Although he'd struggled to get into the game, he was the one creative outlet we had, so taking him off seemed odd.

Despite the substitutions, the game didn't change course. Wiggins must've been unfit because the left wing was more exposed than usual, allowing De Laet a free reign. Nugent took the ball from 40 yards out and ran pretty much a straight line before firing home into the far corner from the edge of the area.

The midfield pair of Jackson and Poyet looked tired, pulled out of position by the variety of attacking threats they had to cope with. Leicester could easily have scored a couple more, but the excellent reflexes of Ben Hamer prevented them from doing so. He was our best player on the pitch, probably by quite some distance. /Wood had a poor game, as did Wiggins although he didn't look fit at all. Harriott was often giving the ball away, frustratingly doing so after a couple of promising openings had been carved.

The game died, with both sets of fans seeming to accept that it had been inevitable since before kick-off. Leicester saw the ninety minutes out with ease, and walked off deserving winners.

Jackson walked over to thank the travelling support, who hadn't shown any anger towards their side all game. Poyet raised both hands in an apologetic gesture. He's got nothing to be ashamed of when he has to play against a team of Leicester's quality.

Powell applauded too, receiving a generous ovation from the home fans as well as the away end. He's a great man, but was unfortunately not able to muster another logic-defying victory with his side today.

The first problem was that even early in the game we were visibly tired. We don't have a big squad as it is, but crucially there isn't much strength in the little depth we do have. You could perhaps sense a touch of an FA Cup hangover about us. It's hard to pick yourself up for a game you've no expectation of winning, especially with Wembley on the line next weekend.

Secondly, conceding early stuffed our usual game plan, which is to hold firm, play on their frustration and nick a goal. Heads didn't go down, but Leicester gained a strong foothold so early in the game, which proved to be decisive.  Equally, our limited quality going forward meant we struggled badly trying to get ourselves back into the game.

I'll make no secret of the fact that I'm a huge Yann Kermorgant fan. He meant a great deal to a huge number of fans at this football club, not to mention the things he achieved on the pitch. Whilst the result probably wouldn't have been much different, it was clear today just how much Yann was missed. We had no aerial outlet. We'd lost that advanced playmaker role which he did so well. We had nobody capable of holding the ball up. Yann didn't do all of these things in every game he played in, but he was often capable of them. We've lost a dynamic forward - our best player - without adequately replacing him. It may come to hurt us in future when struggling to break a team down. We no longer have that quality player behind the main striker to make things happen. Roland took a huge risk in selling him - one that I think a club in our position should never be taking. Seeing him score a hat-trick in another match when you are desperately crying out for someone like him to change the game felt really tough to take. I hope his absence doesn't hurt our finishing position as much as it's hurts our hearts.

Ajdarević has a similar set of skills to Kermorgant on the floor, but doesn't have that physical presence which Yann used so well. Ajdarević will undoubtedly play an important role throughout the rest of the season as one of our few creative players, but today he got very isolated. That was in part down to the excellent pressing game of Leicester which didn't allow him any time on the ball, but also because we played to many hopeful balls in his vague direction. We didn't manage to emulate Monday night when he was able to exploit space going forward and create opportunities. Leicester didn't have a Miguel Llera playing...

Morrison is a key player for us at the back, the rock at the heart of defence. Losing him would disrupt the defensive partnerships he's built. Wood and Dervite looked shaky together, though admittedly this was against the league's strongest side.

Wilson has done a fantastic job at right back, but we are really missing Chris Solly. His absence prevents Wilson from playing that midfield role he's had a lot of success in. Cousins tried his best but didn't get going. Harriott was too sporadic, unreliable on the ball and rarely of use in defence. Jackson looked very leggy, which he's sometimes prone to do.

Hopefully Hamer is fit enough to stay in the side for the rest of the season. Not only is he our best shot-stopper but also very confident on crosses and distribution. He made an excellent strong clearing punch from a dangerous corner in the second half.

Powell must make use of the extra day of rest this week before another run of games following the Sheffield United match. He'll undoubtedly lift his side once again. Despite the deficiencies which were evident today, he's done a fantastic job against the weaker sides in the division of setting us up in positions where we can win games. Individual errors have at times cost us points, but we've rarely been stuffed. That competitive spirit and team unity will become so important in the coming weeks. Powell is the master of extracting the maximum from his side. We don't have a strong squad by any means, but we've got a strong will, a togetherness. Leicester away was never a game we expected to win. We'll learn from mistakes and continue to plug away at our Championship campaign.

Open criticism at this point of the players would be unhelpful. They were tired today. Would you give up the last two results just so we could've lost to the leaders by a narrower margin? No. That's not to say we weren't without faults, but tiredness and fatigue exacerbates errors. We weren't quite at the races today. It happens sometimes. Powell isn't a man who'll let it happen again. We won't have to travel to the league champions again, either, so that'll help.

Only Yeovil of the bottom six picked up a point today, which is positive. Although it hurt, Kermorgant's hat-trick has done us a big favour by demoralising Doncaster. Yann will be happy to have helped us out - he never wanted to leave. We need to make our extra games count, especially at home. There are bigger games to come.

We've a chance to make something special happen next Sunday. After two of the best wins we've achieved in recent years in one weekend, sometimes you have to just accept that you can't win them all.

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.

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.

Charlton 0-1 Ipswich Town: Addicks' Inconsistency Frustrates

The 21st anniversary of the great return to the Valley
was not celebrated with on-field success.

You know things won't go well when the teams switch ends before kick-off... An early goal and an inability to create meaningful chances to get back into the game left many Addicks feeling dejected at full-time. 

The main differences between today and Tuesday night's win against Doncaster were composure on the ball, accuracy of passing and success down the wings. Ipswich did their job after taking the lead, closing down each Charlton player with haste and forcing mistakes. Morrison and Dervite initially struggled to deal with the loose ball, and a good through ball released McGoldrick in on goal, only to be denied by a great Alnwick save, diving to his left. From the corner, the keeper was forced to make another save from a free header, and then reacted superbly to block a close-range shot. Clearly rattled, Charlton still struggled to settle. Another routine corner was not dealt with, and Smith headed Ipswich in front. From that moment on, it was an exercise in game management for Mick McCarthy's men. For all their efforts, Charlton were not playing much coherent football - a consequence of both Ipswich's high-tempo pressing game and a desertion of composure. The game saw few chances, as Charlton struggled to create down the flanks, whilst long balls forward were easily dealt with by the strong centre-back pairing of Smith and Berra. Frustration was compounded late on, when at last a chance was created, but the referee had failed to play advantage, having blown early to deny Stewart a clear chance on goal. It was not a game worth recounting in any great detail. Instead, it served to highlight a number of issues Charlton are going to have to deal with in order to avoid an unpleasant relegation scrap.

One of the main issues facing this current Charlton side is the lack of goals being scored. 14 scored in 17 games this season shows why wins have been few and far between. Only Yeovil (13) have scored fewer. Ipswich hassled the Addicks well, but that does not entirely explain why the only shot on target was a mis-hit Wiggins cross. Pressed high up the pitch, decisions were rushed and too often we resorted to searching balls over the top for Church to chase on to. With Stewart more suited to cutting inside, and Jackson playing more centrally, we struggle for width - a price worth paying to be more defensively solid. The full-backs are important players given the way Powell sets the team up, but today they struggled for support, and the final ball was often blocked, or just poorly hit. Wiggins didn't have the best of games, whilst Wilson managed a couple of decent crosses without success. The other option available was the long ball - often decried for its predictability and lack of success. Kermorgant was winning the odd header, but was visibly annoyed at times when team-mates failed to make the correct run for the flick on. Similarly, Church struggled to get on the end of the hopeful balls aimed in his direction. The one save Gerken made was when Wiggins got into an advanced position in the box and skewed his cross towards the top corner. Not a prolific afternoon in front of goal.

How do we remedy the lack of goals? The suggestion that Kermorgant is more of a hindrance than a help is odd, given his creativity and strength in the air. Whilst we did resort to too many long balls, this was fuelled by a lack of success in other areas of the pitch. This is symptomatic of the style of play Powell is forced to adopt with the resources he has available. Counter-attacking play is the best method with which to have success, but as was seen last season, this was often to the detriment of home successes. By committing more players to attacking roles, he leaves the defence slightly more exposed, and we probably don't have the individual skill to deal with that imbalance. The game against Doncaster showed that success can be had at home with this style, but the high-tempo pressing game of Ipswich caused innumerable errors. Decision making was rushed, and thus poor. The accuracy of passing fell and the tight control of the ball required deserted Charlton. When usually they can break quickly up the pitch, Ipswich's defensive mentality for much of the game prevented significant counter-attacks. The consequence was a lacklustre performance which left many feeling dejected.

The one chance we did create was after an incompetent refereeing decision, late on when Kermorgant was cynically fouled (again) and an advantage was not played. Sordell's well-timed through ball had released Cameron Stewart clean through on goal for the first time, but to the utter dismay of every Charlton fan, play had been halted. It merely served to make the afternoon's experience an even more painful one.

The long-ball to Yann is an easy option, and rightly it has been pointed out that we resort to it too often. When used well, it is a deadly weapon, as Kermorgant has the ability to rise above defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities. However, when defences work out how to deal with it, which usually involves inhibiting Yann so that he can't leap as successfully, alternative routes to goal need to be used. Kermorgant dropping deep offers a good option as he is a skilled distributor, but the issue today was a lack of space as well as a lack of quality out wide. We struggled to get Stewart in good advanced positions. Jackson is better employed centrally. Without the full-backs charging forward we have little else to offer, especially when the midfield has little time on the ball. What all these deficiencies really point to is a lack of quality player able to change the game.

Our squad is thin, and after two seasons without investment, its lack of evolution is becoming clear. Powell continues to do a great job with the players available, but the lack of depth in quality means he is restricted in his tactical approach. Without the variety, there is no reliable formation set in stone that will guarantee success. The players work hard and often they are rewarded for their graft with victory, but when that extra bit of quality is required to get something from a game, we often fall down.

The potential takeover offers hope, along with fears of a relocation from the Valley. In the short term, though, it could provide the relief needed. There is no doubt that the uncertain contract situation will be affecting various players in different ways from others. Uncertainty breeds doubt, and confidence falls. Whilst today's performance is clearly not all down to the off-field situation, it certainly plays its part. If the purchase of the club does go through, the contract situation needs to be resolved quickly, as it will bring necessary stability. The potential to bring in a couple of quality players, especially in attack, would hopefully bring the impetus we need to increase our goals-per-game ratio. That said, without it we need a more balanced strategy. The searching balls for Church are too often uncusccessful, and without dominance in the air, long-balls to Yann become too much of a lottery. What is missing is composure, conviction and accuracy. When chances do come, we need to be far more clinical, but the lack of opportunities created must be remedied as well. To do that, the midfield needs to be stronger, and the defence must refrain from pumping long-balls forward all the time. Kermorgant and Church received poor service, with the former having to adjust to inaccurate long-balls too often, and the latter chasing numerous lost causes. With accuracy and composure we may have created an opening to level the game.

Credit must be given to Ipswich. It was a classic Mick McCarthy victory, which involved defending the lead from early on with high-tempo pressing up the pitch. His tactics played a massive part in the result. Charlton improved as the game went on, but failed to find the incision required. I never like to hear booing, but the crowd's reaction was one of frustration at full-time, understandable after a game with such limited success. Criticism of Powell overlooks the issue he has with squad depth - his options are extremely limited. He is confident in the eleven men he sends out onto the field, but is not always rewarded with success. He will be as gutted as anyone after the defeat, and will use the pain to motivate a return to form.

The whole afternoon was one that is best forgotten, mainly due to the crippling despair it inflicted on me. Looking ahead, we have the chance to repeat our successes away from home with trips to Reading and Yeovil. The latter is a huge fixture - potentially what pundits love to call a "six pointer". I will simply term it a must-win game. We are struggling - that much is clear to see. Faith in the manager and the squad is required. If investment does come, Powell is exactly the man to use it wisely. Now is not a time to panic. There is plenty of time left in the season, but still clearly a lot of work still to do.

Keep the faith.

Charlton Athletic 2-0 Doncaster: Three Points, Job Done

Despite the catastrophic public transport failures trying to prevent fans getting to the game, nothing could stop the Addicks securing a vital victory over Doncaster.

The Addicks ready to defend a free-kick

Utter chaos at London Bridge made the journey to the ground an absolute nightmare. Instead of the train to Charlton, I was forced to get the DLR, a tube, two buses and then had to run to make kick off. It took about ten minutes for the stress to subside and to settle into watching the game.

The smaller crowd (caused by a combination of public transport incompetence and apathy towards the fixture) meant the Valley struggled to create the intense atmosphere synonymous with a floodlit midweek game. That said, the home side were dominant.

Church had an early chance, controlling a through ball on his chest with only the keeper to beat, but he couldn't repeat his fine finish from the Blackburn game, skewing his shot wide of the left post.

Charlton continued to threaten, largely brought about by the control that Stephens and Cousins were bringing in central midfield. The defence repelled Doncaster's long balls forward with ease, and stood firm when they countered on the floor.

Further chances came and went. Kermorgant found the ball at his feet twelve yards from goal after a good attack down the left and a dummy from Stephens, but his first-time side-footed effort wasn't hit cleanly, and bounced off the post despite many (including myself) thinking it was heading into the net. Soon after, Church tried an acrobatic volley from the edge of the area, which was well hit but soon blocked.

Doncaster struggled to get create chances despite often breaking forward with slick passing football. These forays were too infrequent. When they eventually got the ball to Macheda in the box, he spun and turned like a competent Artur Boruc, before firing over the bar from a tight angle.

As half time approached, Charlton found themselves on the attack once again. Cameron Stewart was playing on the right as Jackson was deployed on the left, but was still a constant threat to the Doncaster defence. His ball into the box rebounded out to Stephens, who twisted in the air to fire an outstanding shot across his body from outside the area. It was struck with such power and dipped viciously, which took it under the bar and into the top left corner. What a strike!

All those chances, yet we'd scored from by far the most difficult.

Only one nil up at half time, but that could easily have been more as Church had missed a couple of great opportunities. Doncaster weren't looking a particularly coherent threat, but there was still work to be done before the three points were secure.

The second half progressed much in the same way as the first, though an element of caution had crept into our play which prevented over-committing in attack. Powell kept with the same formation, but Kermorgant had a deeper role behind Church which added extra defensive protection.

Wilson found himself with the ball near the area on the right, with Stewart overlapping, but a slip from the defender allowed him a clear run into the box. His shot was well parried by Turnbull, and Cousins couldn't get his shot on target from outside the box.

Charlton broke forward again on sixty minutes, Jackson carrying the ball down the left. He slotted a beautiful diagonal pass between the two centre backs to the feet of Church. Clean through on goal, he took the ball into the box, waited for Turnbull to go down and slotted to his left. The ball clipped the post before going in, but the Addicks had doubled their lead! Church looked relieved more than anything, but a smile of delight was visible on his face. Instead of joining in with the celebrations in front of the North-East corner, Yann decided to go and give a short defensive lecture to the back four. What a hero.

Church celebrates his goal with team-mates, while Yann
offers some instruction to the defence in the background

Two more chances were created by Stewart, choosing to shoot on both occasions after a sharp cutback onto his right foot. The first was just outside the box, well tipped over the bar by Turnbull, but the second was outrageous. When it looked like he should've passed to set up a better opportunity, he unleashed a dipping thirty yard strike that crashed back of the crossbar. He really has got a fantastic right foot. And I still maintain he should've passed!

Another glorious opportunity to make it 3-0 went begging, as the ball bounced across goal towards Church, twelve yards from goal. His swivelled effort saw him mis-kick horribly, and he just lay on the turf in despair. Turnbull helped him to his feet, probably thinking him for keeping the score down to two nil.

Charlton controlled and the game well, but Macheda had a couple of half chances before the end. One shot was well saved by Alnwick, deputising for Hamer after an injury in the warm up, and another flew over the bar much in the same way his chance in the first half had done.

Church and Jackson were replaced after excellent shifts, although the former probably should've had a hat-trick. Andy Hughes came on to much joy, as did Sordell, who ran a bit before getting bored. Green replaced the excellent Stewart, and promptly fired a shot from wide into the post, though the whistle had gone for offside.

Doncaster had precious little to offer going forward, unable to utilise the assistance of a waterlogged pitch this time round. "3-1, and you f-cked it up" was the rather harsh but amusing view from the North Upper.

Full time was greeted with muted cheers, with the result hardly in doubt from the moment Charlton went two to the good. The players clapped the fans as they went off, with Andy Hughes looking paticularly enthusiastic and inspirational. Chris Powell did his usual and waited to be the last man down the tunnel. The crowd expectantly waited him to re-emerge for his celebratory jump, and he did so having gloriously donned his flat cap. A fine way to end the night.

It was a professional performance by the Addicks, and much needed after a couple of defeats which had checked our momentum. Doncaster were poor, and struggled to have any significant attempts on goal. The Addicks defence restricted them to just the one shot on target. Morrison and Dervite won most of the aerial balls aimed at them, with the two full backs as energetic as ever. Wiggins and Wilson bombing forward is vital to our attacking threat, but they also defended stoutly.

Cousins and Stephens provided the real foundation for the victory. They tackled well, played some excellent short passes between themselves and spread the play going forward. It's great to see a settled duo, especially as it allows Stephens to play in a more advanced position. His passing was particularly good, whilst his goal rivals Cameron Stewart's volley as one of the best we've seen all season.

Stewart was fantastic, a constant threat down the right hand side. He has a tendency to cut onto his right foot a little too often, but Doncaster failed to cope, and he came incredibly close to scoring. He also managed to put a couple of dangerous crosses in, which is more difficult to do when he plays on the left. Jackson's role on the left was more defensive, seeing him tucking inside to provide defensive assistance. His pass to set up Church was exceptional.

Church really must be on the verge of scoring a shed load of goals. He continues to get into great positions and his understanding with Kermorgant is developing nicely. Even though it wasn't his night, he still managed to score. A little too often the defence played long balls over the top to run onto, but again his work rate was outstanding.

Kermorgant showed flashes of his brilliance, with a couple of magnificent and perfectly accurate flick-ons. He was deployed in the deeper centre forward role, meaning he wasn't in the box as often as would be liked, but the defensive duties he carried out made up for that. It was great to see the big Breton back on the field.

Powell got his tactics right, and although the opposition performance was below par, it was a professional job to secure three points as comfortably as Charlton did. The defensive-minded 4-4-2 formation has its limitations in attack, but has provided the side with extremely solid foundations on which they can build on. Another clean sheet and a vital three points will certainly lift the squad after Saturday's narrow loss at QPR. It also shows a steely resilience, as there was no sign of lingering disappointment from the game three days earlier.

For those that could make it, the display was a very encouraging one from a side who've struggled for goals. Ipswich at home on Saturday provides another opportunity to move up the table and build some momentum. Once again Chris Powell has lifted his players to achieve a great result. Here's to more of the same with him at the helm. I doff my flat cap to him.

Up The Addicks!