Huddersfield Town 0 Charlton 1 (Harriott 4).
Kevin Nolan reports from the John Smith’s Stadium.
In brass monkeys weather on a pudding of a pitch, Charlton took an important step in securing their Championship future with this muck-and-nettles win over Huddersfield Town at the lyrically named John Smith Stadium. In a definitive road performance, they did to the Terriers what Burnley had done to them at The Valley a fortnight earlier. It wasn’t exactly art but it was as spirited as hell.
To be frank, when a 4th minute strike from Callum Harriott gave them the lead, the odds against it turning out to be the winner were prohibitive. But en route to making the teenager’s first league goal stand up for over 90 more minutes, the Addicks offered blood, sweat and, ultimately, tears of relief. Away from home, they’re a tough nut to crack.
Unaffected, as kids often are, by the tension ridden occasion, Harriott showed that a fighter’s heart underpins the shimmies and step-overs which decorate his performance. He also contributed willingly to the winning of the unpleasant nuts-and-bolts exchanges that come with the territory in situations like this. In fact, he seems to enjoy a dust-up now and then. He certainly stands up for himself.
The 19 year-old winger served early notice of his menace on his hosts with his first touch, wriggling between two baffled defenders on the left byline to set up a chance, over which Danny Haynes hesitated and lost. A minute later, he mooched casually back to the 18-yard line as Chris Solly feinted a free kick into a crowded penalty area from the left flank. Both youngsters proved to be gifted thespians because the ball was instead cut back to a suddenly switched-on Harriott, who took a steadying touch, shot crisply through the throng into the bottom left corner, then disappeared under a pile of celebrating colleagues. He seems a popular chap.
With their precious lead to defend, the visitors dug in for what promised to be a long haul. Uncomplicated Huddersfield lacked subtlety but made up in honest effort what they lacked in artistry. Well, honest up to a point, if you ignore the niggling input of Lee Novak and ponytailed substitute Alan Lee, who plays football with all the delicacy of a broken bottle. While we’re at it, let’s indulge our metaphors. Lee is more rottweiler than terrier.
Defiant and stubborn, meanwhile, the Addicks rode their luck occasionally and when that failed, depended on the outstanding goalkeeping of David Button. An early scare, when Theo Robinson failed, by a whisker, to turn in Scott Danns’ low centre, was quickly followed by the fine save Button made to turn Peter Clarke’s header over the bar. Following Harriott’s booking for fouling Oliver Norwood, the busy keeper was again called on to tip Robinson’s glancing header to safety. Button was entitled to the assistance he received from Rhoys Wiggins, who hacked an effort from Novak off the goalline, before adding an alert save of his own from Norwood’s long range blockbuster to his growing repertoire.
It wasn’t all Town, of course, and Alex Smithies had to react smartly to block Haynes’ downward header from Wilson’s cross. Following Oscar Gobern’s foul on Solly, Johnnie Jackson’s typically dangerous free kick was nodded over Smithies by Wilson at the near post but spectacularly cleared off his line by a surprisingly athletic Clarke. With the Addicks seeking the insurance of a second goal, Harriott added the pass-of-the-game to his vital opener, his defence-splitting delivery setting up Haynes to wastefully hit Smithies’ legs in one-on-one confrontation.
The second half was a hard, long slog. The West Yorkshiremen cheerfully abandoned any thought of playing through the treacly conditions and plumped for an aerial assault in its place. Nine minutes after the break, midweek goal heroes Lee and Danny Ward left the bench and the blitz intensified. Centre backs Matt Taylor and Michael Morrison remained rock-steady and despite all the bluff and bluster, clearcut chances were few. It was the irrepressible Harriott, in quickfire combination with Wiggins, who actually created the most dangerous moment, his scuffed low shot deflecting off Anthony Gerrard to precarious safety.
Town’s growing desperation led to bookings for Lee’s ugly follow-through on Button, not to mention the shameless rugby tackle with which Danns halted a Haynes breakaway. Not that it was a nasty game, just tetchy from time to time. And when it was done and dusted, the Addicks had shaken the persistent Terriers off their ankles. It’s not always grim up North. Anything but grim sometimes, as it happens.
Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.
Huddersfield: Smithies, Hunt, Clarke, Gerrard, Dixon, Clayton, Gobern (Arfield 81), Norwood (Ward 54), Danns, Novak, Robinson (Lee 54). Not used: Bennett, Woods, Wallace, Atkinson. Booked: Lee, Danns.
Charlton: Button, Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins, Wilson, Pritchard, Jackson, Harriott (Evina 79), Fuller (Dervite 66), Haynes (Obika 88). Not used: Hamer, Green, Stephens, Wagstaff. Booked: Taylor, Wiggins, Harriott.
Referee: Keith Stroud. Att: 13,591.