Charlton 2 (Jackson 23, Wagstaff 45) Blackpool 1 (Eccleston 90).
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
Never slow to tinker sensibly with his tactics or team selection, instinctive gambler Chris Powell sprang two surprises on a frigid afternoon during which brass monkeys were phoning in sick all over the country. Not only did he change the shape of the side which won so spectacularly at Watford on New Years Day but he handed an all but forgotten Scott Wagstaff his first league start of the season in an re-vamped 4-5-1 formation.
They were bold decisions which, if they hadn’t come off, would have exposed Powell to the inevitable “don’t know what you’re doing!” derision from that part of the crowd -any club’s crowd- that always unerringly know what they’re doing and are rarely slow to share their expertise with the innocently naive rest of us.
Deployed wide on the left of a 5-man midfield, Wagstaff could be relied upon to run himself into the ground. He also contributed hugely to the Addicks’ first goal before claiming the second one himself. His ceaseless industry was invaluable in containing a useful but toothless Blackpool side which looked ominously slick during 20 one-way opening minutes but began to sag after falling behind midway through the first half. During Charlton’s’ struggle to get to grips with the patient Seasiders, they stuck faithfully to one of their gaffer’s regular mantras to “stay in the game” and came through a testing period with only one genuinely awkward moment. After just two minutes, tricky customer Nathan Delfouneso achieved the rare feat of confounding the imperturbable Chris Solly before standing up a teasing cross to the far post, where evergreen striker Kevin Phillips headed intelligently back across Ben Hamer for the opposite corner. An untidy combination of left upright and emergency centre back Matt Taylor scrambled the ball clear. It was as close to scoring as 39-year old Phillips was to come; time drags its heels for no man.
Another change, this one forced on Powell by Dorian Dervite’s suspension and Leon Cort’s hamstring problem, saw stalwart Taylor return alongside last season’s partner Michael Morrison. A clash of heads with Isaiah Osbourne inconvenienced him briefly before, swathed temporarily in bandage, his looping header from Dale Stephens’ inswinging corner was cleared off the line by Delfouneso. As his confidence grew, Taylor was another stopgap who came through nobly for a boss who knows the value of a committed squad.
Two minutes later, with Wagstaff the early catalyst, the Addicks snatched the lead somewhat against the run of play. Alertly intercepting Matt Gilks’ poor clearance, the recalled left winger found Solly, whose pass to Kermorgant rebounded off the big Breton into Johnnie Jackson’s stride. Snapping off a not altogether convincing right-footed shot, the skipper was gratified to watch it squirt past a poorly positioned Gilks on its way inside the left post. Jackson’s second goal in successive league games was celebrated with his customary gusto.
With the Tangerines still coping with their disappointment, referee Mike Jones’ curious decision that Neil Eardley hadn’t coldbloodedly chopped down Wagstaff a yard outside the penalty area – though, quite obviously, someone had – spared Eardley, as last defender, a red card. The vocal irritation of both Wagstaff and Powell was mitigated, almost immediately, by Charlton’s second goal scored, with undisguised glee and a deliciously savoured measure of justice, by Wagstaff.
A flowing move launched by Kermorgant’s sharp turn and incisive pass sent Lawrie Wilson haring past outmanouevred left back Stephen Crainey to the right byline. The midfielder’s carefully measured cross was headed powerfully goalward by a diving Kermorgant, parried magnificently by Gilks, but efficiently buried on the rebound by natural goalpoacher Wagstaff.
Tidy and organised, meanwhile, Blackpool plugged away during the second half as nervous paralysis afflicted a home side which, at times, seemed incapable of clearing their lines. The visitors were given unwarranted hope by a series of errors but lacked the firepower to exploit the situation. It’s admirable, of course, that defenders are encouraged to play their way out of trouble but there are times when a lusty boot into a neighbouring parish is encouraged. The purists might sniff at such crudity but it’s part of the game and always will be. As a cultured defender himself, Powell always knew when to “send it”. Had Nathan Eccleston’s excellent added time volley reduced his side’s arrears some ten minutes earlier, a stadium-wide nervous breakdown could have put intolerable pressure on our local A & E departments. Heartening to see the petitions outside the ground, by the way. See that you sign. We’re all in this together, you know.
Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with Maybridge – the CIS Tax Refund Specialists, 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.
Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Evina, Wilson, Stephens (Fuller 84), Pritchard, Jackson, Wagstaff (Harriott 74), Kermorgant. Not used: Button, Green, Wright-Phillips, Fox, Ajayi. Booked: Stephens.
Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley, Baptiste, Broadfoot, Crainey, Basham, Osbourne (Taylor-Fletcher 59), Sylvestre, Ince, Delfouneso (Eccleston 68), Kevin Phillips (Gomes 77). Not used: Halstead, Cathcart, Martinez, Harris.
Referee: Mike Jones. Att: 16,846.
I’d like to complain about the accuracy of this report. Having attended the game myself, I have to admit that it seems to me to be completely accurate, which can be very galling. Charlton had teeth and Blackpool were indeed toothless. There’s a wonderful advert quite near the Rectory Field for an NHS dentist if anyone’s interested. Meanwhile, get involved in saving the NHS and consign austerity to posterity.