Sunday, October 02, 2005
Bent double not enough
Charlton Athletic 2 Tottenham Hotspur 3
What is it when Charlton are winning well against Spurs? A few years back, it was an FA Cup match at The Valley, and Charlton ended up losing 4-2. Last year, a three goal lead at White Hart Lane almost disappeared in the last couple of minutes, though Charlton hung on for a win on that occasion. This time, Charlton threw away their well earnt lead and ended up with nothing against the North Londoners.
Today, Darren Bent twice beat the offside trap that Spurs played all afternoon and scored, finishing both chances very well, the first via Robinson's body, and the second by chipping sublimely over the England goalie into the top corner. Just after half time it was looking rosy red for the Addicks, but it was soon to change.
Almost immediately after the second Charlton goal, Referee Dowd gave another one of his many favours to Spurs, and a ricochet off Ledley King from the resultant free kick trickled into the corner of the net. From that point onwards, Spurs surged forwards and Charlton looked vunerable. After an hour, Mido, who put several shots more wayward than any other forward has for many a year at The Valley, was found free on the left side of the penalty box, and he swung his left leg and the ball went through Andersen's legs and in off the far post. Two all.
The third, and ultimately deciding, Spurs goal, was bizarre too. Mido collapsed in a heap as Luke Young broke forward in support down the right. Calls were made for the ball to be kicked out so that the Egyptian forward could be treated, but Charlton continued to attack. Young's eventual cross was knocked away, and you may have thought that Spurs would kick the ball out of play? But no - a fast break down the right wing, poor coverage at the back of the Charlton defence (with Young still tracking back), and Robbie Keane was left free to score another goal against the club he was once touted to play for (via Charlton's deal with Internazionale).
Bent went off injured after a nasty clash of heads, with twenty minutes still left, his right eye almost closed, and he was replaced by a lacklustre Bartlett. Charlton then had a few chances to equalise - Bartlett (twice), Young (twice), Powell, Sub Spector, and Smertin all had shots or efforts that could have led to goals, but to no avail. Dawson was brought on to shore up the Spurs defence, and the three-pronged attack became two as Martin Jol tried to close the game down.
Murphy, and Young were booked, and with Bent and Thomas substituted, Charlton's England contingent didn't have the best of days. We'll have to see if Sven decides he needs any Charlton players in his senior squad when it is announced tomorrow - hopefully, it wil be three.
Before the match, it was surprising to find that Hreidersson had been replaced by El Karkouri due to a slight injury. Our Moroccan had a reasonable game, though his flat free kicks were wasted without the big Icelander to get on the end of them. The official match report is here.
A couple of other things stood out for me during the game: Rommedahl and Thomas both failed to get past their full backs at all during the match, which is certainly not usual for this season. Spurs had a couple of women on their bench - one went off down the touchline and tunnel with Mendes when he was substituted; the other helped carry Mido off and got involved when their was blood around after Bent's clash of heads. I guess we are used to seeing the odd female involved these days, but it was the first time I'd seen two play a part at a senior match.
Referee Dowd did not enamour himself to either set of fans, and certainly favoured the whiter shirts in the first half.
It was a very disappointing end to Charlton's week.
What is it when Charlton are winning well against Spurs? A few years back, it was an FA Cup match at The Valley, and Charlton ended up losing 4-2. Last year, a three goal lead at White Hart Lane almost disappeared in the last couple of minutes, though Charlton hung on for a win on that occasion. This time, Charlton threw away their well earnt lead and ended up with nothing against the North Londoners.
Today, Darren Bent twice beat the offside trap that Spurs played all afternoon and scored, finishing both chances very well, the first via Robinson's body, and the second by chipping sublimely over the England goalie into the top corner. Just after half time it was looking rosy red for the Addicks, but it was soon to change.
Almost immediately after the second Charlton goal, Referee Dowd gave another one of his many favours to Spurs, and a ricochet off Ledley King from the resultant free kick trickled into the corner of the net. From that point onwards, Spurs surged forwards and Charlton looked vunerable. After an hour, Mido, who put several shots more wayward than any other forward has for many a year at The Valley, was found free on the left side of the penalty box, and he swung his left leg and the ball went through Andersen's legs and in off the far post. Two all.
The third, and ultimately deciding, Spurs goal, was bizarre too. Mido collapsed in a heap as Luke Young broke forward in support down the right. Calls were made for the ball to be kicked out so that the Egyptian forward could be treated, but Charlton continued to attack. Young's eventual cross was knocked away, and you may have thought that Spurs would kick the ball out of play? But no - a fast break down the right wing, poor coverage at the back of the Charlton defence (with Young still tracking back), and Robbie Keane was left free to score another goal against the club he was once touted to play for (via Charlton's deal with Internazionale).
Bent went off injured after a nasty clash of heads, with twenty minutes still left, his right eye almost closed, and he was replaced by a lacklustre Bartlett. Charlton then had a few chances to equalise - Bartlett (twice), Young (twice), Powell, Sub Spector, and Smertin all had shots or efforts that could have led to goals, but to no avail. Dawson was brought on to shore up the Spurs defence, and the three-pronged attack became two as Martin Jol tried to close the game down.
Murphy, and Young were booked, and with Bent and Thomas substituted, Charlton's England contingent didn't have the best of days. We'll have to see if Sven decides he needs any Charlton players in his senior squad when it is announced tomorrow - hopefully, it wil be three.
Before the match, it was surprising to find that Hreidersson had been replaced by El Karkouri due to a slight injury. Our Moroccan had a reasonable game, though his flat free kicks were wasted without the big Icelander to get on the end of them. The official match report is here.
A couple of other things stood out for me during the game: Rommedahl and Thomas both failed to get past their full backs at all during the match, which is certainly not usual for this season. Spurs had a couple of women on their bench - one went off down the touchline and tunnel with Mendes when he was substituted; the other helped carry Mido off and got involved when their was blood around after Bent's clash of heads. I guess we are used to seeing the odd female involved these days, but it was the first time I'd seen two play a part at a senior match.
Referee Dowd did not enamour himself to either set of fans, and certainly favoured the whiter shirts in the first half.
It was a very disappointing end to Charlton's week.
