Charlton Athletic Online

Luton Town 3 Charlton Athletic 1

When my doctor told me that I needed to stay off the booze for the next three months, I didn’t realise she meant not partake in the Carling Cup too! And so Charlton once more crashed out of this competition to lower league opposition. It was not a good day for me…

As widely expected, Alan Pardew made changes from the team that beat both Norwich and Leicester in the last two league games; ten changes in total, with only Madjid Bougherra getting consecutive starts, and that probably only due to Sam Sodje being cup-tied.

The game started well for the visitors, with a goal after just four minutes. Who scored it was the subject of much debate; Izale McLeod crossed, and the radio said that Dean Sinclair bundled it through the keeper’s legs, and into the net. Sky Sports initially gave the goal to Todorov, but then amended that to Sinclair, before finally settling on giving it to Darren Ambrose (who did follow the ball in). Officially though, it is Sinclair’s first goal for the Addicks.

Slowly though, the home side found their confidence, in part due to Charlton not capitalising on numerous chances to go further ahead, and Luton equalised with a great strike just before half time. Darren Ambrose almost, unexpectedly, won the game for the Addicks near the final whistle, but in extra time the higher level of match practice that Luton had over Charlton’s reserves told, and they scored once more in each fifteen-minute half.

So, once more out of the cup, but at least there are plenty of positives to go with the negatives:

POSITIVE: Dean Sinclair scored and had a good game in midfield, on his first start for Charlton. He is good cover for our central midfield, and will be better for this game.
NEGATIVE: Losing to lower league oppo once more; sure, Luton had their first team out, and we our reserves, but it does still look embarrassing.
POSITIVE: Matt Holland and Yassin Moutaouakil returning from injury and getting plenty of minutes on the field.
NEGATIVE: Izale McLeod missing a whole host of chances when he should have done better. Sadly, he even seemed unable to make the keeper work either, hitting almost all his shots well wide.
POSITIVE: Therry Racon hit the bar with a great volley...
NEGATIVE: Luton scored with their good volley.
POSITIVE: Only Izzy got booked, so that shouldn’t have a lasting effect on suspensions later in the season.
NEGATIVE: Magic Boogieman’s comical gift of the third gaol to Luton…
POSITIVE: All the team getting a good run out.
NEGATIVE: Some of the team getting too much of a run out, having to play all through 90 minutes and extra time.

That’s about all I can think of to say, and at least it means Alan Pardew will have something to say at training over the next few days, and his side to play Coventry on Saturday may be a little easier to pick.

Now, about that fiver I owe you Natailie…

Labels: Charlton, Luton Town