Half full and half empty

Charlton's 2-0 defeat by Wolves today was a case of the glass being both half full and half empty. Charlton were not at their best: defensive errors led to an easy opener for Wolves; the midfield was often off the pace; and there too many off target shots. However, it has to be admitted that Wolves played with determination.

Charlton had at least two chances to go ahead in the first half but they were wasted by Ambrose to whom they fell. Charlton edged the first half, but failed to score, but then some casual play by the Addicks allowed Wolves to take the lead immediately after the break. Charlton were then chasing the game and it was killed by a second Wolves goal.

Pards said afterward, 'In the first half we were in control, we should have got a goal in that period. Chasing the game was very difficult. Ultimately we have come away from here very disappointed and we must sort that out for Tuesday night.'

The game was preceded by a buffet lunch generously provided by Pelsall Addicks Graham and Jo Speller. Defrocked pitch announcer Brian Cole was among those there. As we set off for the ground in their people carrier, we decided that it could be designated an official 'Pelsall Rickshaw'.

Charlton started well, winning an early corner which led to a Wolves free kick. But then Chris Powell was brought down by a heavy tackle and in many ways this was the start of our troubles.

Zheng Zgi, Ambrose and Big Chris combined in a fluent move, but the ball was caught by the home side's impressive keeper. With Wolves making their first real attack, Ambrose averted danger at the expense of a corner which was punched out by Weaver.
Danny Mills intercepted well. Wolves broke and the ball flashed across the front of the Charlton goal. Even so, I thought that the Addicks were the better side in the first quarter of an hour.

Weaver made a great save, but perhaps should not have been exposed to danger in the first place. Ambrose won Charlton a corner taken by Reid. Wolves broke and Chris Powell was able to intervene to deal with the threat. Reid turned provider for Big Chris, but his effort went just wide. Although the officials generally had a good game, there was there an incident which looked like a Charlton corner to me was refused.

Ambrose found himself in front of goal, but possibly felt under pressure from defenders and blasted the shot over. Ambrose and Zheng Zhi ended up on the ground and both required treatment. Big Chris won Charlton a free kick and the effort from Ambrose went just over the bar. Bougherra provided good defensive work. Luke Varney, featured in the programme as a former factory worker, got a talking to by the referee after a vigorous tackle with the home crowd baying for a card.

The battering he had taken was too much for Sir Chris Powell and he was withdrawn in favour of Sodje. Wolves were stepping up the tempo in the hope of a goal before half time and in the three minutes added on Fortune made one of his trademark errors. Fortunately, it went unpunished.

Half time: Wolves 0, Addicks 0

At half time some lucky individual had the chance of winning a free pizza if he was in his or her seat when the Domino's man called. Two small cars were driven around the perimeter. For a moment we thought that Portchy had turned up in his cab, but they were too small for that purpose. 'I'll give you fifty for it,' shouted one Charlton wag. There was also a parade of primary school children as part of the 'Kick It Out' campaign. One reliable Charlton supporter told me that he thought he heard racist chanting later in the game, although I did not hear it myself.

Immediately after the break, Wolves looked determined and Charlton looked casual. Danny Mills unusually lost a tussle on the right, the ball was played in and former Addick Jay Bothroyd was able to score a simple goal to make it 1-0. Weaver was not really at fault, but Bougherra possibly was.

Luke Varney put in a shot that was saved. Zheng Zhi was brought down and the referee produced the first yellow card of the game. Danny Mills put in a shot from distance that clipped the top of the bar and was the nearest we came to scoring. What sweet revenge that would have been for the abuse he received!

Zheng Zhi was brought down yet again by one of McCarthy's charm merchants and Pards used the break in play to take off Bougherra and Ambrose and bring on Ambrose and Todorov. Zheng Zhi put in an effort that was just over. Then Varney put in a shot that drew a save from the keeper, but he put the rebound wide. It is in these situations that lack of top level experience shows.

A Charlton corner was over hit by the off form Reid. Another Charlton corner ended in a break for Wolves. It remains one of the areas of our play that needs most work. Another Charlton corner led to a break and a corner for Wolves. Thomas put in some good play down the wing, but, as is so often the case, it ended in nothing with the ball going into the side netting. As someone remarked, 'you can take the player out of Arsenal, but you can't take Arsenal out of the player.'

In trying to get the equaliser, Charlton exposed themselves to counter attack and Wolves were able to use a simple break to make it 2-0 through Henry. It was then game over, with Charlton's play becoming increasingly desperate and ragged. A Charlton corner gave slight hope of the possibility of a consolation goal, but Thomas blasted wide. With four minutes of time added on, many of the crowd of 24,058 began to drift out of the ground.

We are going to lose some matches even if we do get promoted and this was one of the more likely ones. But we have no divine right to go up and although the home matches against Plymouth and QPR offer the hope of six points, like any game in this division they will be tough and competitive.

Driving home we heard Scott Carson being sent off at Villa. At least we had the consolation of learning that Leamington had defeated higher level opposition in the FA Trophy, beating the Puritans (Banbury United) 2-0 in a local derby.

Match analysis

Ivy the Terrible has awarded the Silver Bone and a special pair of silver ear muffs to Danny Mills. For reasons that were unclear the right back was booed and barracked throughout the game with repeated accusations that he was an Onanist. However, he came as near as any Charlton player to scoring. Weaver was not really at fault for the first goal, but could have done better for the second. The demands being made on Powell are taking their toll and he had to be withdrawn injured in the first half. Fortune made fewer errors than usual, although it would be interesting to study where he and Bougherra were for the first goal. Bougherra was eventually withdrawn, but it was not clear why. For me Semedo was one of the better players in the game, making some nice runs forward. Reid seemed to have suffered a bit from his two international matches with Ireland and also seemed to be drifting to the left a lot.
Ambrose seems to completely lose it in front of goal. Zheng Zhi forged forward from time to time, but his attempts on goal were poor. Varney looks promising from time to time, but often seems to lack that final polish. Iwelumo was closely marked and had relatively few opportunities to display his skill. When Sodje came on he at least showed versatility in what he was required to do. Todorov has some nice ball skills, but it doesn't lead to anything. Thomas made some good runs down the wing after he came on.

Hiss of the Match This was awarded by Juneau the Soccer Cat to the continuous moaners among the Charlton crowd. OK, Charlton were not at their best, but a continuous stream of incentive, when linked with dubious football judgements, does little to improve one's mood. However, at least those people were there. What is even more annoying is electronic commentators who listen on the radio and then tell Pards how to sort it out.

Crowd rating: The thousand or so Addicks were up against a partisan Wolves crowd and were understandably subdued. It was also difficult to watch the match with the sun in one's face. 4/10.