Wake up call is more trumpet of doom

In the programme Pards referred to Charlton's two defeats in a row as a wake up call. Their third defeat in a row, a 0-1 home defeat at The Valley by Queen's Park Rangers, was more like a trumpet of doom. Admittedly, QPR have turned things round under their new manager and have avoided defeat in their last three games. But Charlton were effectively turned over by a team of journeymen who wanted it more.

It was a disjointed performance by Charlton and only the incompetence of the Super Hoops in front of goal stopped it from being 0-3. What can one do with a team that has a suspect defence, strikers who can't find the target and a midfield that has some talented individual players but at the moment is playing well below what it is capable of? Certainly the three substitutions made did little to help and, if anything, made things worse, as Pards has subsequently admitted.

Throughout the match, there was too little reliance on the hopeful long ball. We could also have tried to attack through the middle more, given that their defence had even more weaknesses than ours. Writing in the programme, Rick Everitt referred to the difficulty of selling matchday tickets. Today's performance won;t help.

We had difficulty in getting to the match on time, but apparently Darren Ambrose had even more trouble and did not arrive in time to warm the bench. To be fair, there were serious problems on the M25 and the Swanley Rickshaw had to be cancelled because the coach couldn't get there.

The team went into a huddle before the match and Steve from Sidcup said presciently that this was not a good idea as it suggested we were frightened of QPR.

Charlton won an early corner which showed how shaky QPR were at the back but, as usual, we didn't make anything of it, delivering the ball straight to the keeper (a Rams reject). Basey showed his calibre with a good pass back to Weaver. Then Mills had to concede a corner to avert danger and there was a handball shout in the subsequent play.

Basey put in a great angled ball across the pitch to Sam. The Hoops made a rare good move down the wing, leading to a corner, which was cleared to a throw in. Basey delivered a good cross, but there was no one there to connect. With QPR threatening, Mills got the Addicks out of trouble. Grant Basey won Charlton a corner, but, to his despair, the well positioned Sodje headed over.

Varney advanced threateningly, but Iwelumo managed to fall over at a crucial market, perhaps suggesting that watering the pitch before the game is not a good idea. Sam won Charlton a corner but it was caught by the keeper. Basey stopped a break by the Hoops. Luke Varney was played through so that he was one on one with the keeper. It was a chance to score but, under some pressure, he put the ball over.

A Charlton corner led to a break by the Hoops. Another Charlton corner was taken short, but there was no one in the box to collect the ball. Mills conceded a free kick in a dangerous position, but the ball went straight to Weaver. Reid combined well with Varney and a cross was provided for Iwelumo but he headed over. Varney burst through, but was offside.

Non-interventionist referee Lee Probert had a word with charm merchant Damion Stewart. Rangers were given a free kick in front of the D, but it came off the wall.

Half time: Addicks 0, Super Hoops 0

Thomas was brought on for Semedo immediately after the break. Zheng Zhi put in a shot. Fortune fouled an attacker in the box and a penalty was awarded. I could not read the number of the lump who took it but it came off the post and was cleared. Varney got himself in a good position, but was unable to take advantage. A Rangers corner had to be cleared off the line. A basic error by Mills put an attacker one on one with Weaver, but he put his shot wide.

Luke Varney put in a decent shot which was saved for a Charlton corner. Thomas went down and required treatment. Thomas won a rather lucky free kick for Charlton in a promising position. On 71 minutes the inevitable happend and with Weaver come off his line and then being fouled, QPR were able to score their winning goal.

Sam and then Zheng Zhi won Charlton corners, but they are rarely productive. The Wiltshire Wizard, Lee Probert, realised that his cards could have a magical effect and booked Sam for a foul that was no worse than some of the efforts of the Hoops. Sam won the Addicks a free kick on the edge of the box which led to a Charlton corner, but his reward was to be taken off in favour of Racon.

Reid received a yellow card for dissent. The match was running down, the Addickted were streaming out and nothing could be done to avoid a humiliating defeat.

Match analysis

Monty Martin was brought in as match analyst in place of Ivy the Terrible who spent the day on a refresher course with Hooch the Pooch who urged 'we dogs know more about the game than Rob Styles.' Monts left his usual luck behind in Blewbury, Oxon but he did have the honour of presenting the Silver Bone to left back Grant Basey on his first ever appearance from the Addicks. The youngster looked very nervous before the match, but rarely put a foot wrong and provided some precision passes. Weaver made two great saves. Although he was at fault for the goal, Joe the Saint texted us to say that the television replay showed that he was fouled. Fortune showed as usual that he does not deal with pressure well and is error prone, giving away a penalty. Sodje was no great improvement as centre back. Mills had a mare of a game, nearly gifting a goal to the opposition. I thought that Semedo played reasonably well in the first half and was disappointed to see him taken off. Zheng Zhi showed a few flashes, but lacked consistency, particular in front of goal. Sam was one of the better plays on the park, showing an ability to penetrate the opposition defence and it was disappointing to see him withdrawn. Reid has been below par since he returned from the international break and it affects the whole team. Varney came as near as anyone to scoring. Iwelumo gets hustled off the ball too easily. Thomas more sulky than silky when he came on and contributed little to the game. McLeod once again showed that his League 2 pedigree cuts no ice in the Championship. Racon had a cameo and was anonymous.

Juneau the Soccer Cat gave the Hiss of the Match to London Underground. Our train was halted at Waterloo and Waterloo East, but no explanation was given of how long the delay would be, otherwise we would have got off and got a surface train earlier. I nearly missed the match and Maggie only got there at the start. Sort it out Ken!

Crowd rating: Very subdued in the first half apart from one shout of 'You're going down with the Palace.' Got behind the team more in the second half, although there were sprinkled boos of exasperation.