Kiwi traveller's sharp shock

The brother of Steve from Croydon (formerly Sidcup) returned to The Valley today for the first time since we were in the Premiership. He was amazed by the scene of footballing devastation he saw before him. He could only recognise two of the players and was shocked by the disorganisation and lack of creativity.

What he saw was a game of two halves. In the first half, Charlton barely threatened the Clarets goal, while Burnley, showing effort and determination rather than skill, took the lead. With two substitutions at half time, Charlton came back into the game and scored an equaliser through Todorov. But somehow Varney missed an open goal and a chance to make it 2-1. Charlton remained in 20th position. Elsewhere, Leamington maintained their 100 per cent league record, winning 4-0 at AFC Sudbury.

At Blackheath, someone who I am sure who is a vicar there got on the train wearing a very smart cashmere scarf in claret. Before the game we saw equine magnate John Window come on to the pitch with two of his grandsons and there was quite a nice picture of one of his nags in the programme. The message from the club chaplain in the programme seems to have caused more controversy, although I must look up the passage from John and see whether it applies to managers.

Burnley tested Weaver with an early stinging snap shot which he managed to hold on to. Right from the start of the game it was evident that we were going to having trouble with possession and this problem persisted in the better second half. Rule 1 - which even Leamington's players know - is pass to a player wearing your own colours, not to the opposition. Rule 2 is don't let yourself be dispossessed through dwelling on the ball while thinking about what to do with it. Notwithstanding Rule 2, Rule 3 is don't hit panic shots either out of defence or in a supposed attack.

We saw an early illustration of the importance of these rules when the below par Bailey, dallying on the ball, managed to be dispossessed and only the intervention of Hudson prevented a very dangerous situation developing.

Burnley surged forward and the lino raised the offside flag. However, the rather wet referee, who looked as if he could not wear a ten gallon hat without looking foolish, waved played on and after some customarily pathetic attempts at defending the ball was in the net. The roars of the crowd led the Dallas Cowboy to run over to the east stand lino for a discussion of the offside rule which led to the goal being disallowed. Not surprisingly, this did not lead to shouts of 'yi-ha' from the Clarets, two of whom engaged the referee in a very animated discussion.

This only reinforced the view of Burnley that they are victims from the north, even though the referee was from Derbyshire, and fired up their players who compensate with passion what they lack in talent. A Burnley throw in led to a Burnley corner. While Charlton corners rarely threaten, this one produced predictable panic in the Addicks' defence and with Weaver unsighted Thompson put the ball in the net for the visitors.

Varney displayed what he had learnt in the Midland Alliance by putting the ball wide when he should have held it up and laid it off. A bizarre call went out over the loudspeakers for a gentleman from Helsinki to visit the ticket office after the game. What was he doing at such a rubbish match? Were they going to give him his money back? Or had he paid in Icelandic krona and their value had gone down during the match? We shall never know.

Moutaoukil had to put the ball over the crossbar to prevent a Burnley goal. The Burnley corner led to a second. Primus seemed to be incredibly slow, giving the ball away for a Burnley attack. Moutaoukil won the ball well. Charlton won a free kick, but an effort by Wright was way off target. Weaver gathered the ball comfortably for a free kick. Wright battled for the ball well.

Burnley powerhouse Wade Elliott fouled Bailey and received a yellow card. Time added on produced no cheer for the Addickted and boos that have been heard during the course of the match when Basey made a hash of things rang round the ground again.

Half time: Addicks 0, Clarets 1

To be fair to Pardew, at least he realised that changes had to be made. Off came the sluggish Primus, Cranie switched from left back to centre back where he was far more comfortable, Lloyd Sam came on and Todorov replaced the hapless McLeod.

The first signs were not encouraging when the inconsistent Sam gave the ball away. Cranie defended calmly by heading the ball over for a Burnley corner. Varney forged forward but was offside.

Moutaoukil forged down the right, he fed the ball to Ambrose over on the left. Ambrose put in a very good cross, but manager's favourite Varney headed it straight at the keeper.

Steven Caldwell went off for Burnley and Stephen Jordan came on. Bailey got a yellow card for a foul which gave the Clarets a free kick in a potentially dangerous position, but it was cleared.

Following another Burnley substitution, Moutaoukil won the ball well leading to a Charlton corner taken by Basey. This was followed by a second, but then the visitors were able to break and won a free kick. Fortunately, this opportunity was wasted. Stephen Thompson came off and Robbie Blake came on for Burnley.

Sam was fouled, leading to a Charlton free kick and the skilled Todorov made no mistake in converting it with his head to allow the Addicks to draw level. Shortly afterwards it looked as if the Addicks might have scored again, but the ball hit the side netting and went round the back of the goal.

A sizzling Burnley shot came off the upright and the alert Moutaoukil headed the ball out for a corner, followed by a second. The tiring Wright was replaced by Holland. Ambrose put in an effort from distance that was not far wide.

Varney created an opportunity by forging forward. Danish madman Jensen in the Burnley goal came racing out and Varney rounded him with an open goal in front of him. However, he hesitated because he wanted to make sure, not having the confidence to score from a few yards, albeit that the angle was tight. This allowed an advancing Burnley defender to intervene and preserve a share of the points for the Clarets.

Bailey won Charlton a corner and three minutes of time were added on, but Charlton could not impose themselves on the game.

Two after-the-match reactions. I heard a Burnely fan saying into his mobile how great Burnley had been and how fantastic it was to come to a big club like Charlton and get a share of the points. One wonders what planet these people on, supposedly the same one as the fan commenting on the 606 website who said that they didn't want Charlton to be relegated to League 1 as they had enough big clubs there. Forget talk about Burnley being the new Hull. They're not.

Pards said that the draw felt like a win and in odd way I could see what he means. At least we ended the goal drought and at least we showed some fight in the second half. But many of the players are not good enough and they still fail to play as a team. It may be mild now, but it's going to be a long hard winter.

Match analysis


Hooch the Pooch: gets a silver biscuit out of his barrel for Todorov

Ivy the Terrible awarded the Silver Bone to Moutaoukil. He made some errors, but he also displayed real verve and pace which made a contribution to the game, particularly in the second half. As Senior Match Analyst emeritus Hooch the Pooch has reminded Ivy that it is possible to give the Silver Bone to a player who comes on in the second half and transforms the game, i.e., Todorov who receives a silver biscuit. Weaver was hardly to blame for the goal which came through a forest of legs. It was good to have Hudson back and he was calm and authoritative. For me Cranie continues to fail to impress, whatever position he is tried in. Primus had a quiet first half and was substituted. Bailey again made a number of errors in terms of giving away possession. Ambrose attracted more than his share of abuse from the row behind me and he certainly won't get stuck in, but he did forge forward well at times. Basey was reasonably competent, but not that inspiring. Wright received a warm ovation from the Addickted when he was substituted, but that reflected their affection for an Academy player than for what he contributed on the pitch which was quite limited. McLeod hared around on the pitch to no effect whatsoever. It was a bizaare selection, given that Dickson would have offered as much pace and probably more skill and it was a reflection of the extent of Pardew's desperation. Varney is simply not a striker, for all his pace and penetration. He lacks the required competence and composure in front of goal. He would be better as a winger. Todorov showed when he came on that he is one of the few quality players that we have. He saw his chance and took it. Sam made some errors and I wish he would not drift inside so much. But he did make a useful contribution. Holland displayed his usual enthusiasm and workrate.

Juneau the Soccer Cat awarded the Hiss of the Mach to Alan Pardew. He stood impassively in the technical area for much of the match with his arms folded on his chest. Then late on he discovered he had a watch and pointed to it as a reminder that the clocks are going back tonight.

Crowd rating I don't blame the Addickted for getting frustrated in the first half, but they got behind the team in the second, drowning out the relatively small number of Clarets in the Jimmy Seed stand. 6/10.