Charlton battle for the point

Charlton battled for an important away point and a rare clean sheet in a 0-0 draw at Brighton tonight.

Wilson came in for Fuller with Kermorgant as the sole striker on a cold, clear night at the Amex, reports Sally Hilton. The attendance of 28,043 with just under 2,000 Addicks was a record for a midweek game at the Amex.

Ben Hamer cut out an early effort from Lua Lua, but essentially the early play was patient and testing each other. Hamer gathered comfortably from a corner on three minutes. The Addicks had a spell of possession, but it was unproductive.

Brighton had a spell of pressure, but the Addicks coped well. Dervitte made an essential block to deny the home side a goal scoring opportunity. Charlton won their first corner, Jackson’s effort was a good one with pace and power but the keeper was able to gather.

Harriott won a free kick for the Addicks, but it did not produce anything. Wiggins had to deal with Buckley after the Seagulls made a good break. Charlton won the midfield battle with Pritchard bringing the ball away. The Addicks had a claim for a corner after Bridge headed the ball out following work from Harriott and Wilson, but Brighton got a fortunate goal kick.

Kermorgant was breaking away when he was brought down by a poor challenge, but there was no yellow card, just a free kick. After a long kick from Kuzczak won Brighton a corner, their header went well wide.

The Brighton bench appealed for a yellow card for Andy Hughes but the referee decided that an apology would suffice. Lua Lua got round Pritchard and Solly. His power shot almost hit the corner flag. Charlton were not allowing Brighton to settle. Hughes put in some good defending on the edge of the penalty area. A shot from Kermorgant drifted about a foot over the crossbar. A free kick was awarded for a foul by Dervitte. Charlton had to do some defending and conceded a corner. Hamer had to palm the ball away. Harriott broke to try and make use of a counter attacking opportunity but Lua Lua was in his way. Wilson’s first touch let him down.

Brighton advanced down the right and Jackson got the yellow card the home fans had been calling for. The corner was taken short. Calderon had a great chance seven yards out but put it wide.

Hamer saved well from Lua Lua. Hamer had to make another claim at the far post from Buckley. Kermorgant won Charlton a free kick with Poyet signalling that he had dived, although some of the Brighton players looked as if they honed their skills at the local pool.

Wiggins got into a decent position but was not able to exploit it. Kermorgant got a bang on the head. Charlton were containing Brighton, and closing them down well, but did they have a sufficient attacking edge? They had quietened the crowd, but what would be the Plan B if Brighton scored? Albion got a free kick after Calderon was tripped. It was taken quickly, but then there was a foul on Harriott.

HT: Seagulls 0, Addicks 0

Charlton started the second half brightly, but then danger man Lua Lua had to be closed down by Solly. A cross from Bridge was gathered comfortably by Hamer. Harriott fed Kermorgant well, but the ball squirted away from him.

Solly defended against Lua Lua superbly to the annoyance of the home fans. Solly played a clever ball to evade Bridge, but Wilson did not read it well. The home fans started up a chant of ‘Seagulls’ to energise their team as 55 minutes approached.

Pritchard won the ball well and Harriott advanced. The Addicks applied some pressure, but Harriott scooped it over with Pritchard calling for it from six yards out. A shot from Harriott was palmed away by the keeper. Charlton were in the ascendancy. Lua Lua tried a shot, but Solly blocked. Solly conceded a corner kick which was taken quickly. Albion had a good chance, but the downward header went wide. Chris Powell was furious with the way in which the corner had been defended.

Hughes seemed to be tiring and there was movement on the bench. Kermorgant advanced from the halfway line and Greer clipped him to earn a yellow card. Solly was having some treatment on his hand.

Morrison defended well but then put in a rather poor back pass to Hamer. More gaps were appearing in the game which probably helped Brighton. It was time for a substitution.

Dervitte was penalised for a foul. Hamer palmed the ball down from the free kick, Wilson scooped it away and conceded a corner. Calderon put it over the bar. Brighton continued to apply pressure with all their players in the Charlton half. Wiggins defended well, but had to concede a corner. Hamer palmed away the downward header.

Charlton were defending desperately with the home fans in a state of great excitement. Solly had to concede a corner. Jackson cleared the ball. Pritchard was pushed by Upson to win a free kick and relieve the pressure. Dale Stephens came on for Lawrie Wilson. Pritchard put in a great strike, but Bridcutt came to the rescue. Wiggins defended well against Buckley whom he had generally marshalled well. A corner was headed away by Solly and the move ended in a goal kick for Charlton.

Hamer had to make a great save by palming the ball to his right. He punched the ball away from the corner. Poyet was losing his rag. Hughes got a yellow card for a push on Lua Lua. A cross from Lua Lua was headed away by Dervitte. Stephens put in an excellent long range effort but it was tipped over well by the keeper. Taylor replaced Andy Hughes who received a warm ovation from the Addickted and a big hug from Sir Chris. Buckley shot but Hamer, in great form, touched it on the crossbar. The ball came in from the corner and off the post.