The elusive search for the back of the net

Charlton drew 0-0 with Cardiff City at The Valley this afternoon. They lifted themselves off the bottom of the table, but with Bristol City winning, they are six points from safety (effectively seven taking into account goal difference). It was difficult to see where a goal was going to come from with neither Makienok nor Reza impressing up front.

The first half was very bitty with neither side impressing. Matters were not helped by the referee who is also a guard on a heritage railway and kept blowing his whistle.

Reza Ghoochannejhad tested Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall before an unmarked Jackson headed Gudmundsson's corner into the ground and over. For their part, Cardiff complied in a half hearted way with owner Vincent Tan's 'shoot on sight' policy, their best effort from distance hitting the post. It also appears that their goal ruled offside was in fact onside.

Henderson had to make a couple of smart saves in the second half to maintain the clean sheet. Cardiff had a ball that ran along the crossbar and Bergdich tested Marshall. Makienok also had a couple of chances, one cleared off the line.

Charlton were at their most animated in the last twenty minutes or so after Arsenal loanee Yaya Sanogo came on. The Valley crowd started to roar as the Addicks pressed forward, but the elusive goal failed to come.

The referee prefers waving green flags to showing yellow or red cards, but eventually produced a second yellow and a red in time added on for Cardiff charm merchant Sammy Ameobi after he had blasted a dead ball into an empty net.

We need to be quicker to the ball and less hesitant when we have it. Players not directly involved need to stop standing round like statues. A bit more desire would be good.

In another demonstration of incompetence, the club had to abjectly apologise at half time for showing a photo of the big screen during the tribute to Graham Moore that was not him but was, I think, Alan Campbell.

A long list of schools offered free tickets was read out before the game: I did not know there were so many primary schools in the Royal Borough. However, very few of them appeared to be in the ground. The protesters were, however, in good form afterwards as they chanted 'You're not fit to run a club'.

Player ratings tomorrow.

Henderson made four good saves, but he did spill a cross from Whittingham in the first half, fortunately Ameobi was unable to take advantage of the opportunity. I was surprised to read some criticism from fans of Lennon as I thought that he stood firm and made some good interventions. The same applied to Teixeira. Fox made a few errors, but had a better game than usual. Solly was energetic.

Jackson was below par and eventually had to be substituted injured. Cousins got involved and also went off injured. Bergdich was good at times, less so at others. He picked up a yellow card for the second week running. Gudmundsson was more willing to chase down balls with determination than other players, but is still below the standard of the beginning of the season.

Makienok did manage to win most of his headers, although they never went anywhere useful. He was a stalwart in defence, but in front of goal he squandered his opportunities. Reza was busy and put one good ball into Makienok which the Dane was unable to make use of it, but Reza completely messed up a great opportunity to score, leading to derogatory chants from the Covered End.

Ba coming on was the start of us getting better, although I am not sure how much he had to do with it. Sanogo seems to be carrying a bit of weight, but he put himself about and looks useful. Poyet got on as a substitute, but is not the transformative player he was last season.