Saturday, 15 March 2014

Charlton get draw at Millwall

Charlton secured a 0-0 draw at Millwall this afternoon, their second of the week. With Barnsley and Yeovil losing, they moved up to third from bottom, but Millwall are three points, while there is a gap of eight points to Burnley and Birmingham.

Possession was marginally in Charlton's favour at 52-48, but both sides had just three shots on target. Once again, Charlton's lack of firepower was apparent.

A lively start saw both teams make chances, the best of Millwall's a header from the 17-year-old Fred Onyedinma on his first start for the club and which he put wide from Shaun Williams' left-wing cross. Charlton freed Callum Harriott down the right seven minutes later and although he got into the box ahead of his pursuer and had a clear look at the goal, a weak shot straight at the keeper was easy enough for David Forde to deal with.

Riga stood impassively in his technical throughout, at one stage calling over Bradley Pritchard to tell him to switch to the left. The Addickted passed over the chance to offer Powell another minute's applause in the third minute as they had done in the Huddersfield game.

Millwall had a chance to take the lead just before half-time, Ed Upson hammering a 25-yarder to the bottom corner which Ben Hamer scrambled past a post and soon after the ball twice failing to drop for Steve Morison when in space eight yards out after a corner from the right.

Charlton switched to a rather defensive formation in the second half, while Millwall pushed three up front.

Onyedimna broke well 10 minutes into the second half only to pull the ball back into empty space and Hamer appeared to take the ball out of his area as he slid along the ground to take the ball, with Charlton defending gamely and both sets of supporters getting louder.

Morison fired a low cross in three minutes from time and the 6ft 8in Austrian substitute Stefan Maierhofer, a free agent signed on a short-term deal in the week, could not turn the ball in when it looked easier to score.

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