Charlton hearts broken by last minute equaliser

A last minute equaliser by Birmingham denied the Addicks victory at St.Andrews, but they can take heart from a 1-1 draw. We would have taken it before the game.

Not too many surprises in Charlton’s line up today, except possibly the inclusion of Bradley Pritchard, merited in my view, reports Paul May from St. Andrews. Wagstaff was not in the eighteen.

Cort had to head away from danger as Marlon King advanced. Hamer made a comfortable save from Lovenkrandz. Charlton won a free kick on four minutes at an angle on the right about 20 yards out. Jackson’s effort took a deflection off the Birmingham wall and was not far wide. Jackson headed just over from the good corner by Stephens.

Wright-Phillips was held as he advanced, but the referee was not interested to the indignation of Chris Powell. The 1,637 Addickted in the crowd of 18,210 were in good voice and serenaded Chris Solly. Hamer handled well from an Ambrose free kick, the former Palace player being greeted with boos.

Bradley Pritchard put in a good defensive header as Ambrose threatened. Kermorgant turned provider for Wright-Phillips who was tackled. Jackson put a great ball into the box, it evaded Wright-Phillips and Kermorgant put it over the bar. Pritchard got caught offside, but he was making some good runs from deep.

Bradley Wright-Phillips put the ball over the bar with Kermorgant poised. Ambrose put in an appalling shot which went high up in the air with the ball eventually dropping by the corner flag.

Birmingham had a spell of possession but didn’t do very much with it. Charm merchant King fouled Wiggins. Play from the free kick led to a shot by Wright-Phillips which went over.

Lee Clark didn’t seem too happy about the way things were going and shouted out some instructions. Hamer made a comfortable save.

Kermorgant won the Addicks a free kick, but the move didn’t go anywhere. Wiggins dealt well with the advancing Burke, guiding the ball out.

Wiggins put a great ball in, Jackson failed to take the chance. The kilted Burke advanced and put the ball into the near post where it was gathered by Hamer.

Wiggins made Burke look a complete fool with a beautiful turn and the Scotsman slipped over. Charlton won a corner through Stephens. Morrison headed it back across goal and Birmingham counter attacked.

Morrison got away from the Charlton midfield and put in a shot which was not too far wide. Clark continued to show his frustration at the lack of progress for the home side.

Wiggins had to go safety first and conceded a corner, enlivening the home fans. King put in a poor header.

Half time: Blues 0, Addicks 0

Kermorgant tackled Ambrose from behind and got a booking. Hamer got the free kick away from danger with a punch. Chris Powell had a long chat with Cook. Hamer was annoyed with the midfield for not being tight enough and allowing a shot to come in. Morrison put in a great defensive block as King threatened. Wiggins had to concede a corner. The ball was cleared away by Morrison.

Wright-Phillips should have put in a shot instead of laying the ball off to Kermorgant.

Birmingham were stepping up their game. Burke beat Wiggins for the first time, but then as Ambrose threatened, Wiggins got in a block.

Charlton won a corner following good work from Wiggins. Jackson took the corner, then in the following play Pritchard put a good ball in and Jackson had another heading opportunity and for the third time put it over.

Charlton applied some good pressure after a corner, then Birmingham broke, but Solly coped well and Charlton countered and Butland did well in the Blues goal. Blues made a double substitution bringing on Spector and Redmond.

King shot straight at Hamer. His handling had been good, evidently the laser eye surgery has done its job. Solly shoved Murphy and the Blues called for a penalty. Charlton won a corner, but it was cleared. Hollands was caught and the Addicks got a free kick in a promising position 30-35 yards out. The effort by Stephens was wide, he should have let Kermorgant take it.

Johnnie Jackson put in a shot but it was well saved. Jackson put in a good ball to Wright-Phillips, but he put it wide and was judged to have used his hand. Redmond put in a shot that went wide.

Wright-Phillips came off and was replaced by Cook. Ambrose put in a strong challenge on the substitute. A corner taken by Ambrose was won by Hamer in the air. Kermorgant put in a great ball and Spector had to put it out for a corner.

King headed the ball clear. Charlton won another corner after a Stephens throw in. Charlton kept the ball alive and Cort scored from point blank range eight minutes from time. The Addickted were in full voice with ‘Valley Floyd Road’. Birmingham brought on Zigic. Lovenkrandz came off.

Morrison was caught with an elbow by Zigic. Some of the Blues fans started to head home. Hollands put in a strong challenge on Zigic. Matt Taylor came on to strengthen the defence in place of Jacko.

Charlton were playing keep ball. Four minutes were added on. Charlton won a free kick off Zigic. Charlton failed to clear the ball, Zigic got the ball on his favoured left foot and equalised.

Elsewhere Palace lost 2-3 at home to Watford and Millwall were defeated 2-0 at the Toolbox by Blackpool, but Sheffield Wednesday got a massive point away with a 2-2 draw at Derby.

Bradley Wright, Wright, Wright

An interesting article on Bradley Wright-Phillips, particularly given that it appears in the Sub-Standard: Wright-Phillips

The striker declares that he is determined not to waste a second shot at the big time and speculates that he and Charlton are well matched. Let's hope so and let's hope that he can recapture the scoring form of the first half of last season.

New centre back signed

The official club site reports that Chris Powell has strengthened his squad ahead of the start of the 2012/13 Championship season by recruiting former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Dorian Dervite-Vaussoue.

The 24-year-old ex-France youth international has been on trial at The Valley during pre-season, and particularly caught the eye in a friendly against Crawley Town.

He has signed a one-year contract, and, subject to international clearance being received, should be eligible for the season-opener against Birmingham City on Saturday.

I would be surprised if he was chosen ahead of Cort and Morrison and the one year contract suggests limitations to what it is thought he can do. However, Kermorgant will have someone else to talk to in his native tongue.

More about him here: Dorian

Lee Clark gives more verbal

Blues manager Lee Clark is keeping up his verbal onslaught against Charlton before Saturday's match, admitting that he respects them as opponents and expects a tough and exciting match, but warning that it will be problematic for the Addicks: Clark

One of Clark's objectives it to pump up the crowd. For everything that he says about how marvellous they are, the atmsophere can drop quickly if the game does not go their way, hence the formation of a 'Forza Blues' in an effort to revive what is described as the 'dying atmopshere' in St.Andrews: Forza Blues.

Apparently they will be equipped with giant banners and will create a range of colourful continental-style celebrations to mirror crowds at top games in Spain’s La Liga and the famous orchestrated antics of Poland’s Lech Poznan. All this in Birmingham!

At the last count, over 1,500 Addicks had bought tickets and this number is expected to rise by at least a few hundred on the day, so they will be able to give a good response.

Charlton have played at St.Andrews twice since the 1997/98 promotion season when we drew 0-0 to the considerable indignation of the home fans. You can read an account of that match here (you have to scroll down to 'Sasa Spoils Karen's Party': Birmingham In 1999/2000 the Bues beat us by the odd goal and we lost 3-2 in 2008/9.

Steve Quinn rumours

Press reports suggest that we are in a battle with Blackpool for the signature of tenacious Irish Sheffield United midfielder Steve Quinn with a fee of £1.5m being suggested. More about Quinn here: Quinn

I am quite sceptical about these reports which could well be an attempt by an agent to drum up interest in his player. There has been speculation that the Blades might need to sell Quinn, but that doesn't mean he is coming to The Valley where he once scored against us 40 seconds after the start of a game.

Blues settle for all out attack

Birmingham City manager Lee Clark has indicated that he wants his players to attack Charlton right from kick off on Saturday: Clark

However, the shrewd manager is under no illusions that the Blues just have to turn up to claim three easy points. He acknowledges that Chris Powell has done a 'magnificent' job at Charlton and thinks that the Addicks will be out to enjoy their stay in the Championship.

Despite their 5-1 victory over Barnet on Tuesday, he thinks that they allowed Barnet (who scored the opening goal) too many opportunities to attack the Blues goal. There is more than a hint of concern about defensive frailty.

Given Birmingham's determination to attack, and presumably score an early goal or two, this poses some tactical challenges for Chris Powell. Should he start very defensively to blunt the Blues attack and frustrate them, allowing the crowd to get on their back, or should he match attack with attack?

While I am glad I am not the manager, I would go for an initial counter attacking strategy. However, what the formation should be is a real challenge: there have been experiments with a number of alternatives pre-season.

Tough start for Addicks

Birmingham City are on shorter odds for relegation (9/1) than for promotion (22/1). Our odds are shorter for relegation and longer for promotion. One of their fans writing in Four Four Two reckons they will finish sixth, commenting 'It will take a monumental effort to be in contention for promotion.' The top forecastimg magazine has them coming in 7th.

Most commentators think that they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season and that is a measure of the test facing Charlton on Saturday. In addition, the Blues have a good home record.

At the end of last season the achievements of Chris Hughton had created a mood of optimism at St.Andrews, notwithstanding financial troubles with the club's leading shareholder facing money laundering charges in Hong Kong. It was felt that with a few additions, the team could be in the frame for automatic promotion.

But then Hughton went off to Norwich. Replacement Lee Clark deserved better for his efforts at Huddersfield and merits being in a Championship management berth.

Players like Curtis Davies, Steven Caldwell, Chris Burke and Marlon King give the side a spine that many clubs would like to have. Over the summer Peter Lovenkrands and Hayden Mullins have been brought in, along with Darren Ambrose from Palace. Ambrose never seemed to be able to quite do it for us at The Valley and was regularly accused by the Bloke Behind Me of being a 'powder puff'. No doubt he will score against us on Saturday.

Keeper Jack Butland who impressed in Team GB in the Olympics has not yet played for the Blues, but will be hard to get past. Player to watch is Nathan Redmond, a home grown youth product and a fans' favourite. The 18-year old winger is in the England Under 19 squad and burst on to the scene last season, scoring seven goals in 37 games.

It seems that some of Birmingham's fans are maintaining their traditional standards of hospitality with allegations on Twitter that a Barnet coach was bricked after their 5-1 defeat on Tuesday. However, Paul May will be braving the mean streets to bring you a report on Saturday.

This looks like a 2-1 defeat to me, hopefully not by a bigger margin. Lee Clark had the reputation of being a draw specialist at Huddersfield, but he will be motivated to pull off a good win in his first home league game.

Grumbling so far has focused on the supposed upheavals of the boardroom, but no doubt the focus will soon switch to the pitch. Our start to the season is not an easy one.