View from the South – Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City

Early on Saturday morning I had gone off on the train to pick up my car which had been serviced the day before but had not been ready. It was dry and fine when I set off but it was tipping it down by the time I was on my way back. The rain was heavy and unrelenting by the time it was time to go off towards the train station again, this time given a lift from she whom I adore, who complained nevertheless about the chore and once again gave me the third degree about going up to London on a day like this and why oh why can’t you watch it on the telly etc etc? Mrs Bazza does not possess and has never possessed the football gene and there is no point me trying to explain that watching two other teams on the television holds no interest to me and something that is in your blood is an intangible that cannot be explained to a non-believer so I thought it best to keep my counsel, smile indulgently and thank her for the lift with a goodbye kiss and a hearty “see you later!”

The train was packed but I managed to get a seat eventually for the journey from Farnborough to London Waterloo. This was the second excursion in a week up to the smoke following Tuesday’s win at Millwall. Although our league position hadn’t changed all that much, somehow things seemed a little brighter. Admittedly, we are not a good side but it is at least comforting to know that there are other mediocre teams in the division if what I saw of the Blackpool-Cardiff encounter last night was anything to go by. There is hope fellow noses, believe me, there is hope!

The journey was straightforward with no hold ups and I actually managed to get a quicker connection at Waterloo East than I was expecting which meant I got to Charlton station half an hour earlier than scheduled. I met up with fellow Blues fans, Ally and Tom and we were a few minutes later joined by Rob and James in the Rose of Denmark pub a few hundred yards from the station. The weather was decidedly inclement as the rain teemed down and it was good to get under shelter. The Leeds – Sheffield Wednesday game was on the big screen not that it captured our interest for long such was the quality of it. Suitably refreshed by three pints of the proprietor’s finest ale, we headed back up the road past the station to the Valley in time for kick off. Blues were as you were from Tuesday’s success against Millwall.

Overall in this match Blues were the better side but they got off to a rather soporific start and could easily have gone behind after as little as three minutes when a ball played into our left back channel was chased down by Igor Vetokele who turned inside and curled a left footed shot just past Randolph’s right hand upright. The keeper had waved it bye bye and Blues were very lucky to escape. The reprieve was not long lasting however and with just over ten minutes on the clock the same player drifted in between Edgar and Caddis into the space, I suspect Robinson should have been occupying, for the simplest of headers six yards out with no challenge. To be fair after that, Blues dominated the game and I feel were unfortunate not to have won the match.

Blues looked to have netted a deserved equaliser on 35 minutes following a lovely move that culminated in Paul Caddis pulling the ball back from the by-line for Koby Arthur to touch past Henderson. The ball was tapped in by Clayton Donaldson who was immediately flagged offside to the disappointment of the Blues faithful at the other end of the pitch. There is a fair bit of controversy surrounding this strike since it appears that there was a defender lying on the ground having attempted to block the cross who along with the keeper is playing Donaldson onside so the goal should have stood. He only has to have part of his body on the pitch to be active but I haven’t seen the footage and couldn’t see from where we were but Lee Clark was adamant afterwards that the goal should have stood.

Just before this incident Reilly, who was having a good game in midfield nicked the ball high up the pitch and put Donaldson in. I felt he took the shot on too early and could have progressed another 5 yards or so before unleashing his shot which sailed over the angle rather than into the net where it should have been. This was a good chance and would have been just reward for their first half efforts. Blues were nearly made to pay straight after the break when Lawrie Wilson fired over Randolph’s bar from a good position created by Vetokele’s pass seconds after the restart. That effort was about it for the home side after that and Blues carried on from where they left off in the first period. The deserved equaliser finally came when from a corner driven to the edge of the area to Gleeson, the ball was touched off square to Davies who moving it onto his left foot fired a beauty across Henderson in the Charlton goal into the far corner to send the travelling faithful into raptures.

Blues had chances to win the match, the best of them falling to Thomas who slipped just as he shaped to shoot and drilled the chance well wide of the near post rather than across the keeper where Demarai Gray was lurking for a tap in. Blues were more than good value for their point which arguably should have been three. Randolph’s handling was secure, aided by the fact that the rain stopped and the sun came out to turn the day into a bright and cheerful one. Over the piece Blues defended well save for the goal they conceded which was a shocker. Davies, Gleeson and Reilly were excellent in midfield and Cotterill and Koby Arthur later replaced by Gray were a handful for Charlton all afternoon. Clayton Donandson held the ball up well and pulled Charlton about with his movement.

The most pleasing aspect of all this was that Birmingham actually played two decent halves of football and but for one lapse in concentration early on would undoubtedly have come away with all three points against a team that is yet to lose in the league. For their part, Charlton, based on the evidence of yesterday look to be in a false position in the division; I cannot see them maintaining their run for much longer but they have got off to an enviable start to the campaign which always helps a team’s form and momentum. They can be grateful that their undefeated league run did not end yesterday.

The Good: Really good performance; deserved three points let alone one. The company of Ally, Tom, Rob and James; good to meet you guys.

The Bad: The comical defending for the goal we conceded; it was truly dreadful. There were 6 minutes added at the end for what looked to be a nasty injury to Jordan Cousins of Charlton; our best wishes go with him and hopes that it is not too serious.

The Ugly: Having to watch the Vile in the pub, The Antigallican, afterwards; it’s enough to put a bloke off his pint! I supped up and left!

Charlton Athletic: Stephen Henderson 7, Chris Solly 7, Michael Morrison 6, Rhoys Wiggins 7, Andre Bikey 6, Lawrie Wilson 6 (George Tucudean 70, 6), Johnnie Jackson 6 (Franck Moussa 58, 6) Jordan Cousins 7 (Morgan Fox 90, N/A) Yoni Buyens 6, Frederic Bulot 6, Igor Vetokele 7.

Subs not used: Callum Harriott, Nick Pope, Karlan Ahearne-Grant, Terrell Thomas.

Goal: Vetokele 11 minutes. Bookings: None

Birmingham City: Darren Randolph 7, Paul Caddis 7, David Edgar 7, Paul Robinson 6, Jonathan Grounds 6, Koby Arthur 7 (Wes Thomas 79, 6) Stephen Gleeson 7, David Davies 8, Callum Reilly 7 (Demarai Gray 65, 6) David Cotterill 6, Clayton Donaldson 7.

Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Grant Hall, Denny Johnstone, Will Packwood, Olly Lee.

Goal: Davies 54 minutes Bookings: Gleeson 75 minutes

Referee: Paul Tierney 6: Overall Mr Tierney officiated the game well. Clearly he has to rely on his Assistant for the offside call but that sounds like Blues got the rough edge of that one.

Attendance: 16,369

KRO SOTV

Bazza