Charlton 2 - 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers

With Richard away sunning himself on the slopes of Val d’Isere this week, I made my way from London Bridge to SE7 on what was a blustery winters day in the capital, hoping that we’d be able to take the three points we needed so much from the game.

There was a start for Chris Iwelumo alongside Leroy Lita. ZZ was on the bench following his 48 hour midweek excursion to play for the Chinese National Team against Australia, which meant a third successive start for Portuguese midfielder Jose Samedo. Jerome Thomas and Darren Ambrose finished up the mid-field, whilst the back four were lined up as they have done for the last several matches, Thatcher at left back, Sodje and McCarthy at centre half and on-loan defender Greg Halford at right back.

2 points from a possible 18 in the last six matches meant the Addicks went into the match on relegation form and suffering from what I believe are two key issues: 1) The inability to score goals and put the ball in the back of the net and; 2) Silly lapses of concentration from the back four allowing too many goals to be conceded at crucial times.

As the match kicked off and as Mother Nature began to flex her might in South London, the rain and wind came, and so too did Wolves on the attack. The visitor’s first real opportunity of the match coming only 4 minutes in, a swinging cross from the right wing led to evasive measures from Sam Sodje who headed behind his own goal.

Chalton’s initial attacking opportunities were limited as the ball was hoisted up to big Chris Iwelumo up front and amid scenes that have become commonplace at The Valley this season, Chris found himself having to put up with defenders putting moves on him that were more likely to be seen in the up-and-coming WWE Wrestlemania Extravaganza than on a football pitch. It frustrated me that the referee didn’t (and most have not) given Chris any benefit of the doubt, yet from my vantage point in the upper north, they looked like clear fouls…go figure hey?

12 minutes in and following some lovely link play between the Charlton centre-forwards, Leroy Lita was dumped onto his hands and knees in the penalty area, only for all appeals to be waved away by the stand-in referee.

With Wolves on the counter attack and looking increasingly dangerous, their pressure paid dividends when Keogh played the birthday boy Ebanks-Blake, who stitched up both McCarthy and Halford to fire past a wrong footed Nicky Weaver.

As the first half progressed, Wolves looked more and more dangerous, Elokobi headed over the bar just short of the half hour mark. Things were looking fairly grim for the team in red, we struggled to make use of Thomas and Ambrose on the wing, and when we did call our speedy wide players into the game, they were ineffective and rather than running at their defensive counterparts, would stop their runs and with it all chances of catching Wolves off-guard.

However, on 31 minutes Charlton found themselves level, Greg Halford popping up from another corner this time scoring with his foot in what was a well taken goal from the right back. Perfect timing for the goal, and the atmosphere in The Valley really picked up, Charlton had quarter of an hour to assert themselves on the match and to head into the changing rooms with the momentum, however, Wolves were not done and one the stroke of half time, the birthday boy popped up again, beating Weaver, but not the post….

Half Time Charlton 1 – Wolves 1.

ZZ replaced the largely disappointing Darren Ambrose at the break and from the restart Chalton looked a different side. Iwelumo and Lita were linking up well and were really testing the resolve of the Wolves defence. On 52 minutes, Greg Halford produced a brilliant free kick which demanded a stunning stretched save from the Wolves keeper.

Lita and Iwelumo continued to chase the game and in doing so nearly put the hosts in front, only to be denied by some last gasp Wolves defending. The on-loan Fulham winger; Cook came on for Jerome Thomas in the 72nd minute and had an impact from the word go, his strike curling agonisingly wide of the keepers right hand post.

With ten minutes to go, a moment of magic from….. yep, you guessed it, birthday boy Ebanks-Blake, put Wolves back in front. With McCarthy running Ebanks-Blake to the byline, the attack looked like it had come to nothing only for McCarthy to lose his concentration and allow Ebanks-Blake the opportunity to turn him and unleash a shot from a tight angle that beat Weaver. This was a gutting blow for the Addicks who undoubtedly had the advantage in the second half.

With time running out, the assistant referee (4th official, or whatever they are called today) showed 4 minutes on his lovely electronic board when Sam Sodje crossed a ball which Leroy Lita connected with to score his first goal in a red shirt, which was promptly removed as the striker and crowd went ballistic! A goal which surely had kept Charlton’s post season play off chances alive…..(or so we all thought)

As Charlton pushed on for a winner, they left themselves horribly exposed at the back and in a league where the slightest mistake is punished, Charlton allowed Wolves to counter attack down the wing through Kyle who crossed the ball for Henry (who eluded Mc Carthy and Halford) to slot home deep into injury time and to send the Jimmy Seed stand into raptures.

“Gutted” was my text message to Richard in France at the final whistle. It had been a long season and a run of 7 poor results have all but ended any hopes of a trip to Wembley for the South London side.

Man of the Match: Matt Holland