Addicks Held

Our new look Charlton side were given a Championship reality check as we were held to a 1-1 draw at The Valley by Scunthorpe United. Today`s game has shown the players that The Premiership is a long way away and without the performances we will not be back at places like Anfield and Old Trafford.

Alan Pardew has made 12 new signings this summer, and eight of them were introduced to the crowd as they made their debuts in the famous red shirt.

It`s hard watching Charlton outside the top tier and my first thoughts while sat in my seat was that today seemed far too much like a cup game against lower league opposition. Sadly both myself and the team need to wake up and smell the bacon, because this is the Championship and we are a Championship team.

The build up to the game was good and the fans also had a chance to welcome Pardew`s latest two signings in the shape of Zheng Zhi and Therry Racon. After both players signed contracts on the Valley turf, the fans were ready and the atmosphere was set.

Sadly the fans enthusiasm wasn`t carried through to the side and the players were given a shock by a hard-working Scunthorpe side. Somehow this one was a draw and even though Charlton applied all the pressure had the better of the play, wasted chances and a lack of the final ball, saw us throw away 2 points.

For Scunthorpe to be playing at The Championship level is a credit to their team and the fans and after nicking a point against one of the leagues big guns, the fans celebrated like they had reached The Premiership.

There were plenty of early chances for both sides with Charlton’s new skipper Andy Reid firing just over the bar and then seeing his free-kick deflected against the bar and out for a corner. At the other end Charlton’s new goalkeeper Nicky Weaver had to be alert to save low from Jonathan Forte.

Charlton began to dominate the game and winger Lloyd Sam was causing plenty of problems for the away team. Charlton seemed to steam roll Scunthorpe in period`s but the plucky side always looked like causing problems on the break. The Addicks defence had to be organised and couldn`t afford to slip up against a speedy and intelligent strike force. Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy did well to deny Darren Ambrose, tipping away his fierce volley from Charlton’s best chance of the half. For all their hard work Charlton just couldn`t find the back of the net. The link up play was excellent and the movement showed the gulf in quality between the two teams. Debutant Yassin Moutaouakil impressed all game. He has all the qualities I thought we would miss in Luke Young but he does something that Youngy lacked. The youngster has such skill and pace and when he linked up with Sam on the wing and got forward he looked a real danger. His crosses were good and sharp and it seemed his service would be Charlton`s best chance on the break.

The half finished goalless and if it was for more communication in the final third Charlton may well have had a comfortable lead.

The second half began the same as the first. There was plenty of huffing and puffing from the hosts but we just couldn`t get the final pass right.

Charlton had a massive claim for a penalty when Marcus Bent was bundled down. Reid threaded a fine ball through to Bent who burst between two defenders before defender Iriekpen wafted out a leg to challenge. The defender was nowhere near the ball as he challenged on the edge of the box but referee Kettle left most inside The Valley steaming by waving away the Charlton protests.



Charlton could sense a goal and defender Paddy McCarthy should of done better with his header from Reid`s corner which sailed high and wide.


The home side did finally take the lead on 62 minutes, when Bent scored from close range for his 100th career goal. After Sam and Moutaouakil linked up well down the wing, the French defender delivered another dangerous cross that Jim Goodwin headed against his own player and the ball sat up for Bent who slammed the ball past Murphy. The Valley went crazy, but there was some debate as to whether the goal stood with the linesman flagging on the far side.
Kettle consulted with his assistant and pointed to the centre circle, the Addicks were in front.

Charlton seemed to panic once we had the lead and the visitors sensed this and started to attack why we had our guard down. Only 7 minutes later there was an equalizer and Charlton stood stunned.

After winning a corner from their counter attack it was defender Izzy Iriekpen who rose unmarked above the Charlton defence to head home. Maybe he shouldn`t have even been on the pitch after his foul on Bent but he managed to escape the Charlton strikers marking and beat Weaver with a decent header.

The equaliser took the wind out of Charlton and they struggled to re-group. Andy Reid could and should have won the game when the Irish midfielder beat three defenders only to steer his right foot drive wide of the goal.


It was Scunthorpe that finished the game better, and their fans were hoping for their giant killing and three precious points. Indeed it was the home side that were hanging on at the end as the visitors twice put headers over the bar in a frantic finale.

Final score was a disappointing 1-1. Scunthorpe did well and they showed plenty of battle where they was low on quality. You could see the massive difference in ability between the sides and come next March you can safely bet these two sides will be at very different ends of the table.

Take nothing away from the visitors though they did themselves proud and showed Charlton this division is not a walk in the park.

The Addicks need to take the positives and with a bit more gelling time the reds should still finish way up the table.

There was some good performances today and the players that caught the eye were, Moutaouakil at the back, Semedo in the middle and Sam on the wing. Pardew has a very good side ready to challenge for promotion let`s hope they don`t disappoint us.



Charlton: Weaver; Moutaouakil, Thatcher, McCarthy, Bougherra; Sam, Semedo, Ambrose, Reid; Bent (Iwelumo 74), Todorov (McLeod 66).

Subs (not used): Randolph, Fortune, Sinclair.

Goals: Bent 62

Booked: Iwelumo 89 (foul on Murphy)

Scunthorpe: Murphy; Byrne, Williams, Iriekpen, Crosby; Taylor, Baraclough, Goodwin, Hurst; Forte (Paterson 72), Hayes (Sparrow 79).

Subs (not used): Lillis, Mulligan, Butler.

Goals: Iriekpen 69

Booked: Hurst 62 (dissent)

Referee: T Kettle

Attendance: 23,151