Dailly Off

A bright, sunny, very warm afternoon awaited the Addicks at Boundary Park yesterday. The holiday type weather was much appreciated by the smattering of travelling fans on this normally coldest of grounds.

Rob Elliot’s knee injury, sustained in training, handed John Sullivan his Addicks debut. Sullivan was to have a fine game. An imposing last line of defence, he is a very vocal keeper. Shades of Dean Kiely.

Dean Parrett’s hamstring problem kept him out and allowed Michael Stewart to start his first game for the club, while Miguel Llera made way for Gary Doherty’s return.

The sunny weather, small crowd mixed with the meaningless nature of the fixture, gave it the archetypal end-of-season feel.

That all changed just after the half hour mark. First, Benson and Wright-Phillips combined to send Racon clear. The midfielder drifted wide and his effort was comfortably dealt with by the aptly named Dean Brill.

Then came the incident that altered the game. A poor challenge by Reuben Reid on Christian Dailly incensed the veteran defender and he kicked out at his opponent. Dailly immediately regretted his actions and held his head in his hands as he awaited Kevin Wright’s inevetible red card. Reid received a yellow for his part in the incident.

It was Dailly’s third red card of the season which incurs a five match ban. So the end of his season and possibly his Charlton career. It would be sad if it is to have such an ignominious end.

Chris Powell immediately withdrew Racon and sent on Jon Fortune. As the game wore on, and Oldham became almost totally dominant, Wright-Phillips dropped back, leaving Benson to plough a lone furrow up front.

A dogged, determined, backs-to-the wall effort after the break as Charlton defended for stoically. In truth, Oldham huffed and puffed without really causing the Addicks defence too many serious problems. Sullivan had to make a couple of good saves and Gary Doherty dealt everything that was thown at him.

Powell would have been impressed with how his team responded to adversity, particularly his back line.