Charlton slumped to their third home defeat in succession in Saturday afternoon’s early kick-off thanks to goals from Jermaine Easter and Shane Lowry.
Substitute Easter was able to turn in a low centre from fellow loanee Richard Chaplow with his first touch in a Millwall shirt, whilst Shane Lowry’s 30 yard free kick was hit with enough venom to evade Addicks ‘keeper David Button.
The latest Valley defeat will leave Chris Powell and his staff pondering what could’ve been over the international break and more importantly, how best to ensure Championship survival in what is the Reds’ first season back in this league.
In Bermondsey, however, the fans will no doubt be delighted with the three points to take back across South East London in their own quest to avoid the drop whilst they juggle their FA Cup run alongside.
Charlton started the game brightly and were nearly rewards for their pressing, high-tempo game when Pritchard’s shot was mishandled by David Forde. Unfortunately though for the onrushing Haynes, Forde was just able to gather the ball at the second attempt. Later on in the half, Haynes burst through the back line of the Millwall defence only to be thwarted once again by the Lions’ goalkeeper who had anticipated the danger.
Later on, Harriott cut inside the full back Dunne and unleashed a fierce drive to sting the palms of Forde once more.
Although it would be fair to say that the Addicks dictated play throughout the first half, it didn’t stop the Lions from creating their own efforts, with Liam Trotter and Adam Smith dragging their efforts wide of the Charlton left post.
The Addicks again shaded play early in the second half and when Yann Kermorgant narrowly missed the target with a looping free kick whilst Lawrie Wilson was denied a goal by some last ditch Millwall defending, there was a feeling amongst the Addicks faithful that a goal might be on the cards.
That goal came, but not at the end that the run of play suggested. Only moments after making his appearance as a substitute, Jermaine Easter poked Millwall ahead after 58 minutes much to the delightful of the 3,153 Millwall supporters and when Shane Lowry doubled the lead only minutes later with powerfully struck free kick, the travelling supporters were in dreamland.
The Charlton side battled valiantly to reclaim a foothold in the game but were limited in what they could achieve due to the nature of the game and the awful conditions. Long ball after long ball was aimed towards Yann Kermorgant, Danny Hanes and later Ricardo Fuller but to no avail. The Millwall defence held firm to see out a clean sheet and an important away victory.
The aforementioned Fuller was thrown into the action alongside Scott Wagstaff after 67 minutes, the duo replacing Danny Hanyes and Lawrie Wilson.
Charlton: Button; Solly, Wiggins, Taylor, Morrison; Wilson (Wagstaff 67), Jackson, Pritchard, Harriott; Haynes (Fuller 67), Kermorgant.
Subs (not used): Hamer, Dervite, Evina, Stephens, Obika.
Millwall: Forde; Dunne, Lowry, Shittu, Osborne (Smith 16); C Taylor, Smith, Chaplow (Abdou 72), Trotter, N’Guessan (Easter 57); Hulse.
Subs (not used): M Taylor, Saville, Woolford, Abdou, Keogh.
Goals: Easter 58’, Lowry 65’
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Attendance: 18,514 (3,153 Millwall)
