Lawrie Wilson’s well taken brace helped Charlton secure first three points for the first time since late November.
Packed with Boxing day goals, the Addicks found themselves on the right end of a 3-2 scoreline against Brighton.
The Addicks made a somewhat sluggish start to the match and it was the Seagulls who took a deserved lead midway through the first half when Leonardo Ulloa was allowed to turn 15 yards from goal and swept the ball past Ben Alnwick’s left hand.
Charlton were able to level the scores just ten minutes later when a scramble in the Brighton penalty area saw the ball land at the feet of Lawrie Wilson. The wideman took a touch before planting the ball high into the net and out of the reach of Brezovan’s dive. It proved to be springboard to a commanding Addicks performance as confidence levels soared.
Cameron Stewart blazed past the post and Stephens just over the crossbar in the remaining 15 minutes of the half, whilst Simon Church had a dubious penalty appeal turned down. The half didn’t close without a scare though. Liam Bridcutt unleashed a rasping drive that whistled past the post, taking a coat of white paint with it as Ben Alnwick was beaten all ends up.
With SE7 tails now up, Chris Powell’s team could smell Seagull blood as they attacked the Covered End. Cameron Stewart had substitute defender Inigo Calderon on toast while Simon Church left centre backs El-Abd and Upson chasing his heels for much of the second half. The crowd were roused and it was a period of domination that you felt the Addicks must capitalise upon if they were going to stake a claim for three Boxing day points.
They duly obliged. On 58 minutes, in an almost carbon-copy penalty box scramble, the ball fell once more to Lawrie Wilson and with a drop of the shoulder he created the half yard he needed to blaze the ball into the roof of the net, leaving Brezovan with no chance. Charlton were well on top and could have doubled their lead just minutes later when Church raced clear only for his back post cross to be taken off the head of strike partner Kermorgant by full back Stephen Ward much to the disappointing of the crowd. They wanted a third.
They’d have to wait a further fifteen minutes for that but not without a scare in the mean time. It just wouldn’t be Charlton without one! Brighton fashioned a rare corner in front of 3,000 travelling supporters and Leonardo Ulloa was denied his second goal of the game by Dale Stephens who cleared the Argentine’s header off the line and away to safety.
It proved a pivotal second half moment as within 180 seconds, Brezovan was picking the ball out of Brighton’s net for the third time in the afternoon. A fabulously flighted Kermorgant free kick drifted over the wall and curled away from the helplessly rooted ‘keeper: the kind of set pieces we were used to seeing during the League One title winning season.
For the first time this campaign, the Addicks had scored three goals in a Championship match and those who had managed to find their way to the Valley for the early kick-off were being handsomely rewarded.
After the high, Charlton had to see out ten minutes of pressure as the Seagulls were invited to play a game of attack vs. defence but an increasingly deepening backline. They almost obliged as Ashley Barnes hit the right post before the ball rebounded to Calderon on the edge of the area who then smacked the ball against the left hand post a matter of seconds later. A blocked Liam Bridcutt drive came shortly after and the Addicks retained their two goal advantage. Just.
With every extra Brighton corner, the Addicks struggled to break out of their own half with any regularity as the Seagulls boxed them in. Cedric Evina, who had earlier replaced Cameron Stewart, provided a rare burst of ranks as a mazy run saw him take a tumble inside the box. Referee Mike Russell wasn’t interested in awarding a penalty.
Brighton did manage to pull a goal back in injury time and in somewhat controversial circumstances. The ball bobbled around the Addicks’ box menacingly and when Ashley Barnes fired towards goal, Ulloa was there on the line to poach a second goal for himself. The Charlton defence were furious, insistent that the Argentine was in an offside position. The goal stood and a nervous four minutes stood between Charlton and the three points.
They passed without much incident however as Michael Morrison marshalled his backline well and Chris Powell was able to claim his first victory during the month of December.
A great follow-up to Saturday’s battling point at Bolton. Another result this weekend against Sheffield Wednesday will really give the whole club, from top to bottom, belief that we have enough to stay clear of the bottom three from now through until May. After the uncertainty of recent months, that must be the objective.
CM