The Addicks’ EFL Cup campaign fizzled out on Tuesday with defeat to League One rivals Birmingham City – but there was little to be ashamed of, writes KEVIN NOLAN. Just don’t mention that penalty miss…
An idyllic summer’s evening with just the hint of a breeze to cool things down; a gleaming hybrid playing surface more tightly woven than Frank Sinatra’s Sunday best toupee; the novelty of a pressure-free EFL Cup tie to savour.
Everything was set up to make The Valley the place to be on Tuesday evening and, during the early going, Nathan Jones’ young Addicks rose to the occasion.
An early chance made for Luke Berry by aggressive left wingback Thierry Small was volleyed narrowly over the bar by the experienced midfielder but two minutes later, Charlton were presented with a golden opportunity to take a possibly decisive lead.
An important part of his side’s well-executed press, Tyreece Campbell was already promising to be a rare handful for City’s flustered defenders and bursting directly into their ranks, shot fiercely on the run from inside the penalty area.
His enterprising effort was blocked by Christoph Klarer but Campbell fastened alertly on to the rebound before his further progress was stopped by Tyler Roberts’ clumsy challenge. Referee Alex Chilowicz pointed emphatically to the spot, which is when things began to go wrong for the briefly buoyant locals.
Last season’s penalty taker Alfie May was on hand but, ironically, was warming the visitors’ bench, and it soon became likely that a replacement had apparently slipped Jones’ mind. Having won the penalty, responsibility fell on Campbell by default.
He looked anything but confident as he prepared and it was, frankly, no great shock when Brum’s number-two keeper Ryan Allsop saved comfortably near his right-hand post. It was a miss that changed the course of this otherwise even cup tie.
In the short term, at least, Charlton were unshaken by the setback and when Thierry Small’s cross was weakly headed clear by Khela, Berry drove an acceptable chance over Allsop’s bar. Just past the half hour, the Addicks were handed a lesson in finishing by the errant Khela, the unlikeliest of scorers but the author of a goal he will find hard to better -or forget!
Picking up a square pass from Keshi Anderson 25 yards from goal, the young defender let fly with his right foot, possibly in as much hope as expectation, and bent an unstoppable drive beyond Will Mannion’s desperately flailing left hand and unerringly into the far corner of his net. There were, of course, the customary kneejerk suggestions that the keeper could have done better.
You are advised to disregard such nonsense. The word “unstoppable” was not idly chosen.
After the break, Campbell showed character in seeking to atone for his gaffe. He went close to equalising when put through by Conor Coventry but shot narrowly wide. The kid was hard to discourage but perhaps his penalty-taking days are already behind him.
The Midlanders, meanwhile, were showing street savvy in protecting their lead and threatened occasionally to double their advantage. Making frequent use of the modern flair for self-diagnosed cramp, they collapsed regularly.
The award of only four added minutes justified their tactics, though referee Chilowicz wasn’t easily fooled, perhaps having noticed that only sides in the lead are prone to the complaint.
Coasting towards a place in the second round of the cup, the Brummies made matters needlessly complicated for themselves when centre back Dion Sanderson received a second yellow card for blatantly tugging back Daniel Kanu. They were almost punished by Greg Docherty, whose last-minute drive whistled narrowly wide but had enough about them to get over the line.
Their post-game reaction was less than ecstatic, however, which suggests that success in this lightly regarded competition is not among their priorities. And likewise, Charlton won’t find consolation hard to find!
Charlton: Mannion, Gillesphey, Jones, Coventry, Campbell (Aneke 66), Berry (Docherty 66), Anderson (Edun 66), Edmonds-Green (Zak Mitchell 66), Small, Watson (Ramsay 76), Kanu. Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Alex Mitchell, Edwards. Booked: Gillesphey, Berry.
Birmingham: Allsop, Laird (Sampsted 68), Klarer, Sanderson, Hansson (Bielik 80), Roberts (Park 58), Jutkiewicz (May 59), Leonard, Anderson, Harris, Khela (Cochrane 58). Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Miyoshi, Dembele, Yokoyama. Booked: Sanderson (2) – sent off.
Referee: Alex Chilowicz. Attendance: 5,899 (1,969 visiting).
Kevin Nolan has reported on Charlton Athletic matches for 38 years. He covers home matches for The Greenwich Wire.
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