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Charlton v Albion - at The Valley [The Argus]



Newshound

Brighton 8049
Jun 5, 2011
18,358
1:18pm
Home fans seemed pretty happy at the break.
Half: Charlton 1 Albion 1

1:16pm
Albion, who*had been*looking the more assured side at 1-0, had now let slip a chance to take a stranglehold on the game.
Charlton threatened again when Wilson crossed low from the right but Church, in front of the near post, could not hook his shot around sufficiently and it flashed wide.
David made inroads for Albion and threaded a clever pass to Crofts, who slipped as he burst into the box.
The ball was cleared as far as Bridcutt who fizzed a terrific drive just wide from 25 yards.
Bruno had been playing some good stuff as he joiend in moves down the right but, when he stumbled under pressure from Stewart and lost the ball near halfway, he had no option but to haul his man back and take a yellow card.
*

1:05pm
The goal had improved the game as a spectacle.
Crofts thumped a shot from outside the box into Alnwick’s midriff, then Morrison drilled a free-kick over the bar for Charlton.
Albion worked some decent positions without producing an end product.
And Charlton levelled when the ball fell to Kermogant in the box and he had the presence of mind to slide it right to WILSON, who fired across Brezovan and inside the top corner.
*

1:01pm
Albion, though, went ahead midway through the half after determined work by Crofts kept an attack alive. Buckley weaved his way in from the left and the chance seemed to have been lost but ULLOA got on to the loose ball, twisted back inside on to his left foot and drilled a low shot past Alnwick.
The hosts almost levelled within a minute but Brezovan was quick off his line to fist a ball away and then Stewart drilled the loose ball high and wide.
Then Church curled wide from just outside the box as Charlton made a spirited response to conceding.
*

12:53pm
David opened the game up with a crossfield pass to get Buckley to the byline on the left.
Buckley played the ball back to Bridcutt, who seemed undecided as to whether he should cross to David arriving beyond the post or try to curl a 25-yarder inside the far post – and in the end he did something in between the two and the ball sailed harmlessly behind.
The Albion skipper did better work to get his head in the way of a viciously inswinging free-kick at the other end and his side got the ball away.
But it was generally very undistinguished fare.
*

12:48pm
The going underfoot was already in heavy, especially in central areas.

12:46pm
El-Abd incurred the anger of the home crowd when he bundled into the back of Kermogant near halfway but referee Russell awarded a free-kick and no more.
The lofted delivery was never properly cleared and eventually fell to Morrison on the edge of the area.
He stepped inside El-Abd and let fly woith a low right foot drive which was on target but was blocked by Upson.
David Lopez curled a clever pass into the path of Ulloa making ground down the right. Ulloa held off a defender and had time to measure his cross – but it was just too far in front of Andrews arriving from deep.
*

12:39pm
Andrews was dropping deep to get on the ball when Albion had possession.
They enjoyed a spell when they worked the ball around nicely.

12:37pm
Albion had the first effort on goal when Bridcutt won the ball in the home half, David Lopez worked it on and Crofts shot over from 25 yards.
Charlton hit back to win a corner – but Ulloa rose in his own six-yard box to head it away* unchallenged.
The hosts passed the ball neatly through midfield but El-Abd got back to block Church’s attempted cross and then knock the loose ball off Stewart to win a throw.
*

12:31pm
No change of ends so Albion will defend the away end in the first half.

12:28pm
Four members of ground staff are out there givinig the pitch a last-minute forking. A few muddy patches out there, albeit small.
To be honest, 20 years ago we;d have been saying how good the pitch looked for Boxing Day!

12:26pm
Perhaps understandably a rather subdued atmosphere as we await the arrival of the teams.
Albion have packed the bottom half of the old Jimmy Seed Stand to my right and the back half is filling up.

12:22pm
I kick off this live report with some trepidation. Internet connection is notoriously hit-and-miss here down here in the dip - they don't call it The Valley for nothing!
If*I lose connection then rest assured I will be trying all I can to get it back or waiting for a time when it returns. So check back.
Failing that full report and reaction will be appearing online through the afternoon and evening.

12:18pm
Sorry if it seemed a bit gloomy for Christmas Day.
Admittedly the piece we put online yesterday about Albion’s record on Boxing Day in recent years since 2005 did not make cheerful reading.
But the chance is there for them to put it right today at a Charlton side perched just above the drop zone.
Guy Butters was the last man to score a winning goal for Albion on December 26 – eight years ago against QPR at Withdean.
Can someone emulate him today?
If so, it will take Albion into the top six at full-time here.
*


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