FA Cup Charlton Athletic 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
By Jemma Tappenden
January 5 2008
Manager Tony Mowbray made four changes to the side that fell at Portman Road on New Years day for this FA Cup fixture at the Valley. Filipe Teixeira, Martin Albrechtsen, Leon Barnett and Chris Brunt were all recalled to the starting eleven with 15 goal hitman Kevin Phillips and Paul Robinson being dropped altogether and James Morrison and Pele dropping to the bench.
The Baggies got off to a nightmare start, conceding a goal with less than 90 seconds on the clock. They allowed Lloyd Sam to cross the ball from the right to find Darren Ambrose who headed square across goal to Chinese international Zheng Zhi to pick up the loose ball before firing his shot into the left hand side of the goal past keeper Dean Kiely.
The early goal unsettled Albion, who struggled to find any kind of rhythm or composure in the opening part of the game. Unusually for the Baggies, scoring opportunities were few and far between, and it was Charlton who enjoyed an early period of prosperity. The Addicks could have doubled their lead in the 9th minute when Ambrose, provider again slid in a perfect ball to ex MK Dons striker McLeod. It was a good shot by McLeod, which Kiely did well to save. Unable to hold the ball the rebound was fired well over by Sam to allow Albion a brief reprieve.
In the 13th minute Ambrose sailed in a delightful left wing corner which fell for Zhi. He tried his luck with a 12 yard stinging volley, but busy Dean Kiely held the ball well. In the 33rd minute Albion finally recorded their first effort on goal. A clever exchange between Gera and Teixeira brought about a shot on goal from Hungarian international Zolan Gera, who saw his effort flash just inches wide of the goal.
Finally, a minute later the Baggies brought the scores level. Despite their early pressure Charlton were at sixes and sevens as interplay between Barnett and Greening found Chris Brunt on the left. Turning Yassin Moutaouakil neatly, Brunt provided the perfect cross to allow onloan Ishmael Miller to head home his 10th goal of the season from close range, and the Addicks were left rueing their earlier missed chances.
Five minutes before the interval a brave Bostjan Cesar prevented the Baggies from slipping behind again when he made a crucial perfectly timed sliding challenge on Charlton striker Luke Varney. Winning the ball perfectly, Cesar was left wondering how on earth the striker had been allowed to cut through the rest of the Albion defence so easily.
There was a hive of activity in the minute approaching half time as both sides had chances to take the lead. Albion went close as Miller picked up the ball on the edge of the area, sliding with ease past Paddy McCarthy and Madjid Bougherra to drill in a shot just inches wide of the left upright from 18 yards. At the other end Matt Holland picked up Zhi’s diagonal ball to provide for Ambrose who shot from just inside the area. But inform Kiely dived quickly to his low left to hold the ball well.
Half Time: Charlton Athletic 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
Mowbray made two changes at half time, Pele replaced Cesar in defence and new permanent £200,000 signing Sherjill MacDonald replaced Gera. The change brought fresh life to Albion, who started the second half the brighter of the two sides. Brunt was soon breaking away down the right to play in MacDonald, who cut in to the edge of the box where he found Miller. But Millers shot went well wide as it deflected off Bougherra. The resulting right wing corner curled viciously, and it took a full stretch Weaver in the Charlton goal to fingertip the ball out of play to prevent Brunt from scoring from his flag kick.
In the 51st minute Charlton were testing Kiely again, Moutaouakil raced down the right flank to cut in for Varney whose first time shot was palmed out of play by Kiely. Just five minutes later Teixeira was off through the middle, slotting Miller into play who held off Bougherra well to force a right sided shot from a tight angle. But Albion had a huge let off in the 64th minute when their defence was calved open by a splitting pass from Sam. McLeod got the shot in, and Kiely did well again to keep the scores level.
In the 67th minute Mowbray saw fit to make another change, Koren making way for Morrison in the middle of the park. Two minutes after the change Albrechtsen and Greening were left dazzled by Varney who cut inside them both before letting rip a low drive. But Kiely, the busiest of the two keepers and Albion’s man of the match smothered the ball to prevent his side from falling behind.
A normal vibrant and energetic Baggies side were by the 75th minute struggling to even get out of their own half. Ambrose played in a short corner to Sam, who was allowed into the box by the flagging Albion defence to get a shot away on goal. Fortunately Greening was on hand to block the shot. Moments later Holland played in McLeod who fired a low drive on goal. Kiely once again being the saviour and gathering the ball on the second attempt.
It was to be McLeod’s last action as he made way for 77th minute substitute Chris Iwelumo. In a triple substitution by Pardew, Varney and Ambrose also made way for Dickson and Basey respectively. Two of the three substitutes hooked up six minutes from time when Basey provided a left wing cross which Dickson latched on to. Had Dickson’s close range header had more power it might well have been game set and match to Charlton, but as it stood Kiely was able to hold the ball well before it crossed the line.
Charlton had the last chance of the game two minutes into injury time, Kiely doing well to hold the ball from Bougherra’s header after he picked up the ball from Zhi’s right wing corner. The score remained 1-1 and Charlton Athletic now face the tough test of a replay at the Hawthorns, where West Brom emerged 4-2 victors in the league fixture during December.
Full Time: Charlton Athletic 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
Miller (34)
Zhi (1)
Attendance: 12,682