Charlton beginning to look real deal in League One promotion picture

BRADFORD 0
CHARLTON 2
Grant 3, Taylor 81
BY KEVIN NOLAN AT NORTHERN COMMERCIAL STADIUM

Staying cool and calm in occasional crisis, Charlton collected three important points in Yorkshire, where their tape-to-tape victory closed the gap separating them from League One’s pacesetters.

From explosive start to triumphant finish, they provided a masterclass in the management of a difficult away fixture. When Lee Bowyer’s squad finally reports all present and correct, a serious promotion challenge seems assured.

Their confidence boosted by the third-minute lead brilliantly supplied by Karlan Grant, the Addicks were a tight, aggressive unit made over in their manager’s tough mould. No longer a soft-bellied pushover for bullies, this side gives as good as it gets and, where necessary, hands out more than it gets. A diminutive midfield, over which Joe Aribo towered, fought stubbornly for its right to play, supporting the old adage that it’s the size of the fight in the dog, not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight, which matters. No shrinking violet as a player, Bowyer clearly won’t settle for less than total commitment to the cause.

Not that Charlton’s victory was exclusively about effort or lung power. There’s also a rich vein of quality running through the side, which was evidenced during the quick-fire start made by both sides.

Less than a minute had been played when Sean Scannell gave Lewis Page the slip on the right flank before crossing hard and low from the byline. Meeting the ball at the near post, Eoin Doyle’s fierce shot forced a fine, instinctive save from Jed Steer.

City’s best chance had already come and gone; despite incessant second-half pressure, Charlton’s new goalkeeper was protected by a diligent back four, among which ultra-competitive skipper Jason Pearce stood out. Genuine chances for City were rare.

Jolted into immediate action by their early escape, the visitors produced the perfect riposte by taking the lead. The Bantams’ rearguard was eviscerated by Josh Cullen’s surgically precise pass, which left Grant confronted only by mesmerised Ryan McGowan, a mismatch he mercilessly exploited. Stepping inside his adversary’s feeble challenge, the born-again striker almost casually caressed a right-footed shot across Richard O’Donnell into the opposite corner.

Taken with newly-acquired aplomb, his third goal in a resurgent season was one to savour. But much later, Taylor spectacularly saw and raised it. Running down an apparently aimless ball alongside the left touchline, the peroxide-quiffed raider secured possession, moved infield and paused to consider his options. His deliberations complete, he wafted a sumptuous drive, struck with minimum backlift, over O’Donnell’s despairing dive and on into the far top corner.

The memory struggles to recall an occasion when two Charlton strikers scored in the same game but it was hardly a flash of genius, probably more an exercise in spotting the bleedin’ obvious, that led Bowyer to play two up front. The idea bordered on heresy until he arrived.

With Grant’s excellent goal providing a platform, the Addicks defended it with dogged determination.

Content to allow the home side their share of possession, to a man they tackled, covered and tracked back with single-minded purpose. City were evidently disgruntled that their defeat was “against the run of play” – which rather missed the point that their visitors had done an astute number on them.

Following his outstanding first minute save Steer remained relatively untroubled, apart from problems posed by the dangerous set-pieces whipped in by playmaker Jack Payne. One or two undignified clearances were admittedly needed to deal with the left-footer’s deliveries but the Bantams were toothless where it mattered.

An impassioned second-half appeal for a penalty when McGowan was manhandled by Pearce briefly inspired local hope but was ignored by referee Jeremy Simpson.

In the aftermath of their disappointment, assistant coach Greg Abbott was dismissed while his newly appointed guv’nor, David Hopkin, was spared red but received yellow. Generously applauded as he took the field, it’s been a tough baptism so far for the jut-jawed Scot.

More clinical finishing in between the wonderful strikes which decided the issue might have made Charlton’s task even easier. Grant was the main culprit, firing wildly over the bar after good work on the left flank by impressive debutant Jamie Ward and Aribo set up a close-range chance on the turn.

Taylor’s improvised toe poke sent Grant’s flick a foot wide of an upright before Grant himself was booked for diving, Aribo later joining him in Simpson’s bad books for the same offence. Grant was badly treated, having fallen innocently under a legitimate challenge; Aribo was caught bang-to-rights.

As if to emphasise their streetwise improvement, the Addicks even negotiated five added minutes without incident. Every player turned in a satisfactory shift, with the insatiable energy of George Lapslie, in relief of the artful but tiring Ben Reeves, introduced at precisely the right time to ease the strain. With the imminent return from injury of Krystian Bielik, Darren Pratley and Billy Clarke, Bowyer might find himself with an embarrassment of riches and a selection headache to match. He seems equipped to deal with the problem.

Charlton (3-5-2): Steer 6, Solly 7, Pearce 8, Bauer 7, Page 7, Aribo 7, Reeves 6 (Lapslie 65, 7), Ward 7 (Vetokele 75), Cullen 8, Grant 8 (Sarr 90), Taylor 8. Not used: Phillips, Dijksteel, Marshall, Morgan.