The lowdown on Southend United 3 Charlton Athletic 4 – Addicks scrape into next round of the FA Cup after Roots Hall thriller
Charlton progress into the second round of the FA Cup thanks to an extra-time winner at National League Southend United from Gassan Ahadme earned them a 4-3 victory.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Southend United: Andeng-Ndi, Ralph, Crowther, Taylor, Scott-Morriss, Bridge, Husin (Appiah-Forson 10), Morton (Miley 68), Coker (Moncur 78), Bonne (Waldron 89), Pepple (Walker 67). Subs not used: Wind, Wood, Brown.
Charlton Athletic: Mannion, Gillesphey, A. Mitchell, Edwards, Z. Mitchell, Coventry (Small 55), Berry (Docherty 89), Taylor (Anderson 89), A. Campbell (Ahadme 17), Leaburn (Hylton 83), Godden. Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Edmonds-Green, Edun, Dixon.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
Charlton looked to be coasting into round two after headers from Miles Leaburn and Zach Mitchell opened up a two-goal lead before the break. But Jack Bridge’s penalty, following a handball by Terry Taylor, gave the National League side hope just before the interval.
The Shrimpers were level through Oli Coker’s deflected effort shortly after the break but Matty Godden edged the Addicks back ahead midway through the second-period. That looked like it would suffice but an own-goal from Macauley Gillesphey deep into added-time at the end of 90 minutes forced the tie into extra-time.
Penalties seemed inevitable until Ahadme, on his return from injury, pounced on a Southend error to acrobatically turn home a 121st-minute clincher.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Nathan Jones named a strong side in Essex and stuck with the back-four and box midfield he had trusted over the last few weeks. The Addicks weren’t exactly in control but looked clinical as they opened up the two-goal lead. But that slipped either side of the break and Jones switched to a 3-5-2 with Thierry Small replacing Conor Coventry after the Southend leveller. Danny Hylton, Greg Docherty and Karoy Anderson were brought on in the closing stages as Charlton looked to battle their way to victory, but they were unable to hang on under Southend pressure.
Gassan Ahadme was introduced as a final throw of the dice late in extra-time and he proved to be the match winner in a game in which the Addicks struggled to get into any real rhythm at times.
STAR MAN
Miles Leaburn. A goal and a wonderful assist for Matty Godden’s strike as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
BEST MOMENT
Ahadme’s acrobatic winner late on. He’s endured a tough start to life in SE7 and it was a nice way for him to mark his own return from injury.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Southend’s press box is a nightmare to work in. Roots Hall itself is a wonderful throwback to a cracking, traditional tight football ground but it does mean I was basically sat on the shoulders of other journalists packed in to try and report on the game!
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Charlton have conceded eight goals in their last four games in League One and the FA Cup. The absence of Lloyd Jones has been keenly felt by the South Londoners, but Nathan Jones will be concerned that his side have opened the floodgates somewhat recently as a solid base at the back was what the side seemed to be built upon in the early stages of the season.
It made for an entertaining game at Roots Hall but Charlton were at their best this campaign when they were able to take the sting out of games and edge them by the odd goal. This departure from what they were good at will be a real concern as it’s negating the upturn in goals scored over the last few weeks. Work to do defensively.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“Masses of relief. It could have gone anyway in the end. They showed great spirit, they fought. It was a really good cup tie. This is why this cup is as good as it is. This is the best cup competition in the world.
“Brilliant for the fans, a wonderful cup tie. Buy my overriding feeling is we have to be better. To go where we need to go, we have to be better.”