Fooled

CAFC 1 Fulham 1

Whilst last night's result could not exactly be described as a robbery, Charlton did enough in the first half to merit a three goal lead. However, chances were spurned and, perhaps more worryingly, gaps appeared with alarming regularity at the back. Indeed, had Fulham had a little more ambition, they might have ended up sneaking a win themselves - as it was, a draw was probably the fairest result.

The game got off to a poor start, but about ten minutes in, Rommedahl began to exploit Niclas Jensen's poor positional play and lack of pace (a recurring theme throughout the first half). A sublime pass slipped through by Murphy found Rommedahl's intelligent run in behind Jensen - the fleet-footed Danish winger cut inside the last defender and rifled a low shot against the foot of the post. Unfortunate in the extreme, the Dane wasted little time setting about Jensen again and beat him on numerous occasions, failing to create clear cut opportunities but worrying the life out of the Fulham defence with his pace and willingness to get behind the defence.

Despite Murphy pulling the strings in midfield, Charlton looked a little dodgy at the back, and Fulham could, and should have taken advantage on a couple of occasions before finally taking the lead. Collins John, already guilty of a poorly scuffed effort when well placed, made amends in spectacular fashion. Former valley favourite Claus Jensen took a quick free kick which caught Jerome Thomas napping, allowing Malbranque to smuggle the ball across the edge of the area. John swivelled and smacked a volley past Andersen with consummate ease. Fulham could have doubled their advantage just minutes later - Radzinski (on for the injured - and useless - Phillipe Christanval) fired across the face of goal and inches wide after the Addicks' back four failed to deal with a free kick.

Sensing that Fulham were establishing a hold on the game, Charlton began to assert themselves mor eon the middle of the park, and it almost paid dividends. Murphy fired wide after a surging run through the middle, Rommedahl skinned Jensen yet again but his attempted cross was blocked and, right on the cusp of the interval, a quick ball into the box from Smertin was diverted agonisingly wide by the marauding Hreidarsson.

It was, therefore, little surprise when Charlton equalised with the second half little more than a couple of minutes old. Powell put a low ball into the box which Fulham were unable to clear and Murphy took a touch, looked up and rifled the ball into the bottom left hand corner.

Instead of using this as a starting point to build from, inexplicably Charlton failed to capitalise. Substitutions were made which baffled most onlookers - despite the arrival of Bothroyd (which should have seen us go to 4-4-2 to chase a victory), Benty was pushed wide, with Rommedahl switching flanks (nullifying his threat completely). The game managed the neat trick of petering out with half an hour left to play, and neither side really looked loikely to get the winner.

All in all, it was a frustrating night for the Addicks' faithful - although optimists will point to the fact that we would most definitely have lost this last year as cause for comfort. Our home form is starting to become something of a concern for us - we look lacking in the necessary areas to break teams down, and show a worrying lack of concentration at the back. Following a poor performance from Chris Powell yesterday, Curbishley might think its time to give Spector a run-out at Pompey. Whatever the sqaud selection, its clear that Charlton will have to step performances up a gear to continue the fine start to the season.

CAFC

Andersen - 6 - Little chance with Fulham's goal, and had very little else to do of note
Perry - 6 - Stepped off John a couple of times and didn't look particularly commanding in the air. Missed a chance to win it late on, stretching to put his header over the bar
Hreidarsson - 7 - Mammoth at the back again
Powell - 5 - Run ragged by Malbranque at times. Needs a rest
Young - 7 - Got forward well and put a peach of a cross in late on which deserved better
Kish - 6 - Not bad, but dallied on the ball a couple of times and would have been punished by a better team
Smertin - 6 - Not as effective as usual. Quiet all game
Murphy - 7 - Fits and starts, but played some beautiful passes and took his goal very well
Rommedahl - 7 - Blinding first half, utterly anonymous second due to inexplicably being switched to the left
Thomas - 5 - Not a good game - his first poor outing of the season
Bent - 6 - Ran about a lot, but not the threat he has been so far this year

Subs

Bothroyd - 6 - Huge physical presence, and won almost everything in the air after coming on. Little direction in the knockdowns however, and looked isolated
El Kak - 5 - Stupid lunge on Boa Morte about 5 milliseconds after coming on which got him booked, and gave the ball away from a free kick. Needs a run in the team, but not as the holding midfielder
Hughes - 5 - Anonymous

Foolham

Crossley - 6 - No chance with the goal, handled everything else effectively
Volz - 7 - Got forward well, and handled Thomas nicely
Niclas Jensen - 5 - Exposed terribly by Rommie in the first half
Bocanegra - 6 - Reasonable performance
Goma - 6 - Looks a little unfit, but handled Bent well
Diop - 7 - Immense in midfield - blimey he needs to go to a better club
Malbranque - 7 - Terrified Powell by running at him with pace. End product often a bit sketchy, but genuinely quick and inventive. Fulham's best player
Christanval - 4 - Is a poor, poor player at the best of times. These aren't the best of times either. No coincidence that Fulham looked a threat when he went off with a knacked hamstring
Claus Jensen - 6 - Typical performance from Santa - very creative, but bone idle
Boa Morte - 5 - Lots of running. Little else
John - 7 - Superb finish for Fulham's goal. A handful all night, but not blessed with the best of first touches

Subs

Radzinski - 5 - Had a good effort just after coming on, but I genuinely thought he'd been subbed himself until 20 minutes from the end of the match when he put another chance across the face of goal
McBride - 5 - Probably seething at John's inclusion in the starting line-up over himself, but didn't look too fussed after coming on as a sub

Ref

Riley - 6 - Picky, but not as bad as usual

MOM

Rommedahl, on the strength of his first half alone. Murphy was too up and down and Herman didn't do quite enough

Quote Of The Day
"...we could easily have come away with all three points"
Chris 'Cookie' Coleman - Yeps. You could also just as easily have come away wi' nowt