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Match Report – Charlton Athletic vs Millwall

Charlton’s poor home continued following this 2-0 defeat to local rivals Millwall at The Valley in yesterday’s lunchtime kick off.

Both sets of fans played their part in the build up to the game, whipping up a superb atmosphere almost unheard of for a game played so early in the day.  In truth however, the first half failed to live up to the atmosphere and was one of very few chances.

Millwall, who lost defender Karleigh Osborne early in the game perhaps had the better of the first chances, with both Dany N’Guessan and Liam Trotter finding the wrong side of the post.  Charlton did have their first half chances themselves with Bradley Pritchard and emerging youngster Callum Harriott forcing fine saves from lions keeper David Forde.

The second began with one way traffic, with the home side making a bee line for their rivals goal.  Yann Kermorgant came close with a drifted free kick which brushed the side netting, the Lawrie Wilson fired over at the back post following more good work from Kermorgant.

It was perhaps the Wilson miss that was to prove more costly for the Addicks, as within a minute they found themselves a goal down.  On-loan Richard Chaplow, who had been busy all afternoon got free on the left hand side and his low cross with his first touch by another loanee, striker Jermaine Easter.

It was to get worse for the home side when Millwall doubled their advantage, Bradley Pritchard, who had possibly been Charlton’s best performer on the day committed a fairly innocuous foul a full 35 yards from goal.  Shane Lowry, undeterred by the significant distance from goal, found David Button’s top corner with the expertly dispatched free kick.

From that moment on Charlton were going through the motions and were unable to mount a serious challenge to get themselves back into the game, partly down to some brilliant defending from Millwall captain Danny Shittu.  Shittu may not be the quickest, but the former Charlton youth product used all of his experience to keep his former team at bay in the closing stages.

Millwall now have an FA Cup semi final to look forward to and this win all but silences any possible relegation worries.  For Charlton, it is now just 4 home wins this season and with play-off chasing Bolton next to visit The Valley they could be waiting a little longer for their next home win.

Aaron Sharp