Thursday, March 23, 2006
Charlton 0 Boro 0
Bad luck as much as bad play has given Charlton two wins over us this season, and with a semi final at stake you could be sure they would be hungry for a third. But Boro are beginning to believe (at last) that they can beat anyone on their day and came to the Valley with a lot of bravado. Charlton themselves had only had one win in seven before this (against the Boro) so weren't exactly settling the world alight in their traditional end of season slump - leaving the door wide open for us to go through.In reality it was a very even affair, with both teams scrambling in midfield for moderately skilful scraps. If anything, Charlton showed more spirit, especially in the first half, but chances for both teams were rare. Yakubu had a very early open header go way off target, and Schwarzer turned away a limp close range effort to leave things at stalemate. The second half was much the same and I heard myself screaming for two substitutions: Morisson for Medieta and in form Viduka for Hasselbaink. My first wish was granted not before time, as the Spaniard made one wayward pass too many. But Viduka came on for Yakubu (probably being wrapped in cotton wool for the Uefa cup), leaving the two most experienced strikers to try and steal something late on. Viduka's influence was immediate, his expert hold-up play leading to some of our best chances, including a few for himself. But it was Morisson who had the most glaring chances go astray in the last fifteen minutes - on the night it was just destined to go to extra time.
With 3 of the four ties being decided in 90 minutes it was inevitable that the team that needed a reply least got one. The tie will be held up until 12th April due to the congested fixture list and offers a terrific incentive to the eventual winner in a relatively soft match-up with West Ham, as Chelsea and Liverpool contest the main event - at least in the media's eyes! Myself, I couldn't be happier to be away from the limelight. With a home tie for a place in the semis and a fifty fifty game on neutral territory to come I will be disappointed not to reach the final. And if we do, even a defeat would mean a Uefa cup spot for next season! There is a lot at stake!
My MOTM: Ugo Egiogu - bloodied for the cause and one of the best defensive performances in months from him, beating Schwarzer to the prize by a bump on the head.
