Charlton 0 Derby County 1
The Addicks were narrowly beaten by Derby County at The Valley on Saturday in a game that could have gone either way.
In a scrappy first half dominated by three long stoppages in play, both sides struggled to create meaningful opportunities. Charlton did manage to force some half-chances though, the first of which came after just 40 seconds when Alfie May, captaining the side in the absence of the injured George Dobson, saw his volley from the edge of the area blocked by Eiran Cashin.
It was an impressive opening 20 minutes from the Addicks, who were beginning to show their quality against a Derby side who have the second-best away record in League One. Further half-chances for May and Freddie Ladapo would follow, the first taken off the skipper’s toe at the last minute and the second blocked.
The Rams managed to steady the ship and, just after the half-hour mark, a loose pass was pounced upon by Max Bird, who took a touch before rolling the ball into Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. The forward, just back from a few minutes on the touchline with an injury, controlled the ball just inside the area before sweeping it beyond Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
All that remained in the half was a tame header from Sonny Bradley into the Australian goalkeeper’s arms from a Conor Hourihane corner.
Charlton came flying out of the blocks in the second period and it was one-way traffic for 20 minutes.
The Addicks were nearly level in the 53rd minute through what would have been a third own goal in as many games. A lovely flowing move culminated in Rarmani Edmonds-Green playing an inch-perfect ball inside Louie Sibley for Tennai Watson. The wing-back’s first-time cross came off Bradley but, unfortunately for Charlton, dropped just the wrong side of the post.
Five minutes later the Addicks went even closer when Gillesphey’s cross from deep found Daniel Kanu unmarked in the area, but the substitute’s clever header was tipped over by Josh Vickers.
But, much like the first period, the Rams began to come back into the game midway through the half and nearly doubled their lead when Bird went on a wonderful solo run, only to see his left-footed effort roll just wide of Maynard-Brewer’s right upright.
It had been a much livelier half up to that point, but Derby were able to turn it into a scrappy contest again for the last half-hour of the match. When Hourihane brought down Louie Watson 30 yards out in the fifth minute of stoppage time, the Addicks would have one final chance.
Conor Coventry’s free-kick was cleared to May on the edge of the box and the striker brought it down and fired at goal, but Cashin bravely blocked.
Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; Ness, Gillesphey (Ramsay 68), Thomas; T.Watson (Campbell 78), Edmonds-Green, Coventry, Bakinson (L.Watson 78), Edun (Kanu 46); May (c), Ladapo (Fiorini 90+1)
Subs (not used): Isted, Jones
Booked: Ramsay 70 (foul on Sibley), Kanu 82 (foul on Hourihane)
Derby County: Vickers; Nelson, Bradley, Cashin; Ward (Nyambe 89), Hourihane (c), Adams (Thompson 72), Bird, Sibley (Elder 72); Mendez-Laing (Barkhuizen 38 (Wilson 88)), Collins
Subs (not used): Wildsmith, Smith
Goal: Mendez-Laing 31
Assist: Bird 31
Booked: Adams 41 (foul on May), Cashin 51 (foul on T.Watson), Sibley 68 (time-wasting), Vickers 90+1 (time-wasting), Hourihane 90+5 (foul on L.Watson)
Attendance: 16,014 (3128 away)
Referee: Ed Duckworth