Charlton 4 Coventry 1 - 04/05/2008
Charlton 4 Coventry 1 - 04/05/2008
Charlton Athletic: Nicky Weaver, Kelly Youga, Madjid Bougherra, Grant Basey (Chris Iwelumo 70), Greg Halford, Patrick McCarthy, Shevley (Chris Powell 84), Jerome Thomas (Scott Wagstaff 64), Matthew Holland, Andy Gray, Luke Varney
Subs not used: Sam Sodje, Darren Randolph
Goals: Luke Varney 4, Andy Gray 19, Grant Basey 48, Chris Powell 86
Coventry City: Kasper Schmeichel, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Michael Hughes (Kevin Thornton 60), Stephen Hughes, Isaac Osbourne (Zavon Hines 73), Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb, Michael Mifsud, Leon Best
Subs not used: Julian Gray, Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall
Booked: Stephen Hughes 67, Daniel Fox 90
Goals: Michael Mifsud 20
Attendance: 26130
Referee: A D'Urso
Teamtalk
Coventry will be playing in the Championship next season but they had to rely on other results after losing 4-1 at Charlton.
The hosts, with nothing to play for, raced into a fourth-minute lead through former Crewe striker Luke Varney and doubled that advantage thanks to Andy Gray.
Michael Mifsud got a goal back but Grant Basey restored the Addicks' two-goal lead shortly after half-time.
Veteran full-back Chris Powell completed the scoring four minutes from the end.
Charlton took an early lead when Coventry keeper Kasper Schmeichel raced out after a long pass from Madjid Bougherra only for Varney to beat him to it and lob the ball into the empty net from 20 yards.
Varney almost completed a brace four minutes later when he fired in another long-range effort but this time his shot sailed wide of the target.
Michael Doyle almost produced a moment of magic for the visitors to draw them level when his overhead kick was blocked by Addicks defender Patrick McCarthy.
Charlton were two up after 19 minutes when Gray finished off a superb team move, latching on to Varney's flick and sliding the ball past Schmeichel.
But, moments later, Mifsud popped up to unleash a 25-yarder into the bottom corner of the Charlton goal and bring Coventry right back into the match.
Jonjo Shevley and Dan Fox exchanged long-range shots, but both saw their efforts charged down.
Varney had a 25-yard strike blocked by Michael Hughes and, as the half drew to a close, Shevley sent an effort wide from a similar distance.
Three minutes after the interval Basey struck after another Schmeichel error. His mis-cued punch fell to Basey who slotted the ball home.
Varney could have put the game to bed minutes later but he shot wide when well placed in the box.
Coventry's chances were few and far between but Stephen Hughes did drill a left-foot shot wide from distance.
On the hour mark Varney met Basey's cross but his shot from 12 yards was off target.
Jay Tabb and Michael Doyle both had efforts for the Sky Blues but neither managed to test Charlton keeper Nicky Weaver.
Chances were coming at both ends - Fox shot over before Schmeichel saved from Varney and then McCarthy did well to block Mifsud's effort.
With 19 minutes remaining Coventry should have got back in the game but Leon Best headed over the bar from six yards out.
At the other end Matt Holland was desperately close to ending the game as a contest when his 30-yard scorcher hit the crossbar.
Best had a goal disallowed for a foul on McCarthy before Greg Halford headed Shevley's free-kick over.
Powell, playing his last game before retirement, came on as a late sub and celebrated by converting Halford's cross from the right.
CCFC
City are comprehensively beaten by Charlton but stay up at the expense of Leicester, whose draw at Stoke sees them fall out of the Championship.
Early strikes from Luke Varney and Andy Gray set the tempo for the home side but Michael Mifsud pulled one back, leaving it 2-1 at the interval.
But the Sky Blues never got to grips with their opposition and second half goals from Grant Basey and Chris Powell gave the home side a thumping victory, which could well have been by a bigger margin.
City lined up unchanged for their final home game of the 2007/08 campaign, in need of a point to secure their Championship status.
But the game got off to the worst possible start when Luke Varney gave the home side a fourth minute lead, racing onto a long ball played beyond left-back Danny Fox and lofting a perfectly executed lob over the advancing Kasper Schmeichel.
It was nervy stuff at the back for City and it took a goalline clearance from Jay Tabb to prevent an Andy Gray effort crossing the line.
But Gray doubled Charlton's advantage in the 18th minute, racing onto a clever back heel from Varney and drilling a low shot past Schmeichel.
Two minutes later and the Sky Blues had pulled a goal back, Michael Mifsud scoring his first league goal in 20 league games.
The Maltese international jinked past the Charlton defence and smashed an accurate shot past Nicky Weaver to break his goal drought and more importantly, give a rocky Sky Blues side some confidence.
After an electric opening 20 minutes, the remainder of the first half passed by without any great incident.
City were safe at the interval but only by virtue of scorelines elsewhere and with the Addicks still looking likely to score, a nailbiting second half was in prospect.
Mifsud was hungry to double his tally for the afternoon and sent a fierce volley narrowly wide of the upright at the start of the second 45.
But another Schmeichel mistake saw Charlton go 3-1 ahead in the 48th minute. The on loan shot stopper attempted to punch the ball clear when catching it looked a far simpler option but he failed to get any distance, only palming it to Grant Basey who smashed the ball into the back of the net, despite Elliott Ward's attempts to keep it out.
Varney went within inches of making it 4-1 with half an hour remaining before Chris Coleman brought on Kevin Thornton for Michael Hughes.
The change had the desired effect as City started to show some fight for the battle and on 65 Doyle glanced a header just wide from a Tabb cross.
But again, gaping holes were being left at the back and the impressive Varney once again sent a shot whistling narowly wide of an upright.
Leon Best had the ball in the back of the net on 72 but the referee ruled it out for offside.
Throwing caution to the wind Coleman introduced Zavon Hines for Osbourne but moments later Matt Holland rattled the woodwork with a ferocious 35 yard drive as Charlton continued to dominate.
The Addicks had bossed the match and deservedly scored a fourth in the 86th minute when substitute Chris Powell netted in his retirement match.
4thegame
Needing a point to stay in the Championship, Coventry City shredded their nerves as they slumped to a 4-1 defeat against Charlton Athletic at The Valley, but still survived because Leicester City failed to win at Stoke City.
Charlton ended a desperately disappointingly season, in which they fell out of the play-off picture, with a sparkling performance.
The icing on the cake came four minutes from time when veteran Chris Powell, making his final appearance for the club, scored only the third goal of his career three minutes after coming on as a substitute.
In a blazing start Charlton scored twice in the first 19 minutes to leave Coventry rocking but, although the Midlanders quickly pulled a goal back, they were lucky not to have been beaten by a bigger score as their defence disintegrated in the second half.
It was only Charlton's second win in 11 matches in a slump which has seen them miss out on glory, but Luke Varney put them in front after just four minutes, lobbing goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel who completely lost his bearings as he came racing out of his goal.
Varney then set up Andy Gray for Charlton's second, back-heeling the ball into the path of his fellow striker.
Michael Mifsud, with his 17th goal of the season, gave Coventry hope but three minutes after the interval another mistake by Schmeichel presented Charlton with their third goal.
The keeper punched a cross straight into the path of Grant Basey, who fired home his first Chalrton goal despite the efforts of Elliott Ward on the line to keep the ball out.
Very little was seen of Coventry as an attacking force, although Leon Best did have a goal disallowed.
But then came Powell's swansong with the fourth goal and the cheers from the 3,000 Coventry supporters at the end when they heard their side was safe was a mighty relief after their poor performance while Charlton, playing a number of youngsters, reflected on what might have been.
Charlton Athletic: Nicky Weaver, Kelly Youga, Madjid Bougherra, Grant Basey (Chris Iwelumo 70), Greg Halford, Patrick McCarthy, Shevley (Chris Powell 84), Jerome Thomas (Scott Wagstaff 64), Matthew Holland, Andy Gray, Luke Varney
Subs not used: Sam Sodje, Darren Randolph
Goals: Luke Varney 4, Andy Gray 19, Grant Basey 48, Chris Powell 86
Coventry City: Kasper Schmeichel, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Michael Hughes (Kevin Thornton 60), Stephen Hughes, Isaac Osbourne (Zavon Hines 73), Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb, Michael Mifsud, Leon Best
Subs not used: Julian Gray, Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall
Booked: Stephen Hughes 67, Daniel Fox 90
Goals: Michael Mifsud 20
Attendance: 26130
Referee: A D'Urso
Teamtalk
Coventry will be playing in the Championship next season but they had to rely on other results after losing 4-1 at Charlton.
The hosts, with nothing to play for, raced into a fourth-minute lead through former Crewe striker Luke Varney and doubled that advantage thanks to Andy Gray.
Michael Mifsud got a goal back but Grant Basey restored the Addicks' two-goal lead shortly after half-time.
Veteran full-back Chris Powell completed the scoring four minutes from the end.
Charlton took an early lead when Coventry keeper Kasper Schmeichel raced out after a long pass from Madjid Bougherra only for Varney to beat him to it and lob the ball into the empty net from 20 yards.
Varney almost completed a brace four minutes later when he fired in another long-range effort but this time his shot sailed wide of the target.
Michael Doyle almost produced a moment of magic for the visitors to draw them level when his overhead kick was blocked by Addicks defender Patrick McCarthy.
Charlton were two up after 19 minutes when Gray finished off a superb team move, latching on to Varney's flick and sliding the ball past Schmeichel.
But, moments later, Mifsud popped up to unleash a 25-yarder into the bottom corner of the Charlton goal and bring Coventry right back into the match.
Jonjo Shevley and Dan Fox exchanged long-range shots, but both saw their efforts charged down.
Varney had a 25-yard strike blocked by Michael Hughes and, as the half drew to a close, Shevley sent an effort wide from a similar distance.
Three minutes after the interval Basey struck after another Schmeichel error. His mis-cued punch fell to Basey who slotted the ball home.
Varney could have put the game to bed minutes later but he shot wide when well placed in the box.
Coventry's chances were few and far between but Stephen Hughes did drill a left-foot shot wide from distance.
On the hour mark Varney met Basey's cross but his shot from 12 yards was off target.
Jay Tabb and Michael Doyle both had efforts for the Sky Blues but neither managed to test Charlton keeper Nicky Weaver.
Chances were coming at both ends - Fox shot over before Schmeichel saved from Varney and then McCarthy did well to block Mifsud's effort.
With 19 minutes remaining Coventry should have got back in the game but Leon Best headed over the bar from six yards out.
At the other end Matt Holland was desperately close to ending the game as a contest when his 30-yard scorcher hit the crossbar.
Best had a goal disallowed for a foul on McCarthy before Greg Halford headed Shevley's free-kick over.
Powell, playing his last game before retirement, came on as a late sub and celebrated by converting Halford's cross from the right.
CCFC
City are comprehensively beaten by Charlton but stay up at the expense of Leicester, whose draw at Stoke sees them fall out of the Championship.
Early strikes from Luke Varney and Andy Gray set the tempo for the home side but Michael Mifsud pulled one back, leaving it 2-1 at the interval.
But the Sky Blues never got to grips with their opposition and second half goals from Grant Basey and Chris Powell gave the home side a thumping victory, which could well have been by a bigger margin.
City lined up unchanged for their final home game of the 2007/08 campaign, in need of a point to secure their Championship status.
But the game got off to the worst possible start when Luke Varney gave the home side a fourth minute lead, racing onto a long ball played beyond left-back Danny Fox and lofting a perfectly executed lob over the advancing Kasper Schmeichel.
It was nervy stuff at the back for City and it took a goalline clearance from Jay Tabb to prevent an Andy Gray effort crossing the line.
But Gray doubled Charlton's advantage in the 18th minute, racing onto a clever back heel from Varney and drilling a low shot past Schmeichel.
Two minutes later and the Sky Blues had pulled a goal back, Michael Mifsud scoring his first league goal in 20 league games.
The Maltese international jinked past the Charlton defence and smashed an accurate shot past Nicky Weaver to break his goal drought and more importantly, give a rocky Sky Blues side some confidence.
After an electric opening 20 minutes, the remainder of the first half passed by without any great incident.
City were safe at the interval but only by virtue of scorelines elsewhere and with the Addicks still looking likely to score, a nailbiting second half was in prospect.
Mifsud was hungry to double his tally for the afternoon and sent a fierce volley narrowly wide of the upright at the start of the second 45.
But another Schmeichel mistake saw Charlton go 3-1 ahead in the 48th minute. The on loan shot stopper attempted to punch the ball clear when catching it looked a far simpler option but he failed to get any distance, only palming it to Grant Basey who smashed the ball into the back of the net, despite Elliott Ward's attempts to keep it out.
Varney went within inches of making it 4-1 with half an hour remaining before Chris Coleman brought on Kevin Thornton for Michael Hughes.
The change had the desired effect as City started to show some fight for the battle and on 65 Doyle glanced a header just wide from a Tabb cross.
But again, gaping holes were being left at the back and the impressive Varney once again sent a shot whistling narowly wide of an upright.
Leon Best had the ball in the back of the net on 72 but the referee ruled it out for offside.
Throwing caution to the wind Coleman introduced Zavon Hines for Osbourne but moments later Matt Holland rattled the woodwork with a ferocious 35 yard drive as Charlton continued to dominate.
The Addicks had bossed the match and deservedly scored a fourth in the 86th minute when substitute Chris Powell netted in his retirement match.
4thegame
Needing a point to stay in the Championship, Coventry City shredded their nerves as they slumped to a 4-1 defeat against Charlton Athletic at The Valley, but still survived because Leicester City failed to win at Stoke City.
Charlton ended a desperately disappointingly season, in which they fell out of the play-off picture, with a sparkling performance.
The icing on the cake came four minutes from time when veteran Chris Powell, making his final appearance for the club, scored only the third goal of his career three minutes after coming on as a substitute.
In a blazing start Charlton scored twice in the first 19 minutes to leave Coventry rocking but, although the Midlanders quickly pulled a goal back, they were lucky not to have been beaten by a bigger score as their defence disintegrated in the second half.
It was only Charlton's second win in 11 matches in a slump which has seen them miss out on glory, but Luke Varney put them in front after just four minutes, lobbing goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel who completely lost his bearings as he came racing out of his goal.
Varney then set up Andy Gray for Charlton's second, back-heeling the ball into the path of his fellow striker.
Michael Mifsud, with his 17th goal of the season, gave Coventry hope but three minutes after the interval another mistake by Schmeichel presented Charlton with their third goal.
The keeper punched a cross straight into the path of Grant Basey, who fired home his first Chalrton goal despite the efforts of Elliott Ward on the line to keep the ball out.
Very little was seen of Coventry as an attacking force, although Leon Best did have a goal disallowed.
But then came Powell's swansong with the fourth goal and the cheers from the 3,000 Coventry supporters at the end when they heard their side was safe was a mighty relief after their poor performance while Charlton, playing a number of youngsters, reflected on what might have been.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:38 pm
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