‘Addicks draw blank as Royals put up stiff battle’
Charlton 0 – 0 Reading – 9th April 2006
Charlton’s hopes of pulling clear of the relegation zone took a hit as they failed to beat Reading in an Easter Monday game giving West Ham, Sheffield United and Wigan a chance of their own to beat the dreaded drop.
Having gone four games unbeaten, Charlton came into the fixture full of confidence and having beaten near rivals Wigan last week to escape the bottom three they hoped that a visit from the Royals with little to play for would mean another three points but it was the away side who created the better chances and in fact the Addicks may even consider themselves to be lucky to have claimed a draw with Scott Carson far the busier keeper.
Keeping the same team which drew a blank at Manchester City in their last game, the home side were whipped into frenzy by an excitable crowd. Despite an early chance for Talal El Karkouri who hit the crossbar in the opening moments, fans of the relegation threatened club were forced to sit through a nervy forty five minutes.
With four home wins in a row the expectant crowd saw Reading dominate possession and take the game to their hosts, fashioning a few chances in the process. James Harper set up Lita but the forwards shot was shut out by several Charlton defenders. Sidwell helped set up the next chance by stealing the ball from Thomas and initiating a break which ended in a shot from Seol but the Korean’s effort was comfortably collected by Carson.
Charlton’s defensive resolve was continually tested throughout the half and Pardew’s side were forced into changes when Hreidarsson and Marcus Bent were forced to limp off with injuries.
In the second half Charlton were forced into more rear guard action as on loan keeper Carson tipped over from Sidwell and then intervened crucially when it seemed Reading would go ahead through Lita. Playing on the break, very unfamiliarly for a home side Charlton knew that three points could be vital to their survival campaign and through Bent almost made the break through.
However his shot after a tricky run from Zheng Zhi was sliced and failed to test Hahnemann. Continuing to turn the screw Reading almost scored through Sidwell but the midfielder drove his latest attempt wide after a great passing move.
With the home side urged on by the crowd in the final ten minutes the Addicks threw on Kevin Lisbie to aid the increasingly isolated Darren Bent who was struggling to create anything for himself and was struggling for a supply line with Thomas and Song occupied defensively.
The substitute almost helped his strike partner create a chance but his through ball was blocked and in the end led to an excellent chance for the Royals, Stephen Hunt however was guilty of missing the latest opportunity as a great cross from Steve Sidwell picked him out but with a diving header he failed to hit the target.
Right at the death, Chinese midfielder Zheng Zhi missed the clearest chance of the game with a header from twelve yards but both sides were forced to settle for a point leaving them both exactly where they started the evening.
Keeping the same team which drew a blank at Manchester City in their last game, the home side were whipped into frenzy by an excitable crowd. Despite an early chance for Talal El Karkouri who hit the crossbar in the opening moments, fans of the relegation threatened club were forced to sit through a nervy forty five minutes.
With four home wins in a row the expectant crowd saw Reading dominate possession and take the game to their hosts, fashioning a few chances in the process. James Harper set up Lita but the forwards shot was shut out by several Charlton defenders. Sidwell helped set up the next chance by stealing the ball from Thomas and initiating a break which ended in a shot from Seol but the Korean’s effort was comfortably collected by Carson.
Charlton’s defensive resolve was continually tested throughout the half and Pardew’s side were forced into changes when Hreidarsson and Marcus Bent were forced to limp off with injuries.
In the second half Charlton were forced into more rear guard action as on loan keeper Carson tipped over from Sidwell and then intervened crucially when it seemed Reading would go ahead through Lita. Playing on the break, very unfamiliarly for a home side Charlton knew that three points could be vital to their survival campaign and through Bent almost made the break through.
However his shot after a tricky run from Zheng Zhi was sliced and failed to test Hahnemann. Continuing to turn the screw Reading almost scored through Sidwell but the midfielder drove his latest attempt wide after a great passing move.
With the home side urged on by the crowd in the final ten minutes the Addicks threw on Kevin Lisbie to aid the increasingly isolated Darren Bent who was struggling to create anything for himself and was struggling for a supply line with Thomas and Song occupied defensively.
The substitute almost helped his strike partner create a chance but his through ball was blocked and in the end led to an excellent chance for the Royals, Stephen Hunt however was guilty of missing the latest opportunity as a great cross from Steve Sidwell picked him out but with a diving header he failed to hit the target.
Right at the death, Chinese midfielder Zheng Zhi missed the clearest chance of the game with a header from twelve yards but both sides were forced to settle for a point leaving them both exactly where they started the evening.