What the quality Sunday papers say...
Last updated : 06 November 2005 By Charlton mad
INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
Charlton suffer travel sickness as Tugay inspires Rovers
By Guy Hodgson at Ewood Park
Charlton Athletic's away record, a thing of beauty that had eclipsed even Chelsea's, was sullied yesterday when Blackburn Rovers trampled all over perfection. Five wins had been accrued from five away Premiership matches, but the joy of six proved beyond Alan Curbishley's team.
At least it was all over quickly. Although Charlton pulled a goal back through Bryan Hughes after 36 minutes, their effort had a forlorn appearance before Morten Gamst Pedersen put them out of their agony just before the hour.
It was a thumping defeat and badly timed, too. Sven Goran Eriksson was at Ewood Park, presumably to check on Danny Murphy and Darren Bent, but instead of them pressing their international claims, the England manager saw Tugay Kerimoglu give a near-flawless show in the home side's midfield.
With the Turkish maestro pulling the strings, Blackburn not only outhustled Charlton but outplayed them too. Bent was anonymous and Murphy erratic, while the home side were packed with players operating close to the limit of their effectiveness.
Blackburn, who have now won their past five home games, were ahead within two minutes when Emerton gave a masterclass in making room for a shot. The Australian received the ball on the edge of the area, darted in and out, feinted inside, and then, with Jonathan Spector left deciding whether he was in a reef knot or a clove hitch, thumped the ball into the top corner.
Emerton then threatened with another spectacular strike, only for Chris Perry to head it clear, but that respite proved only temporary for Charlton, who were 2-0 down after 18 minutes.
Darren Ambrose made a hash of clearing his lines and Tugay passed to Lucas Neill, whose cross from the right deflected off a visiting head to further confuse the defence. They looked it too, because Dickov, all 5ft 6in of him, had the freedom of the six-yard box to head past the hapless Stephan Andersen.
So little had been seen of Charlton's attack that it was a shock when they got a goal of their own on 36 minutes after Ambrose flicked on Bent's pass from the right for Hughes to slide in at the far post. From the opposite side of the ground the ball must have appeared to have hit the side-netting, because no Premiership goal has had a quieter reception until the truth dawned and a cheer broke out 10 seconds late.
The home side had a penalty appeal turned down when Hermann Hreidarsson clearly handled, yet Blackburn had to wait only until the 59th minute to restore their two-goal lead. Emerton's flick sent Steven Reid clear to cross to Pedersen, who shot first time past Andersen.
Brad Friedel saved well to deny Hreidarsson's header, but any hopes of a Charlton revival had long since disappeared when Shefki Kuqi flicked on Pedersen's free-kick and Bellamy struck at the far post.
OBSERVER
Emerton's flying start hits Murphy's hopes
Ian Whittell at Ewood Park
For Sven Goran Eriksson, the visitors were the object of his visit to Ewood Park but for the English football community in general, it is Blackburn Rovers who should be firmly in their thoughts, and for all the right reasons.
It was a wretched afternoon for Danny Murphy, trying to impress the England manager before he names a squad today to take on Argentina on Saturday, and his Charlton team-mates who surrendered their 100 per cent away record in spectacular fashion against a rampant Rovers.
From the second minute when Brett Emerton launched a fantastic long-range shot into the top corner after slack defending from Hermann Hreidarsson and goalkeeper Stephan Andersen, there was only one likely outcome.
Paul Dickov was left unmarked to head in a second from six yards in the 18th minute and, only after the loss of the injured Michael Gray momentarily upset Rovers' organisation, did Charlton show signs of life, Brian Hughes bravely forcing in Darren Bent's cross nine minutes before the interval.
Brad Friedel earned his match fee with fine saves to deny Hreidarsson, Jay Bothroyd and Talal El Karkouri but this was not an afternoon for Murphy and Charlton to savour as Craig Bellamy confirmed in injury-time, controlling Shefki Kuqi's flick-on from Pedersen's free-kick and completing the rout.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Charlton undone by Bellamy
By Trevor Haylett at Ewood Park
The watching England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was doubtless scrutinising Charlton's contenders for the friendly international against Argentina, but he cannot fail to have been impressed by the work of Blackburn's manager, Mark Hughes.
Charlton had won all five of their away matches in the Premiership this season, yet were chasing a lost cause from the second minute, when Brett Emerton blasted Blackburn ahead.
Alan Curbishley has been widely touted as a potential England manager, but his team's performance in this match added nothing to his CV, while Danny Murphy's chances of a call-up diminished when he was substituted in the second half.
Blackburn were quickly down to business. Jonathan Spector maintained a too-respectful distance as Emerton carried the ball wide to the right and unleashed his shot. An apparently startled Stephan Andersen merely proffered a hand of surrender as the ball whistled past him and into the near top corner of his goal.
Charlton appeared disorientated and vulnerable every time Blackburn attacked and were fortunate when Bellamy was incorrectly flagged offside as he darted between Charlton defenders and when Emerton's fierce effort was deflected off target before Blackburn won the benefit of the linesman's judgment.
This time, Lucas Neill's centre, which clipped a Charlton defender en route, found Paul Dickov unmarked and the Scot headed past Andersen. Charlton, to a man, looked in disbelief as the flag stayed down. Chris Perry pointed to a replay of the goal on the giant screen as he argued his team's case. All he got for his vehemence was a yellow card.
Perhaps Charlton needed a little anger to fuel their competitiveness. Aaron Mokoena, on for the injured Michael Gray, failed to clear Darren Bent's cross and Brian Hughes punished him to make the score 2-1. The pendulum of fortune swung Charlton's way again early in the second half when Bellamy's intended cross struck the outstretched hand of Hermann Hreidarsson and the referee waved away Blackburn's appeals for a penalty.
Brad Friedel repelled Charlton's endeavours to force their way back into contention and the ever-alert Bellamy completed their misery a minute from the end.
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Jonathan Northcroft at Ewood Park
Luke Young, Darren Bent and Danny Murphy were all disappointments, although they were not helped by the general mediocrity of Charlton Athletic.
Given that Charlton arrived with the only perfect away record in the League, this was quite a result. Controlling the match for all but a brief stretch, Blackburn’s victory was punctuated by a goal in the final seconds. From Shefki Kuqi’s flick-on, Bellamy controlled and expertly drove a shot past Stephan Andersen.
Charlton were shredded within 19 minutes. After just two, Brett Emerton had buried the ball in the top corner of Charlton’s net. Hermann Hreidarsson tried to control Michael Gray’s centre on the chest and deflected the ball to Emerton, who dropped a shoulder, went outside Jonathan Spector and struck a curling effort high past Andersen.
Charlton like to be the ones playing on the counter-attack and were thrown by opponents so effective at doing the same. Chris Perry deflected another hefty Emerton drive for a corner and Tugay whistled a shot close.
Darren Ambrose’s over-eagerness made him strive to keep the ball when he was so unbalanced that he had no hope of doing anything with it. It was merely picked up by Tugay, who fed Neill. His cross looped into the box off Bryan Hughes’s head. Dickov might have been offside when he stole beyond Perry to place a header past Andersen but Charlton’s indignation was tempered when Phil Dowd, the referee, denied Blackburn a penalty when Hreidarsson handled.
Murphy looked disconsolate when he was substituted after making little impact and Bent was peripheral. He has the consolation of already being in the Under-21 squad but his hope of promotion, in event of injuries, to the full England ranks for the Argentina match must have faded. Charlton had only one spell, before half-time, when they came to terms with Blackburn. Hughes scored from close range under pressure from Brad Friedel after Ambrose flicked on Bent’s cross, but Pedersen restored Blackburn’s comfort level when he arrived late to stroke Reid’s cross in off Young’s shins.