Press Box: The Times

Last updated : 04 April 2006 By Tom Dart

Charlton Athletic could have played until Teddy Sheringham, who saw little of the ball, was well into drawing his pension and they would not have scored. On a day of celebration for one of English football's finest forwards, defences were on top.

Like his fellow defenders, Anton Ferdinand did well, but the match was a shapeless mess. The clement weather added to the feeling that this was one of those breezily consequence-free end-of-season matches.